How to make a background 20% transparent on Android

How do I make the background of a Textview about 20% transparent (not fully transparent), where there is a color in the background (i.e. white)?

Use the below code for black:

<color name="black">#000000</color>

Now if I want to use opacity then you can use the below code:

 <color name="black">#99000000</color> <!-- 99 is for alpha and others pairs zero's are for R G B -->

And below for opacity code: and all opacity level here

Hex Opacity Values

100% — FF
95% — F2
90% — E6
85% — D9
80% — CC
75% — BF
70% — B3
65% — A6
60% — 99
55% — 8C
50% — 80
45% — 73
40% — 66
35% — 59
30% — 4D
25% — 40
20% — 33
15% — 26
10% — 1A
5% — 0D
0% — 00

If you always to forget what code for transparency then you must have to see below link and no worry about to remember anything regarding transparent code :-

https://github.com/duggu-hcd/TransparentColorCode

textviewHeader.setTextColor(Color.parseColor(ColorTransparentUtils.transparentColor(R.color.border_color,10)));

Make the color have 80% in the alpha channel. For example, for red use #CCFF0000:

<TextView
   ...
   android:background="#CCFF0000" />

In the example, CC is the hexadecimal number for 255 * 0.8 = 204. Note that the first two hexadecimal digits are for the alpha channel. The format is #AARRGGBB, where AA is the alpha channel, RR is the red channel, GG is the green channel and BB is the blue channel.

I'm assuming that 20% transparent means 80% opaque. If you meant the other way, instead of CC use 33 which is the hexadecimal for 255 * 0.2 = 51.

In order to calculate the proper value for an alpha transparency value you can follow this procedure:

1. Given a transparency percentage, for example 20%, you know the opaque percentage value is 80% (this is 100-20=80)
2. The range for the alpha channel is 8 bits (2^8=256), meaning the range goes from 0 to 255.
3. Project the opaque percentage into the alpha range, that is, multiply the range (255) by the percentage. In this example 255 * 0.8 = 204. Round to the nearest integer if needed.
4. Convert the value obtained in 3., which is in base 10, to hexadecimal (base 16). You can use Google for this or any calculator. Using Google, type "204 to hexa" and it will give you the hexadecimal value. In this case it is 0xCC.
5. Prepend the value obtained in 4. to the desired color. For example, for red, which is FF0000, you will have CCFF0000.

You can take a look at the Android documentation for colors.

You can manage color opacity changing the first 2 characters in the color definition:

#99000000

100% — FF
99% — FC
98% — FA
97% — F7
96% — F5
95% — F2
94% — F0
93% — ED
92% — EB
91% — E8

90% — E6
89% — E3
88% — E0
87% — DE
86% — DB
85% — D9
84% — D6
83% — D4
82% — D1
81% — CF

80% — CC
79% — C9
78% — C7
77% — C4
76% — C2
75% — BF
74% — BD
73% — BA
72% — B8
71% — B5

70% — B3
69% — B0
68% — AD
67% — AB
66% — A8
65% — A6
64% — A3
63% — A1
62% — 9E
61% — 9C

60% — 99
59% — 96
58% — 94
57% — 91
56% — 8F
55% — 8C
54% — 8A
53% — 87
52% — 85
51% — 82

50% — 80
49% — 7D
48% — 7A
47% — 78
46% — 75
45% — 73
44% — 70
43% — 6E
42% — 6B
41% — 69

40% — 66
39% — 63
38% — 61
37% — 5E
36% — 5C
35% — 59
34% — 57
33% — 54
32% — 52
31% — 4F

30% — 4D
29% — 4A
28% — 47
27% — 45
26% — 42
25% — 40
24% — 3D
23% — 3B
22% — 38
21% — 36

20% — 33
19% — 30
18% — 2E
17% — 2B
16% — 29
15% — 26
14% — 24
13% — 21
12% — 1F
11% — 1C

10% — 1A
9% — 17
8% — 14
7% — 12
6% — 0F
5% — 0D
4% — 0A
3% — 08
2% — 05
1% — 03
0% — 00 

Use a color with an alpha value like #33------, and set it as background of your editText using the XML attribute android:background=" ".

1. 0% (transparent) -> #00 in hex
2. 20% -> #33
3. 50% -> #80
4. 75% -> #C0
5. 100% (opaque) -> #FF

255 * 0.2 = 51 → in hex 33

You can try to do something like:

textView.getBackground().setAlpha(51);

Here you can set the opacity between 0 (fully transparent) to 255 (completely opaque). The 51 is exactly the 20% you want.

In Android Studio there is a built-in tool to adjust the color and alpha/opacity value:

Explanation with example:
https://devdeeds.com/how-to-add-custom-color-to-views-in-xml-android-studio-ide/

> We can make transparent in dis way also.

White color code - FFFFFF

20% white - #33FFFFFF

20% — 33

70% white - #B3FFFFFF

70% — B3

All teh hex value from 100% to 0%

**100% —** **FF**,
99% — FC,
98% — FA,
97% — F7,
96% — F5,
95% — F2,
94% — F0,
93% — ED,
92% — EB,
91% — E8,
**90% —** **E6**,
89% — E3,
88% — E0,
87% — DE,
86% — DB,
85% — D9,
**84% —** **D6**,
83% — D4,
82% — D1,
81% — CF,
**80% —** **CC**,
79% — C9,
78% — C7,
77% — C4,
76% — C2,
75% — BF,
74% — BD,
73% — BA,
72% — B8,
71% — B5,
**70% — B3**,
69% — B0,
68% — **AD**,
67% — AB,
66% — A8,
65% — A6,
64% — A3,
63% — A1,
62% — 9E,
61% — 9C,
**60% —** **99**,
59% — 96,
58% — 94,
57% — 91,
56% — 8F,
55% — 8C,
54% — 8A,
53% — 87,
52% — 85,
51% — 82,
**50% —** **80**,
49% — 7D,
48% — 7A,
47% — 78,
46% — 75,
45% — 73,
44% — 70,
43% — 6E,
42% — 6B,
41% — 69,
**40% —** **66**,
39% — 63,
38% — 61,
37% — 5E,
36% — 5C,
35% — 59,
34% — 57,
33% — 54,
32% — 52,
31% — 4F,
**30% —** **4D**,
29% — 4A,
28% — 47,
27% — 45,
26% — 42,
25% — 40,
24% — 3D,
23% — 3B,
22% — 38,
21% — 36,
**20% — 33**,
19% — 30,
18% — **2E**,
17% — 2B,
16% — 29,
15% — 26,
14% — 24,
13% — 21,
12% — 1F,
11% — 1C,
**10% —** **1A**,
9% — 17,
8% — 14,
7% — 12,
6% — 0F,
5% — 0D,
4% — 0A,
3% — 08,
2% — 05,
1% — 03,
**0% —** **00**

I have taken three Views. In the first view I set full (no alpha) color, on the second view I set half (0.5 alpha) color, and on the third view I set light color (0.2 alpha).

You can set any color and get color with alpha by using the below code:

###File activity_main.xml

<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    xmlns:tools = "http://schemas.android.com/tools"
    android:layout_width = "match_parent"
    android:layout_height = "match_parent"
    android:gravity = "center"
    android:orientation = "vertical"
    tools:context = "com.example.temp.MainActivity" >

    <View
        android:id = "@+id/fullColorView"
        android:layout_width = "100dip"
        android:layout_height = "100dip" />

    <View
        android:id = "@+id/halfalphaColorView"
        android:layout_width = "100dip"
        android:layout_height = "100dip"
        android:layout_marginTop = "20dip" />

    <View
        android:id = "@+id/alphaColorView"
        android:layout_width = "100dip"
        android:layout_height = "100dip"
        android:layout_marginTop = "20dip" />

</LinearLayout>

###File MainActivity.java

public class MainActivity extends Activity {

    private View fullColorView, halfalphaColorView, alphaColorView;

    @Override
    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);

        fullColorView = (View)findViewById(R.id.fullColorView);
        halfalphaColorView = (View)findViewById(R.id.halfalphaColorView);
        alphaColorView = (View)findViewById(R.id.alphaColorView);

        fullColorView.setBackgroundColor(Color.BLUE);
        halfalphaColorView.setBackgroundColor(getColorWithAlpha(Color.BLUE, 0.5f));
        alphaColorView.setBackgroundColor(getColorWithAlpha(Color.BLUE, 0.2f));
    }


    private int getColorWithAlpha(int color, float ratio) {
        int newColor = 0;
        int alpha = Math.round(Color.alpha(color) * ratio);
        int r = Color.red(color);
        int g = Color.green(color);
        int b = Color.blue(color);
        newColor = Color.argb(alpha, r, g, b);
        return newColor;
    }
}

Kotlin version:

private fun getColorWithAlpha(color: Int, ratio: Float): Int {
  return Color.argb(Math.round(Color.alpha(color) * ratio), Color.red(color), Color.green(color), Color.blue(color))
}

Done

All hex value from 100% to 0% alpha, You can set any color with alpha values mentioned below. e.g #FAFFFFFF(AARRGGBB)

100% — FF
99% — FC
98% — FA
97% — F7
96% — F5
95% — F2
94% — F0
93% — ED
92% — EB
91% — E8
90% — E6
89% — E3
88% — E0
87% — DE
86% — DB
85% — D9
84% — D6
83% — D4
82% — D1
81% — CF
80% — CC
79% — C9
78% — C7
77% — C4
76% — C2
75% — BF
74% — BD
73% — BA
72% — B8
71% — B5
70% — B3
69% — B0
68% — AD
67% — AB
66% — A8
65% — A6
64% — A3
63% — A1
62% — 9E
61% — 9C
60% — 99
59% — 96
58% — 94
57% — 91
56% — 8F
55% — 8C
54% — 8A
53% — 87
52% — 85
51% — 82
50% — 80
49% — 7D
48% — 7A
47% — 78
46% — 75
45% — 73
44% — 70
43% — 6E
42% — 6B
41% — 69
40% — 66
39% — 63
38% — 61
37% — 5E
36% — 5C
35% — 59
34% — 57
33% — 54
32% — 52
31% — 4F
30% — 4D
29% — 4A
28% — 47
27% — 45
26% — 42
25% — 40
24% — 3D
23% — 3B
22% — 38
21% — 36
20% — 33
19% — 30
18% — 2E
17% — 2B
16% — 29
15% — 26
14% — 24
13% — 21
12% — 1F
11% — 1C
10% — 1A
9% — 17
8% — 14
7% — 12
6% — 0F
5% — 0D
4% — 0A
3% — 08
2% — 05
1% — 03
0% — 00

Now Android Studio 3.3 and later version provide an inbuilt feature to change an Alpha value of the color,

Just click on a color in Android studio editor and provide Alpha value in percentage.

For more information see below image

There is an XML value alpha that takes double values.

Since API 11+ the range is from 0f to 1f (inclusive), 0f being transparent and 1f being opaque:

• android:alpha="0.0" thats invisible

• android:alpha="0.5" see-through

• android:alpha="1.0" full visible

That's how it works.

<TextView
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:alpha="0.9"
        />

Alpha ranges between 0(transparent) and 1(opaque) in Android API 11+

if you want to make color 50% transparent in kotlin,

val percentage = 50f/100 //50%
ColorUtils.setAlphaComponent(resources.getColor(R.color.whatEverColor), (percentage * 255).toInt())

See Popularity below textView using this

     android:alpha="0.38"

XML

android:color="#3983BE00"    // Partially transparent sky blue

Dynamically

btn.getBackground().setAlpha(128); // 50% transparent

tv_name.getBackground().setAlpha(128); // 50% transparent

Where the INT ranges from 0 (fully transparent) to 255 (fully opaque).


  <TextView
            style="@style/TextAppearance.AppCompat.Caption"
            android:layout_width="match_parent"
            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
            android:alpha="0.38"
            android:gravity="start"
            android:textStyle="bold"
            tools:text="1994|EN" />

android:alpha="0.38"

Text View alpha property set 0.38 to your textView visibility is faid 

In Kotlin,you can use using alpha like this,

   //Click on On.//
    view.rel_on.setOnClickListener{
        view.rel_off.alpha= 0.2F
        view.rel_on.alpha= 1F

    }

    //Click on Off.//
    view.rel_off.setOnClickListener {
        view.rel_on.alpha= 0.2F
        view.rel_off.alpha= 1F
    }

Result is like in this screen shots.

Hope this will help you.Thanks

I would recommend use alpha attribute.

<TextView
   android:alpha="0.8" />

Or now you can use selector. Create background_color_25.xml in the colors package.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<selector xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
    <item android:alpha="0.8" android:color="@color/background_color" />
</selector>

And here is usages:

<TextView
   android:background="@color/background_color_25" />

I know, that's a very old question.

If you want use a color value, you can also use the short version of that with #ARGB. Where A is the value for the alpha channel.

In case of a white color there are the following transparency values:

#FFFF  -     0%
#EFFF  -   6,7%
#DFFF  -  13,3%
#CFFF  -  20,0%
#BFFF  -  26,7%
#AFFF  -  33,3%
#9FFF  -  40,0%
#FFF8  -  46,7%
#7FFF  -  53,3%
#6FFF  -  60,0%
#5FFF  -  66,7%
#4FFF  -  73,3%
#3FFF  -  80,0%
#2FFF  -  86,7%
#1FFF  -  93,3%
#0FFF  - 100,0%

So you can for TextView add the following line for 20% transparency:

<TextView
    android:background="#CFFF"
    ... />

Here's a programmatic solution from @Aromero's answer to calculate the hexadecimal value for the alpha channel. :)

 public static void main(String[] args) throws Exception {
    final Scanner scanner = new Scanner(System.in);
    int transPerc;
    float fPerc;
    System.out.println("Enter the transparency percentage without % symbol:");
    while((transPerc=scanner.nextInt())>=0 && transPerc <=100){
        fPerc = (float) transPerc / 100;
        transPerc = Math.round(255 * fPerc);
        System.out.println("= " + Integer.toHexString(transPerc));
        System.out.print("another one please : ");
    }
    scanner.close();
}

Try this code :)

Its an fully transparent hex code - "#00000000"