# Applying filters to BitmapData

**URL:** https://forum.kirupa.com/t/applying-filters-to-bitmapdata/314845
**Category:** flash
**Created:** [October 10, 2010, 11:29pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/applying-filters-to-bitmapdata/314845 "2010-10-10T23:29:23Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![Kstolen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c0e974/32.png) [@Kstolen](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/Kstolen)
#### Post date: [October 10, 2010, 11:29pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/applying-filters-to-bitmapdata/314845/1 "2010-10-10T23:29:23Z")

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Hey guys,

I have a png with a shape and a transparent alpha channel. I am currently drawing the shape and transparency as individual BitmapData types to another BitmapData, which makes up the display area.

The shape displays fine, but I want to use GlowFilter on it to give it a red glow.  
When I use applyFilter to apply it on the opaque BitmapData, I don’t see anything. Adobe API says “The destination image of these filters must be a transparent image.”

When I apply as an inner glow on the alpha channel, it appears white and I can’t get it to appear red. The same happens with drop shadows, etc.

I’m really not sure what I don’t understand here.

Edit : as I was writing this, I realised that I can just create a new BitmapData of the two and then apply the filter instead of applying the filter first. Still, if I could do it without doing this, it would be more efficient.