Question

RGBA is extremely fun, and so is -webkit-gradient, -moz-gradient, and uh… progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.gradient… yeah. 🙂

Is there a way to combine the two, RGBA and gradients, so that there’s gradient of alpha transparency using the current/latest CSS specs.

Answer 1

Yes. You can use rgba in both webkit and moz gradient declarations:

/* webkit example */
background-image: -webkit-gradient(
  linear, left top, left bottom, from(rgba(50,50,50,0.8)),
  to(rgba(80,80,80,0.2)), color-stop(.5,#333333)
);

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/* mozilla example - FF3.6+ */
background-image: -moz-linear-gradient(
  rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7) 0%, rgba(255, 255, 255, 0) 95%
);

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Apparently you can even do this in IE, using an odd “extended hex” syntax. The first pair (in the example 55) refers to the level of opacity:

/* approximately a 33% opacity on blue */
filter: progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.gradient(
  startColorstr=#550000FF, endColorstr=#550000FF
);

/* IE8 uses -ms-filter for whatever reason... */
-ms-filter: progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.gradient(
  startColorstr=#550000FF, endColorstr=#550000FF
);

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