diff --git a/stepmania/src/Sprite.cpp b/stepmania/src/Sprite.cpp
index bcda91db0c..86ca44347a 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/Sprite.cpp
+++ b/stepmania/src/Sprite.cpp
@@ -47,12 +47,31 @@ Sprite::~Sprite()
 	UnloadTexture();
 }
 
-bool Sprite::LoadBG( RageTextureID ID )
+RageTextureID Sprite::SongBGTexture( RageTextureID ID )
 {
 	ID.bMipMaps = true;
+
+	/* Song backgrounds are, by definition, in the background, so there's no need to keep alpha. */
+	ID.iAlphaBits = 0;
+
 	// Don't we want to dither 16 bit textures at least?
 //	ID.bDither = true;
-	return Load(ID);
+
+	return ID;
+}
+
+RageTextureID Sprite::SongBannerTexture( RageTextureID ID )
+{
+	/* Song banners often have HOT PINK color keys. */
+	ID.bHotPinkColorKey = true;
+	ID.bDither = true;
+	return ID;
+}
+
+/* deprecated */
+bool Sprite::LoadBG( RageTextureID ID )
+{
+	return Load( SongBGTexture(ID) );
 }
 
 bool Sprite::Load( RageTextureID ID )
diff --git a/stepmania/src/Sprite.h b/stepmania/src/Sprite.h
index d654b36461..c3641fead0 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/Sprite.h
+++ b/stepmania/src/Sprite.h
@@ -29,6 +29,12 @@ public:
 	virtual void Update( float fDeltaTime );
 	void UpdateAnimationState();	// take m_fSecondsIntoState, and move to a new state
 
+	/* Adjust texture properties for song backgrounds. */
+	static RageTextureID SongBGTexture( RageTextureID ID );
+
+	/* Adjust texture properties for song banners. */
+	static RageTextureID SongBannerTexture( RageTextureID ID );
+
 	/* Just a convenience function; load an image that'll be used in the
 	 * background. */
 	virtual bool LoadBG( RageTextureID ID );