Highlighting Letters?

I will change topic title once I figure a more appropriate wording thing, er, yea... Once I figure out what it is this method is called.

I want to add to my vertical shooter where the player has to grab items. Grab item 1, 2, 3 and so on. I plan to make one of the two quests I am thinking of to grab letters as well, to spell "Bible." What I would like to do is when the ship grabs the letters (I think I know how to make the events do this in order for the five letters) that it shows on screen. What I am thinking, if possible, is on the top of the screen is have the letters B I B L E, either gray or something, and when the letters are picked up, the letters on the top of the screen light up or change color or something. Know what I mean? I am trying to think of a game I know of for an example to show.

Is this possible and if so, anyone able to make one of those quick samples?

Thanks.

Just create white letters with transparent background in your graphic app and import them as frames to a sprite. Then set each instance to the appropiate frame and set a grey (or whatever inactive color you want) color filter. When a letter is grabbed, change the color filter to whatever color you want.

I think I know what you mean. Will try it and see what I can do. Thanks.