Thank you all, everything has helped. I'll try out that ImagePanel method, and otherwise I'll use a font I've found (just didn't know I had to put stuff in clientscheme.res).
edit: Rawr that method is really nice, but is there any way to make the flash a little less long-lasting and sudden? I really like the smooth flash from the other method
edit edit: actually I prefer the font method, and it works, but for some reason lots of other stuff in my hud is gone now. Help?