NetBeans Platform: Branded resources

OK, you've probably been here too: how does one load a Branded resource ? Let's say... the splash screen.

Well, let me tell you the stages you might try after you've found out that it's "org/netbeans/core/startup/splash.gif" :

• Use the ClassLoader from Lookup to load the resource. What does this do ? It returns the default, non-branded splash.
• getClass().getResource(). Same as above.
• new URL(). Wrong !
• Utilities.loadImage(string). Still wrong.

Of course, the nbres:// protocol might also help (after all it's a NetBeans resource we're talking about) but you know what ? It also fails (with NPE) except for the new URL method.

So ? What is the solution ? Well, it's Utilities.loadImage(string, true) . This is the only one that does the localized/branded woodoo. I'm still not certain why the nbres:// stuff didn't work...