# Alpha Transparency

**URL:** <https://forum.kirupa.com/t/alpha-transparency/265676>\
**Category:** web dev\
**Created:** [July 11, 2008, 8:32am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/alpha-transparency/265676 "2008-07-11T08:32:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![GGMcGee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ba8739/32.png) [@GGMcGee](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/GGMcGee)\
**Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 8:32am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/alpha-transparency/265676/1 "2008-07-11T08:32:31Z")

</div>

I remember wondering ages ago how to make background colours transparent using css.

I remember I tried tiling a semi transparent gif and then png, but it lagged something shocking.

On Youtube I believe they use this:

```auto
[FONT=monospace]
[/FONT]filter: Alpha(opacity=50);

```

to make a background colour of a table 50% transparent.

How browser-safe is this these days? Will it work in most browsers? Is it recommended or not recommended and for what reasons?

Just want to know, because it could make a nice addition to some sites.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![pixelSnobbery](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e274bd/32.png) [@pixelSnobbery](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/pixelSnobbery)\
**Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 8:56am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/alpha-transparency/265676/2 "2008-07-11T08:56:51Z")

</div>

[http://www.domedia.org/oveklykken/css-transparency.php](http://www.domedia.org/oveklykken/css-transparency.php)

^ That explains something about it. Looks like you need different syntax for IE and Firefox though…

If you ask me, you’d be better off using a semi-transparent PNG as the background image of the table…