alphachannel
nounUK /ˈæl.fə ˈtʃæn.əl/
US /ˈæl.fə ˈtʃæn.əl/
A special layer in a picture that tells how see-through each part is.
The artist lowered the alpha channel so the logo looked soft and faded.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A stored set of transparency values used when combining images.
The game engine reads the alpha channel to blend the sprite over the background.
3. The fourth data value in some color formats, alongside red, green, and blue.
Each pixel stores RGBA, where A stands for the alpha channel.
4. A way to cut out shapes in video or graphics without a solid background.
The editor used the alpha channel to remove the green screen cleanly.