     //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
     //----------------------------------
+    //  alpha
+    //----------------------------------
+    
+    /**
+     *  @private
+     *  Storage for the alpha property.
+     */
+    private var _alpha:Number = 1.0;
+    
+    /**
+     *  @private
+     */
+    override public function get alpha():Number
+    {
+        // Here we roundtrip alpha in the same manner as the 
+        // player (purposely introducing a rounding error).
+        return int(_alpha * 256.0) / 256.0;
+    }
+    
+    /**
+     *  @private
+     */
+    override public function set alpha(value:Number):void
+    { 
+        if (_alpha != value)
+        {
+            _alpha = value;
+            
+            if (layer)
+                value = value * layer.computedAlpha; 
+            
+            super.alpha = value;
+        }
+    }
+    
+    //----------------------------------
     //  baseline
     //----------------------------------
 

        return naturalHeight;
    }

    /**
     *  @inheritDoc
     *

    {
        _owner = value;
    }
    
    //----------------------------------
    //  layer
    //----------------------------------

    /**
     *  @private
     *  Storage for the layer property.
     */
    private var _layer:DesignLayer;
    
    [Inspectable (environment='none')]
    
    /**
     *  @copy mx.core.IVisualElement#layer
     *  
     *  @langversion 3.0
     *  @playerversion Flash 10
     *  @playerversion AIR 1.5
     *  @productversion Flex 4
     */
    public function get layer():DesignLayer
    {
        return _layer;
    }
    
    /**
     *  @private
     */
    public function set layer(value:DesignLayer):void
    {
        if (_layer)
            _layer.removeEventListener("layerPropertyChange", layer_PropertyChange, false);
        
        _layer = value;
        
        if (_layer)
            _layer.addEventListener("layerPropertyChange", layer_PropertyChange, false, 0, true);
    }
        
    //----------------------------------
    //  percentHeight
    //----------------------------------
