diff --git a/rust/src/visual.rs b/rust/src/visual.rs
index 8f2d1ba04..6bcf49f7f 100644
--- a/rust/src/visual.rs
+++ b/rust/src/visual.rs
@@ -105,6 +105,7 @@ impl NcVisualOptions {
         lenx: NcDim,
         blitter: NcBlitter,
         flags: u64,
+        transcolor: u32,
     ) -> Self {
         Self {
             // provided plane
@@ -123,6 +124,7 @@ impl NcVisualOptions {
             blitter,
             // bitmask over NCVISUAL_OPTION_*
             flags,
+            transcolor,
         }
     }
 
@@ -135,6 +137,7 @@ impl NcVisualOptions {
         lenx: NcDim,
         blitter: NcBlitter,
         flags: u64,
+        transcolor: u32,
     ) -> Self {
         Self {
             n: null_mut(),
@@ -152,6 +155,7 @@ impl NcVisualOptions {
             blitter,
             // bitmask over NCVISUAL_OPTION_*
             flags,
+            transcolor,
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/lib/blit.c b/src/lib/blit.c
index 277059848..f1535a755 100644
--- a/src/lib/blit.c
+++ b/src/lib/blit.c
@@ -31,6 +31,11 @@ trilerp(uint32_t c0, uint32_t c1, uint32_t c2){
   return ret;
 }
 
+static inline unsigned
+rgba_trans_q(const unsigned char* p, uint32_t transcolor){
+  return rgba_trans_p(*(const uint32_t*)p, transcolor);
+}
+
 // Retarded RGBA blitter (ASCII only).
 static inline int
 tria_blit_ascii(ncplane* nc, int linesize, const void* data,
@@ -66,7 +71,7 @@ tria_blit_ascii(ncplane* nc, int linesize, const void* data,
         cell_set_bg_alpha(c, CELL_ALPHA_BLEND);
         cell_set_fg_alpha(c, CELL_ALPHA_BLEND);
       }
-      if(rgba_trans_p(rgbbase_up[3])){
+      if(rgba_trans_q(rgbbase_up, bargs->transcolor)){
         cell_set_bg_alpha(c, CELL_ALPHA_TRANSPARENT);
         cell_set_fg_alpha(c, CELL_ALPHA_TRANSPARENT);
         cell_set_blitquadrants(c, 0, 0, 0, 0);
@@ -90,6 +95,7 @@ static inline int
 tria_blit(ncplane* nc, int linesize, const void* data,
           int leny, int lenx, const blitterargs* bargs){
 //fprintf(stderr, "HALF %d X %d @ %d X %d (%p) place: %d X %d\n", leny, lenx, bargs->begy, bargs->begx, data, bargs->placey, bargs->placex);
+  uint32_t transcolor = bargs->transcolor;
   const int bpp = 32;
   int dimy, dimx, x, y;
   int total = 0; // number of cells written
@@ -124,11 +130,11 @@ tria_blit(ncplane* nc, int linesize, const void* data,
         cell_set_bg_alpha(c, CELL_ALPHA_BLEND);
         cell_set_fg_alpha(c, CELL_ALPHA_BLEND);
       }
-      if(rgba_trans_p(rgbbase_up[3]) || rgba_trans_p(rgbbase_down[3])){
+      if(rgba_trans_q(rgbbase_up, transcolor) || rgba_trans_q(rgbbase_down, transcolor)){
         cell_set_bg_alpha(c, CELL_ALPHA_TRANSPARENT);
-        if(rgba_trans_p(rgbbase_up[3]) && rgba_trans_p(rgbbase_down[3])){
+        if(rgba_trans_q(rgbbase_up, transcolor) && rgba_trans_q(rgbbase_down, transcolor)){
           cell_set_fg_alpha(c, CELL_ALPHA_TRANSPARENT);
-        }else if(rgba_trans_p(rgbbase_up[3])){ // down has the color
+        }else if(rgba_trans_q(rgbbase_up, transcolor)){ // down has the color
           if(pool_blit_direct(&nc->pool, c, "\u2584", strlen("\u2584"), 1) <= 0){
             return -1;
           }
@@ -307,20 +313,21 @@ quadrant_solver(uint32_t tl, uint32_t tr, uint32_t bl, uint32_t br,
 static inline const char*
 qtrans_check(nccell* c, unsigned blendcolors,
              const unsigned char* rgbbase_tl, const unsigned char* rgbbase_tr,
-             const unsigned char* rgbbase_bl, const unsigned char* rgbbase_br){
+             const unsigned char* rgbbase_bl, const unsigned char* rgbbase_br,
+             uint32_t transcolor){
   uint32_t tl = 0, tr = 0, bl = 0, br = 0;
   channel_set_rgb8(&tl, rgbbase_tl[0], rgbbase_tl[1], rgbbase_tl[2]);
   channel_set_rgb8(&tr, rgbbase_tr[0], rgbbase_tr[1], rgbbase_tr[2]);
   channel_set_rgb8(&bl, rgbbase_bl[0], rgbbase_bl[1], rgbbase_bl[2]);
   channel_set_rgb8(&br, rgbbase_br[0], rgbbase_br[1], rgbbase_br[2]);
   const char* egc = NULL;
-  if(rgba_trans_p(rgbbase_tl[3])){
+  if(rgba_trans_q(rgbbase_tl, transcolor)){
     // top left is transparent
-    if(rgba_trans_p(rgbbase_tr[3])){
+    if(rgba_trans_q(rgbbase_tr, transcolor)){
       // all of top is transparent
-      if(rgba_trans_p(rgbbase_bl[3])){
+      if(rgba_trans_q(rgbbase_bl, transcolor)){
         // top and left are transparent
-        if(rgba_trans_p(rgbbase_br[3])){
+        if(rgba_trans_q(rgbbase_br, transcolor)){
           // entirety is transparent, load with nul (but not NULL)
           cell_set_fg_default(c);
           cell_set_blitquadrants(c, 0, 0, 0, 0);
@@ -331,7 +338,7 @@ qtrans_check(nccell* c, unsigned blendcolors,
           egc = "▗";
         }
       }else{
-        if(rgba_trans_p(rgbbase_br[3])){
+        if(rgba_trans_q(rgbbase_br, transcolor)){
           cell_set_fg_rgb8(c, rgbbase_bl[0], rgbbase_bl[1], rgbbase_bl[2]);
           cell_set_blitquadrants(c, 0, 0, 1, 0);
           egc = "▖";
@@ -342,8 +349,8 @@ qtrans_check(nccell* c, unsigned blendcolors,
         }
       }
     }else{ // top right is foreground, top left is transparent
-      if(rgba_trans_p(rgbbase_bl[3])){
-        if(rgba_trans_p(rgbbase_br[3])){ // entire bottom is transparent
+      if(rgba_trans_q(rgbbase_bl, transcolor)){
+        if(rgba_trans_q(rgbbase_br, transcolor)){ // entire bottom is transparent
           cell_set_fg_rgb8(c, rgbbase_tr[0], rgbbase_tr[1], rgbbase_tr[2]);
           cell_set_blitquadrants(c, 0, 1, 0, 0);
           egc = "▝";
@@ -352,7 +359,7 @@ qtrans_check(nccell* c, unsigned blendcolors,
           cell_set_blitquadrants(c, 0, 1, 0, 1);
           egc = "▐";
         }
-      }else if(rgba_trans_p(rgbbase_br[3])){ // only br is transparent
+      }else if(rgba_trans_q(rgbbase_br, transcolor)){ // only br is transparent
         cell_set_fchannel(c, lerp(tr, bl));
         cell_set_blitquadrants(c, 0, 1, 1, 0);
         egc = "▞";
@@ -363,9 +370,9 @@ qtrans_check(nccell* c, unsigned blendcolors,
       }
     }
   }else{ // topleft is foreground for all here
-    if(rgba_trans_p(rgbbase_tr[3])){
-      if(rgba_trans_p(rgbbase_bl[3])){
-        if(rgba_trans_p(rgbbase_br[3])){
+    if(rgba_trans_q(rgbbase_tr, transcolor)){
+      if(rgba_trans_q(rgbbase_bl, transcolor)){
+        if(rgba_trans_q(rgbbase_br, transcolor)){
           cell_set_fg_rgb8(c, rgbbase_tl[0], rgbbase_tl[1], rgbbase_tl[2]);
           cell_set_blitquadrants(c, 1, 0, 0, 0);
           egc = "▘";
@@ -374,7 +381,7 @@ qtrans_check(nccell* c, unsigned blendcolors,
           cell_set_blitquadrants(c, 1, 0, 0, 1);
           egc = "▚";
         }
-      }else if(rgba_trans_p(rgbbase_br[3])){
+      }else if(rgba_trans_q(rgbbase_br, transcolor)){
         cell_set_fchannel(c, lerp(tl, bl));
         cell_set_blitquadrants(c, 1, 0, 1, 0);
         egc = "▌";
@@ -383,8 +390,8 @@ qtrans_check(nccell* c, unsigned blendcolors,
         cell_set_blitquadrants(c, 1, 0, 1, 1);
         egc = "▙";
       }
-    }else if(rgba_trans_p(rgbbase_bl[3])){
-      if(rgba_trans_p(rgbbase_br[3])){ // entire bottom is transparent
+    }else if(rgba_trans_q(rgbbase_bl, transcolor)){
+      if(rgba_trans_q(rgbbase_br, transcolor)){ // entire bottom is transparent
         cell_set_fchannel(c, lerp(tl, tr));
         cell_set_blitquadrants(c, 1, 1, 0, 0);
         egc = "▀";
@@ -393,7 +400,7 @@ qtrans_check(nccell* c, unsigned blendcolors,
         cell_set_blitquadrants(c, 1, 1, 0, 1);
         egc = "▜";
       }
-    }else if(rgba_trans_p(rgbbase_br[3])){ // only br is transparent
+    }else if(rgba_trans_q(rgbbase_br, transcolor)){ // only br is transparent
       cell_set_fchannel(c, trilerp(tl, tr, bl));
       cell_set_blitquadrants(c, 1, 1, 1, 0);
       egc = "▛";
@@ -454,7 +461,7 @@ quadrant_blit(ncplane* nc, int linesize, const void* data,
       nccell* c = ncplane_cell_ref_yx(nc, y, x);
       c->channels = 0;
       c->stylemask = 0;
-      const char* egc = qtrans_check(c, bargs->u.cell.blendcolors, rgbbase_tl, rgbbase_tr, rgbbase_bl, rgbbase_br);
+      const char* egc = qtrans_check(c, bargs->u.cell.blendcolors, rgbbase_tl, rgbbase_tr, rgbbase_bl, rgbbase_br, bargs->transcolor);
       if(egc == NULL){
         uint32_t tl = 0, tr = 0, bl = 0, br = 0;
         channel_set_rgb8(&tl, rgbbase_tl[0], rgbbase_tl[1], rgbbase_tl[2]);
@@ -587,7 +594,8 @@ sex_solver(const uint32_t rgbas[6], uint64_t* channels, unsigned blendcolors){
 }
 
 static const char*
-sex_trans_check(cell* c, const uint32_t rgbas[6], unsigned blendcolors){
+sex_trans_check(cell* c, const uint32_t rgbas[6], unsigned blendcolors,
+                uint32_t transcolor){
   // bit is *set* where sextant *is not*
   // 32: bottom right 16: bottom left
   //  8: middle right  4: middle left
@@ -606,7 +614,7 @@ sex_trans_check(cell* c, const uint32_t rgbas[6], unsigned blendcolors){
   unsigned r = 0, g = 0, b = 0;
   unsigned div = 0;
   for(unsigned mask = 0 ; mask < 6 ; ++mask){
-    if(rgba_trans_p(ncpixel_a(rgbas[mask]))){
+    if(rgba_trans_p(rgbas[mask], transcolor)){
       transstring |= (1u << mask);
     }else{
       r += ncpixel_r(rgbas[mask]);
@@ -684,7 +692,7 @@ sextant_blit(ncplane* nc, int linesize, const void* data,
       nccell* c = ncplane_cell_ref_yx(nc, y, x);
       c->channels = 0;
       c->stylemask = 0;
-      const char* egc = sex_trans_check(c, rgbas, bargs->u.cell.blendcolors);
+      const char* egc = sex_trans_check(c, rgbas, bargs->u.cell.blendcolors, bargs->transcolor);
       if(egc == NULL){ // no transparency; run a full solver
         egc = sex_solver(rgbas, &c->channels, bargs->u.cell.blendcolors);
         cell_set_blitquadrants(c, 1, 1, 1, 1);
@@ -771,35 +779,35 @@ braille_blit(ncplane* nc, int linesize, const void* data,
         }
       }
       // FIXME fold this into the above?
-      if(!rgba_trans_p(ncpixel_a(*rgbbase_l0))){
+      if(!rgba_trans_p(*rgbbase_l0, bargs->transcolor)){
         egcidx |= 1u;
         fold_rgb8(&r, &g, &b, rgbbase_l0, &blends);
       }
-      if(!rgba_trans_p(ncpixel_a(*rgbbase_l1))){
+      if(!rgba_trans_p(*rgbbase_l1, bargs->transcolor)){
         egcidx |= 2u;
         fold_rgb8(&r, &g, &b, rgbbase_l1, &blends);
       }
-      if(!rgba_trans_p(ncpixel_a(*rgbbase_l2))){
+      if(!rgba_trans_p(*rgbbase_l2, bargs->transcolor)){
         egcidx |= 4u;
         fold_rgb8(&r, &g, &b, rgbbase_l2, &blends);
       }
-      if(!rgba_trans_p(ncpixel_a(*rgbbase_r0))){
+      if(!rgba_trans_p(*rgbbase_r0, bargs->transcolor)){
         egcidx |= 8u;
         fold_rgb8(&r, &g, &b, rgbbase_r0, &blends);
       }
-      if(!rgba_trans_p(ncpixel_a(*rgbbase_r1))){
+      if(!rgba_trans_p(*rgbbase_r1, bargs->transcolor)){
         egcidx |= 16u;
         fold_rgb8(&r, &g, &b, rgbbase_r1, &blends);
       }
-      if(!rgba_trans_p(ncpixel_a(*rgbbase_r2))){
+      if(!rgba_trans_p(*rgbbase_r2, bargs->transcolor)){
         egcidx |= 32u;
         fold_rgb8(&r, &g, &b, rgbbase_r2, &blends);
       }
-      if(!rgba_trans_p(ncpixel_a(*rgbbase_l3))){
+      if(!rgba_trans_p(*rgbbase_l3, bargs->transcolor)){
         egcidx |= 64u;
         fold_rgb8(&r, &g, &b, rgbbase_l3, &blends);
       }
-      if(!rgba_trans_p(ncpixel_a(*rgbbase_r3))){
+      if(!rgba_trans_p(*rgbbase_r3, bargs->transcolor)){
         egcidx |= 128u;
         fold_rgb8(&r, &g, &b, rgbbase_r3, &blends);
       }
diff --git a/src/lib/internal.h b/src/lib/internal.h
index 2c9301e11..300dc04b5 100644
--- a/src/lib/internal.h
+++ b/src/lib/internal.h
@@ -1370,10 +1370,17 @@ int drop_signals(void* nc);
 void ncvisual_printbanner(const notcurses* nc);
 
 // alpha comes to us 0--255, but we have only 3 alpha values to map them to.
-// settled on experimentally.
+// settled on experimentally. if transcolor is non-zero, match its lower 24
+// bits against the color, and treat a match as transparent.
 static inline bool
-rgba_trans_p(unsigned alpha){
-  if(alpha < 192){
+rgba_trans_p(uint32_t p, uint32_t transcolor){
+  if(ncpixel_a(p) < 192){
+    return true;
+  }
+  if(transcolor && 
+      (ncpixel_r(p) == (transcolor & 0xff0000ull)) &&
+      (ncpixel_g(p) == (transcolor & 0xff00ull)) &&
+      (ncpixel_b(p) == (transcolor & 0xffull))){
     return true;
   }
   return false;
diff --git a/src/lib/kitty.c b/src/lib/kitty.c
index c89d3fde9..f9f31edaa 100644
--- a/src/lib/kitty.c
+++ b/src/lib/kitty.c
@@ -53,12 +53,13 @@ b64idx(char b64){
 // is only 1 pixel available, those 32 bits become 8 bytes. (pcount + 1) * 4
 // bytes are used, plus a null terminator. we thus must receive 17.
 static inline void
-base64_rgba3(const uint32_t* pixels, size_t pcount, char* b64, bool wipe[static 3]){
+base64_rgba3(const uint32_t* pixels, size_t pcount, char* b64, bool wipe[static 3],
+             uint32_t transcolor){
   uint32_t pixel = *pixels++;
   unsigned r = ncpixel_r(pixel);
   unsigned g = ncpixel_g(pixel);
   unsigned b = ncpixel_b(pixel);
-  unsigned a = wipe[0] ? 0 : rgba_trans_p(ncpixel_a(pixel)) ? 0 : 255;
+  unsigned a = wipe[0] ? 0 : rgba_trans_p(pixel, transcolor) ? 0 : 255;
 //fprintf(stderr, "WIPE: %d %d %d\n", wipe[0], wipe[1], wipe[2]);
   b64[0] = b64subs[(r & 0xfc) >> 2];
   b64[1] = b64subs[(r & 0x3 << 4) | ((g & 0xf0) >> 4)];
@@ -77,7 +78,7 @@ base64_rgba3(const uint32_t* pixels, size_t pcount, char* b64, bool wipe[static
   r = ncpixel_r(pixel);
   g = ncpixel_g(pixel);
   b = ncpixel_b(pixel);
-  a = wipe[1] ? 0 : rgba_trans_p(ncpixel_a(pixel)) ? 0 : 255;
+  a = wipe[1] ? 0 : rgba_trans_p(pixel, transcolor) ? 0 : 255;
   b64[5] = b64subs[b64[5] | ((r & 0xf0) >> 4)];
   b64[6] = b64subs[((r & 0xf) << 2) | ((g & 0xc0) >> 6u)];
   b64[7] = b64subs[g & 0x3f];
@@ -94,7 +95,7 @@ base64_rgba3(const uint32_t* pixels, size_t pcount, char* b64, bool wipe[static
   r = ncpixel_r(pixel);
   g = ncpixel_g(pixel);
   b = ncpixel_b(pixel);
-  a = wipe[2] ? 0 : rgba_trans_p(ncpixel_a(pixel)) ? 0 : 255;
+  a = wipe[2] ? 0 : rgba_trans_p(pixel, transcolor) ? 0 : 255;
   b64[10] = b64subs[b64[10] | ((r & 0xc0) >> 6)];
   b64[11] = b64subs[r & 0x3f];
   b64[12] = b64subs[(g & 0xfc) >> 2];
@@ -227,7 +228,8 @@ int sprite_kitty_cell_wipe(const notcurses* nc, sprixel* s, int ycell, int xcell
 static int
 write_kitty_data(FILE* fp, int linesize, int leny, int lenx,
                  int cols, const uint32_t* data, int cdimy, int cdimx,
-                 int sprixelid, sprixcell_e* tacache, int* parse_start){
+                 int sprixelid, sprixcell_e* tacache, int* parse_start,
+                 uint32_t transcolor){
   if(linesize % sizeof(*data)){
     fclose(fp);
     return -1;
@@ -271,7 +273,7 @@ write_kitty_data(FILE* fp, int linesize, int leny, int lenx,
           wipe[e] = 1;
         }else{
           wipe[e] = 0;
-          if(rgba_trans_p(ncpixel_a(source[e]))){
+          if(rgba_trans_p(source[e], transcolor)){
             tacache[tyx] = SPRIXCELL_CONTAINS_TRANS;
           }
         }
@@ -279,7 +281,7 @@ write_kitty_data(FILE* fp, int linesize, int leny, int lenx,
       }
       totalout += encodeable;
       char out[17];
-      base64_rgba3(source, encodeable, out, wipe);
+      base64_rgba3(source, encodeable, out, wipe, transcolor);
       ncfputs(out, fp);
     }
     fprintf(fp, "\e\\");
@@ -326,7 +328,8 @@ int kitty_blit(ncplane* n, int linesize, const void* data,
   // closes fp on all paths
   if(write_kitty_data(fp, linesize, leny, lenx, cols, data,
                       bargs->u.pixel.celldimy, bargs->u.pixel.celldimx,
-                      bargs->u.pixel.spx->id, tacache, &parse_start)){
+                      bargs->u.pixel.spx->id, tacache, &parse_start,
+                      bargs->transcolor)){
     if(!reuse){
       free(tacache);
     }
diff --git a/src/lib/sixel.c b/src/lib/sixel.c
index bb90a4be7..d8b8074fe 100644
--- a/src/lib/sixel.c
+++ b/src/lib/sixel.c
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ update_deets(uint32_t rgb, cdetails* deets){
 static inline int
 extract_color_table(const uint32_t* data, int linesize, int begy, int begx, int cols,
                     int leny, int lenx, int cdimy, int cdimx, sixeltable* stab,
-                    sprixcell_e* tacache){
+                    sprixcell_e* tacache, uint32_t transcolor){
   unsigned char mask = 0xc0;
   int pos = 0; // pixel position
   for(int visy = begy ; visy < (begy + leny) ; visy += 6){ // pixel row
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ extract_color_table(const uint32_t* data, int linesize, int begy, int begx, int
       for(int sy = visy ; sy < (begy + leny) && sy < visy + 6 ; ++sy){ // offset within sprixel
         const uint32_t* rgb = (data + (linesize / 4 * sy) + visx);
         int txyidx = (sy / cdimy) * cols + (visx / cdimx);
-        if(rgba_trans_p(ncpixel_a(*rgb))){
+        if(rgba_trans_p(ncpixel_a(*rgb), transcolor)){
           if(tacache[txyidx] == SPRIXCELL_NORMAL){
             tacache[txyidx] = SPRIXCELL_CONTAINS_TRANS;
           }
@@ -460,7 +460,7 @@ int sixel_blit(ncplane* n, int linesize, const void* data,
   }
   if(extract_color_table(data, linesize, bargs->begy, bargs->begx, cols, leny, lenx,
                          bargs->u.pixel.celldimy, bargs->u.pixel.celldimx,
-                         &stable, tacache)){
+                         &stable, tacache, bargs->transcolor)){
     if(!reuse){
       free(tacache);
     }