Change the alpha value of a BufferedImage?

Question

How do I change the global alpha value of a BufferedImage in Java? (I.E. make every pixel in the image that has a alpha value of 100 have a alpha value of 80)

Answer 1

for a nicer looking alpha change effect, you can use relative alpha change per pixel (rather than static set, or clipping linear)

public static void modAlpha(BufferedImage modMe, double modAmount) {
        //
    for (int x = 0; x < modMe.getWidth(); x++) {          
        for (int y = 0; y < modMe.getHeight(); y++) {
                //
            int argb = modMe.getRGB(x, y); //always returns TYPE_INT_ARGB
            int alpha = (argb >> 24) & 0xff;  //isolate alpha

            alpha *= modAmount; //similar distortion to tape saturation (has scrunching effect, eliminates clipping)
            alpha &= 0xff;      //keeps alpha in 0-255 range

            argb &= 0x00ffffff; //remove old alpha info
            argb |= (alpha << 24);  //add new alpha info
            modMe.setRGB(x, y, argb);            
        }
    }
}