Provide a way to render entities (without creating entities)

[GlassBricks]

It would be useful to be able to "display" an entity, like in the cursor entity/blueprint preview.
Something like rendering.draw_entity { name, surface, target, tint, direction, etc... } could accomplish this.

I don't think there's currently way to do this:
Entity-ghost runs into too many problems and restrictions (can't overlap, can't change tint, sometimes can't be created, bots want to build them)
rendering.draw_sprite can only draw entities' item icon, not the entity; rendering.draw_animation doesn't expose entity pictures/animations.

[SupplyDepoo]

I agree, that would be very useful.

[Rseding91]

Given that's something we've wanted several times over the years and have still not found a way to do nicely. I don't see this happening. Sorry.