diff --git a/diylc/diylc-core/src/main/java/org/diylc/components/AbstractCurvedComponent.java b/diylc/diylc-core/src/main/java/org/diylc/components/AbstractCurvedComponent.java
index 69458fa4..983eb7d0 100644
--- a/diylc/diylc-core/src/main/java/org/diylc/components/AbstractCurvedComponent.java
+++ b/diylc/diylc-core/src/main/java/org/diylc/components/AbstractCurvedComponent.java
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ public abstract class AbstractCurvedComponent<T> extends AbstractTransparentComp
    * @param curve
    * @param g2d
    * @param componentState
-   * @param theme
+   * @param drawingObserver
    */
   protected abstract void drawCurve(Path2D curve, Graphics2D g2d, ComponentState componentState,
       IDrawingObserver drawingObserver);
diff --git a/diylc/diylc-core/src/main/java/org/diylc/components/AbstractTransparentComponent.java b/diylc/diylc-core/src/main/java/org/diylc/components/AbstractTransparentComponent.java
index 78a9615d..52b18e84 100644
--- a/diylc/diylc-core/src/main/java/org/diylc/components/AbstractTransparentComponent.java
+++ b/diylc/diylc-core/src/main/java/org/diylc/components/AbstractTransparentComponent.java
@@ -29,10 +29,13 @@ public abstract class AbstractTransparentComponent<T> extends AbstractComponent<
 
   public static byte MAX_ALPHA = 127;
 
-  protected byte alpha = MAX_ALPHA;
+  protected Byte alpha = MAX_ALPHA;
 
   @EditableProperty
   public Byte getAlpha() {
+    if (alpha == null) {
+      alpha = MAX_ALPHA;
+    }
     return alpha;
   }
 
diff --git a/diylc/diylc-library/src/main/java/org/diylc/components/AbstractLeadedComponent.java b/diylc/diylc-library/src/main/java/org/diylc/components/AbstractLeadedComponent.java
index cdb8d891..fe9d7d3f 100644
--- a/diylc/diylc-library/src/main/java/org/diylc/components/AbstractLeadedComponent.java
+++ b/diylc/diylc-library/src/main/java/org/diylc/components/AbstractLeadedComponent.java
@@ -441,7 +441,11 @@ public abstract class AbstractLeadedComponent<T> extends AbstractLabeledComponen
         stroke = ObjectCache.getInstance().fetchStroke(thickness, new float[] {thickness / 4, thickness * 4}, 0, BasicStroke.CAP_ROUND);
         break;
     }
-    
+
+    Composite oldComposite = g2d.getComposite();
+    if (getAlpha() < MAX_ALPHA) {
+      g2d.setComposite(AlphaComposite.getInstance(AlphaComposite.SRC_OVER, 1f * getAlpha() / MAX_ALPHA));
+    }
     if (shouldShadeLeads()) {     
       Shape lineShape = stroke.createStrokedShape(line);
       
@@ -463,6 +467,7 @@ public abstract class AbstractLeadedComponent<T> extends AbstractLabeledComponen
       if (isCopperArea)
         observer.stopTrackingContinuityArea();
     }
+    g2d.setComposite(oldComposite);
   }
 
   protected LineStyle getStyle() {
diff --git a/diylc/diylc-library/src/main/java/org/diylc/components/connectivity/CopperTrace.java b/diylc/diylc-library/src/main/java/org/diylc/components/connectivity/CopperTrace.java
index baff2381..f0862538 100644
--- a/diylc/diylc-library/src/main/java/org/diylc/components/connectivity/CopperTrace.java
+++ b/diylc/diylc-library/src/main/java/org/diylc/components/connectivity/CopperTrace.java
@@ -133,11 +133,6 @@ public class CopperTrace extends AbstractLeadedComponent<Void> implements ILayer
     return super.getBorderColor();
   }
 
-  @Override
-  public Byte getAlpha() {
-    return super.getAlpha();
-  }
-
   @Override
   public Size getLength() {
     return super.getLength();
diff --git a/diylc/diylc-library/src/main/java/org/diylc/components/connectivity/CurvedTrace.java b/diylc/diylc-library/src/main/java/org/diylc/components/connectivity/CurvedTrace.java
index 56a3608a..0b35f1df 100644
--- a/diylc/diylc-library/src/main/java/org/diylc/components/connectivity/CurvedTrace.java
+++ b/diylc/diylc-library/src/main/java/org/diylc/components/connectivity/CurvedTrace.java
@@ -111,11 +111,6 @@ public class CurvedTrace extends AbstractCurvedComponent<Void> implements ILayer
   @Override
   public void setValue(Void value) {}
 
-  @Override
-  public Byte getAlpha() {
-    return super.getAlpha();
-  }
-
   @Override
   public void setAlpha(Byte alpha) {
     super.setAlpha(alpha);
diff --git a/diylc/diylc-library/src/main/java/org/diylc/components/connectivity/Eyelet.java b/diylc/diylc-library/src/main/java/org/diylc/components/connectivity/Eyelet.java
index c202a7db..3e74d70c 100644
--- a/diylc/diylc-library/src/main/java/org/diylc/components/connectivity/Eyelet.java
+++ b/diylc/diylc-library/src/main/java/org/diylc/components/connectivity/Eyelet.java
@@ -21,13 +21,13 @@
 */
 package org.diylc.components.connectivity;
 
-import java.awt.Color;
-import java.awt.Graphics2D;
+import java.awt.*;
 import java.awt.geom.Point2D;
 import java.awt.geom.Rectangle2D;
 
 import org.diylc.common.ObjectCache;
 import org.diylc.components.AbstractComponent;
+import org.diylc.components.AbstractTransparentComponent;
 import org.diylc.components.transform.SimpleComponentTransformer;
 import org.diylc.core.ComponentState;
 import org.diylc.core.IDIYComponent;
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ import org.diylc.utils.Constants;
     zOrder = IDIYComponent.TRACE + 0.1, bomPolicy = BomPolicy.SHOW_ONLY_TYPE_NAME, autoEdit = false,
     keywordPolicy = KeywordPolicy.SHOW_TYPE_NAME, transformer = SimpleComponentTransformer.class,
     enableCache = true)
-public class Eyelet extends AbstractComponent<String> {
+public class Eyelet extends AbstractTransparentComponent<String> {
 
   private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
@@ -71,6 +71,12 @@ public class Eyelet extends AbstractComponent<String> {
     }
     int diameter = getClosestOdd((int) size.convertToPixels());
     int holeDiameter = getClosestOdd((int) holeSize.convertToPixels());
+
+    Composite oldComposite = g2d.getComposite();
+    if (getAlpha() < MAX_ALPHA) {
+      g2d.setComposite(AlphaComposite.getInstance(AlphaComposite.SRC_OVER, 1f * getAlpha() / MAX_ALPHA));
+    }
+
     g2d.setStroke(ObjectCache.getInstance().fetchBasicStroke(1f));
     g2d.setColor(color);
     drawingObserver.startTrackingContinuityArea(true);
@@ -84,6 +90,8 @@ public class Eyelet extends AbstractComponent<String> {
     g2d.setColor(componentState == ComponentState.SELECTED || componentState == ComponentState.DRAGGING ? SELECTION_COLOR
         : color.darker());
     g2d.drawOval((int)(point.getX() - holeDiameter / 2), (int)(point.getY() - holeDiameter / 2), holeDiameter, holeDiameter);
+
+    g2d.setComposite(oldComposite);
   }
 
   @Override
diff --git a/diylc/diylc-library/src/main/java/org/diylc/components/connectivity/GroundFill.java b/diylc/diylc-library/src/main/java/org/diylc/components/connectivity/GroundFill.java
index 0db6d4ac..ac6d255f 100644
--- a/diylc/diylc-library/src/main/java/org/diylc/components/connectivity/GroundFill.java
+++ b/diylc/diylc-library/src/main/java/org/diylc/components/connectivity/GroundFill.java
@@ -21,8 +21,7 @@
 */
 package org.diylc.components.connectivity;
 
-import java.awt.Color;
-import java.awt.Graphics2D;
+import java.awt.*;
 import java.awt.geom.Point2D;
 import java.util.Arrays;
 import java.util.EnumSet;
@@ -33,6 +32,7 @@ import com.bancika.gerberwriter.GerberFunctions;
 import org.diylc.common.ObjectCache;
 import org.diylc.common.PCBLayer;
 import org.diylc.components.AbstractComponent;
+import org.diylc.components.AbstractTransparentComponent;
 import org.diylc.components.transform.SimpleComponentTransformer;
 import org.diylc.core.ComponentState;
 import org.diylc.core.IDIYComponent;
@@ -52,7 +52,8 @@ import org.diylc.core.measures.SizeUnit;
 @ComponentDescriptor(name = "Ground Fill", author = "Branislav Stojkovic", category = "Connectivity",
     instanceNamePrefix = "GF", description = "Polygonal ground fill area", zOrder = IDIYComponent.TRACE,
     bomPolicy = BomPolicy.NEVER_SHOW, autoEdit = false, transformer = SimpleComponentTransformer.class)
-public class GroundFill extends AbstractComponent<Void> implements ILayeredComponent, IGerberComponentSimple {
+public class GroundFill extends AbstractTransparentComponent<Void>
+    implements ILayeredComponent, IGerberComponentSimple {
 
   private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
@@ -83,7 +84,12 @@ public class GroundFill extends AbstractComponent<Void> implements ILayeredCompo
       yPoints[i] = (int)controlPoints[i].getY();
     }
     drawingObserver.startTrackingContinuityArea(true);
+    Composite oldComposite = g2d.getComposite();
+    if (getAlpha() < MAX_ALPHA) {
+      g2d.setComposite(AlphaComposite.getInstance(AlphaComposite.SRC_OVER, 1f * getAlpha() / MAX_ALPHA));
+    }
     g2d.fillPolygon(xPoints, yPoints, controlPoints.length);
+    g2d.setComposite(oldComposite);
     drawingObserver.stopTrackingContinuityArea();
     // Do not track any changes that follow because the whole board has been
     // tracked so far.
diff --git a/diylc/diylc-library/src/main/java/org/diylc/components/connectivity/Jumper.java b/diylc/diylc-library/src/main/java/org/diylc/components/connectivity/Jumper.java
index 2f69dd61..61d281cf 100644
--- a/diylc/diylc-library/src/main/java/org/diylc/components/connectivity/Jumper.java
+++ b/diylc/diylc-library/src/main/java/org/diylc/components/connectivity/Jumper.java
@@ -103,11 +103,6 @@ public class Jumper extends AbstractLeadedComponent<Void> implements IContinuity
     return super.getBorderColor();
   }
 
-  @Override
-  public Byte getAlpha() {
-    return super.getAlpha();
-  }
-
   @Override
   public Size getLength() {
     return super.getLength();
diff --git a/diylc/diylc-library/src/main/java/org/diylc/components/connectivity/Line.java b/diylc/diylc-library/src/main/java/org/diylc/components/connectivity/Line.java
index 0b0234d2..9da327a5 100644
--- a/diylc/diylc-library/src/main/java/org/diylc/components/connectivity/Line.java
+++ b/diylc/diylc-library/src/main/java/org/diylc/components/connectivity/Line.java
@@ -233,11 +233,6 @@ public class Line extends AbstractLeadedComponent<Void> {
     return super.getBorderColor();
   }
 
-  @Override
-  public Byte getAlpha() {
-    return super.getAlpha();
-  }
-
   @Override
   public Size getLength() {
     return super.getLength();
diff --git a/diylc/diylc-library/src/main/java/org/diylc/components/connectivity/SolderPad.java b/diylc/diylc-library/src/main/java/org/diylc/components/connectivity/SolderPad.java
index e734cca6..ebd05240 100644
--- a/diylc/diylc-library/src/main/java/org/diylc/components/connectivity/SolderPad.java
+++ b/diylc/diylc-library/src/main/java/org/diylc/components/connectivity/SolderPad.java
@@ -17,8 +17,7 @@
  */
 package org.diylc.components.connectivity;
 
-import java.awt.Color;
-import java.awt.Graphics2D;
+import java.awt.*;
 import java.awt.geom.Ellipse2D;
 import java.awt.geom.Point2D;
 import java.awt.geom.Rectangle2D;
@@ -29,6 +28,7 @@ import com.bancika.gerberwriter.GerberFunctions;
 
 import org.diylc.common.PCBLayer;
 import org.diylc.components.AbstractComponent;
+import org.diylc.components.AbstractTransparentComponent;
 import org.diylc.components.transform.SimpleComponentTransformer;
 import org.diylc.core.ComponentState;
 import org.diylc.core.IDIYComponent;
@@ -55,7 +55,8 @@ import org.diylc.utils.Constants;
     zOrder = IDIYComponent.TRACE + 0.1, bomPolicy = BomPolicy.NEVER_SHOW, autoEdit = false,
     keywordPolicy = KeywordPolicy.SHOW_TAG, keywordTag = "PCB",
     transformer = SimpleComponentTransformer.class, enableCache = true)
-public class SolderPad extends AbstractComponent<Void> implements ILayeredComponent, IGerberComponentCustom {
+public class SolderPad extends AbstractTransparentComponent<Void>
+    implements ILayeredComponent, IGerberComponentCustom {
 
   private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
@@ -90,6 +91,11 @@ public class SolderPad extends AbstractComponent<Void> implements ILayeredCompon
       gerberDrawingObserver.startGerberOutput(gerberCopperLayer, GerberFunctions.CONNECTOR_PAD, false);
       gerberDrawingObserver.startGerberOutput(org.diylc.core.gerber.GerberLayer.SolderMaskBot, "Material", false);
     }
+    Composite oldComposite = g2d.getComposite();
+    if (getAlpha() < MAX_ALPHA) {
+      g2d.setComposite(AlphaComposite.getInstance(AlphaComposite.SRC_OVER, 1f * getAlpha() / MAX_ALPHA));
+    }
+
     if (type == Type.ROUND) {
       g2d.fill(new Ellipse2D.Double(point.getX() - diameter / 2, point.getY() - diameter / 2,
           diameter, diameter));
@@ -116,6 +122,7 @@ public class SolderPad extends AbstractComponent<Void> implements ILayeredCompon
       g2d.fill(new Ellipse2D.Double(point.getX() - holeDiameter / 2,
           point.getY() - holeDiameter / 2, holeDiameter, holeDiameter));
     }
+    g2d.setComposite(oldComposite);
     if (gerberDrawingObserver != null)
       gerberDrawingObserver.stopGerberOutput();
   }
diff --git a/diylc/diylc-library/src/main/java/org/diylc/components/connectivity/TraceCut.java b/diylc/diylc-library/src/main/java/org/diylc/components/connectivity/TraceCut.java
index 3bc979a3..4cc3964f 100644
--- a/diylc/diylc-library/src/main/java/org/diylc/components/connectivity/TraceCut.java
+++ b/diylc/diylc-library/src/main/java/org/diylc/components/connectivity/TraceCut.java
@@ -21,14 +21,14 @@
 */
 package org.diylc.components.connectivity;
 
-import java.awt.Color;
-import java.awt.Graphics2D;
+import java.awt.*;
 import java.awt.geom.Point2D;
 import java.awt.geom.Rectangle2D;
 
 import org.diylc.common.ObjectCache;
 import org.diylc.common.OrientationHV;
 import org.diylc.components.AbstractComponent;
+import org.diylc.components.AbstractTransparentComponent;
 import org.diylc.components.boards.AbstractBoard;
 import org.diylc.components.boards.VeroBoard;
 import org.diylc.components.transform.SimpleComponentTransformer;
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ import org.diylc.utils.Constants;
     description = "Designates the place where a trace on the vero board needs to be cut", instanceNamePrefix = "Cut",
     zOrder = IDIYComponent.BOARD + 1, bomPolicy = BomPolicy.NEVER_SHOW, autoEdit = false,
     transformer = SimpleComponentTransformer.class, enableCache = true)
-public class TraceCut extends AbstractComponent<Void> implements ILayeredComponent {
+public class TraceCut extends AbstractTransparentComponent<Void> implements ILayeredComponent {
 
   private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
@@ -79,6 +79,10 @@ public class TraceCut extends AbstractComponent<Void> implements ILayeredCompone
     if (checkPointsClipped(g2d.getClip())) {
       return;
     }
+    Composite oldComposite = g2d.getComposite();
+    if (getAlpha() < MAX_ALPHA) {
+      g2d.setComposite(AlphaComposite.getInstance(AlphaComposite.SRC_OVER, 1f * getAlpha() / MAX_ALPHA));
+    }
     g2d.setStroke(ObjectCache.getInstance().fetchZoomableStroke(1f));
     int size = getClosestOdd((int) this.size.convertToPixels());
     int cutWidth = getClosestOdd((int) CUT_WIDTH.convertToPixels());
@@ -105,6 +109,7 @@ public class TraceCut extends AbstractComponent<Void> implements ILayeredCompone
       g2d.setColor(getBoardColor().darker());
       g2d.drawOval((int)(point.getX() - holeSize / 2), (int)(point.getY() - holeSize / 2), holeSize, holeSize);
     }
+    g2d.setComposite(oldComposite);
   }
 
   @Override
diff --git a/diylc/diylc-library/src/main/java/org/diylc/components/connectivity/Turret.java b/diylc/diylc-library/src/main/java/org/diylc/components/connectivity/Turret.java
index bd5c21f7..9400d75c 100644
--- a/diylc/diylc-library/src/main/java/org/diylc/components/connectivity/Turret.java
+++ b/diylc/diylc-library/src/main/java/org/diylc/components/connectivity/Turret.java
@@ -21,13 +21,13 @@
 */
 package org.diylc.components.connectivity;
 
-import java.awt.Color;
-import java.awt.Graphics2D;
+import java.awt.*;
 import java.awt.geom.Point2D;
 import java.awt.geom.Rectangle2D;
 
 import org.diylc.common.ObjectCache;
 import org.diylc.components.AbstractComponent;
+import org.diylc.components.AbstractTransparentComponent;
 import org.diylc.components.transform.SimpleComponentTransformer;
 import org.diylc.core.ComponentState;
 import org.diylc.core.IDIYComponent;
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ import org.diylc.utils.Constants;
     zOrder = IDIYComponent.TRACE + 0.1, bomPolicy = BomPolicy.SHOW_ONLY_TYPE_NAME, autoEdit = false,
     keywordPolicy = KeywordPolicy.SHOW_TYPE_NAME, transformer = SimpleComponentTransformer.class,
     enableCache = true)
-public class Turret extends AbstractComponent<String> {
+public class Turret extends AbstractTransparentComponent<String> {
 
   private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
@@ -67,6 +67,10 @@ public class Turret extends AbstractComponent<String> {
     if (checkPointsClipped(g2d.getClip())) {
       return;
     }
+    Composite oldComposite = g2d.getComposite();
+    if (getAlpha() < MAX_ALPHA) {
+      g2d.setComposite(AlphaComposite.getInstance(AlphaComposite.SRC_OVER, 1f * getAlpha() / MAX_ALPHA));
+    }
     int diameter = getClosestOdd((int) size.convertToPixels());
     int holeDiameter = getClosestOdd((int) holeSize.convertToPixels());
     g2d.setColor(color);
@@ -82,6 +86,7 @@ public class Turret extends AbstractComponent<String> {
     g2d.setColor(componentState == ComponentState.SELECTED || componentState == ComponentState.DRAGGING ? SELECTION_COLOR
         : color.darker());
     g2d.drawOval((int)(point.getX() - holeDiameter / 2), (int)(point.getY() - holeDiameter / 2), holeDiameter, holeDiameter);
+    g2d.setComposite(oldComposite);
   }
 
   @Override