Change color of text without color memory in C64/Assembly

assembly, c64, ca65

Solution

Now there's a question I never thought I'd be asked! sta $0286 (646 decimal) sets the background color to be used when using the system print routine ($FFD2) which I recommend over direct access to the video ram since it takes into account the cursor position. So:

        lda #$00     ; Black letters
        sta $0286    ; Set color
        ldx #$00
msgloop:
        lda message,x
        beq msgdone  ; Zero byte sets z flag - end of string - shorter than checking x value
        jsr $ffd2    ; print a to current device at current position (default: screen)
        inx
        bne msgloop  ; pretty much always unless you have a string > 255
msgdone:
        rts

message: .byte "Hello "
         .byte "World!"
         .byte 0

Well, there goes my credibility as a modern assembler guy! ;-)

Problem

I have a code like below, and it works fine. It clears the screen, puts some color in color memory of first 12 characters on screen, and prints a text on the screen. ``` jsr $e544 ldx #$00 lda #3 loopclr: sta $d800,x inx cpx #$0c bne loopclr ldx #$00 lda #0 loop: lda message,x sta $0400,x inx cpx #$0c bne loop rts message: .byte "Hello " .byte "World!" ``` What I wonder is, if there's an easier way to change the text color in C64 Assembly, like `POKE 646,color` in BASIC? Edit: I thought I need to be more clear, I can use ``` lda #color sta 646 ``` But it doesn't affect the text put on screen by assembly code in 1024+. Is there an address that affects all characters put on screen? Edit: I think I know the answer, no.

Original source