The _ALPHA function returns the alpha channel transparency level of a color value used on a screen page or image.
Syntax
result& = _ALPHA(color~& [, imageHandle&])
Description
- If imageHandle& is omitted, it is assumed to be the current write page. Invalid handles will create ERROR Codes errors.
- _NEWIMAGE 32 bit SCREEN modes will always use an _UNSIGNED LONG color~& value.
- Color values that are set as a _CLEARCOLOR always have an alpha level of 0 (transparent).
- _SETALPHA can set any alpha level from 0 (or fully transparent) to 255 (or opaque).
- Normal color values that are set by _RGB or _RGB32 always have an alpha level of 255(opaque).
- In 4 (16 color) or 8 (256 color) bit palette screens the function will always return 255. *_RED32, _GREEN32, _BLUE32 and _ALPHA32 are all equivalent to _RED, _GREEN, _BLUE and _ALPHA but they are highly optimized and only accept a 32-bit color (B8:G8:R8:A8). Using them (opposed to dividing then ANDing 32-bit color values manually) makes code easy to read.
- NOTE: 32 bit _NEWIMAGE screen page backgrounds are transparent black or _ALPHA 0. Use _DONTBLEND or CLS for opaque.
Example(s)
Alpha transparency levels are always 255 in 4 or 8 bit screen modes.
SCREEN 13
clr~& = _RGBA(255, 0, 255, 192) 'returns closest palette color attribute
PRINT "Color:"; clr~&
COLOR clr~&
PRINT "Alpha:"; _ALPHA(clr~&)
END
Color 36
Alpha: 255
Explanation: _RGBA cannot change the _ALPHA level. _ALPHA32 would return 0 on any non-32 bit image or page.
Finding the transparency of a 32 bit screen mode’s background before and after CLS.
SCREEN _NEWIMAGE(640, 480, 32)
BG& = POINT(1, 1)
PRINT "Alpha ="; _ALPHA(BG&); "Press a key to use CLS!"
K$ = INPUT$(1)
CLS
BG& = POINT(1, 1)
PRINT "CLS Alpha ="; _ALPHA(BG&)
CLS Alpha = 255
Explanation: Set the ALPHA value to 255 using CLS to make the background opaque when overlaying pages.