private static int blend_darkest(int a, int b) {
    int f = (b & ALPHA_MASK) >>> 24;

    return (low(((a & ALPHA_MASK) >>> 24) + f, 0xff) << 24 |
            mix(a & RED_MASK,
                low(a & RED_MASK,
                    ((b & RED_MASK) >> 8) * f), f) & RED_MASK |
            mix(a & GREEN_MASK,
                low(a & GREEN_MASK,
                    ((b & GREEN_MASK) >> 8) * f), f) & GREEN_MASK |
            mix(a & BLUE_MASK,
                low(a & BLUE_MASK,
                    ((b & BLUE_MASK) * f) >> 8), f));
  }