diff --git a/swt-examples/src/main/java/org/piccolo2d/extras/swt/examples/SWTBasicExample.java b/swt-examples/src/main/java/org/piccolo2d/extras/swt/examples/SWTBasicExample.java
index e228c80..06711eb 100644
--- a/swt-examples/src/main/java/org/piccolo2d/extras/swt/examples/SWTBasicExample.java
+++ b/swt-examples/src/main/java/org/piccolo2d/extras/swt/examples/SWTBasicExample.java
@@ -67,10 +67,16 @@
         circle.setPaint(Color.GREEN);
         canvas.getLayer().addChild(circle);
 
+        circle = PSWTPath.createEllipse(120, 220, 40, 40);
+        circle.setPaint(Color.GRAY);
+        circle.setTransparency(0.2f);
+        canvas.getLayer().addChild(circle);
+
         circle = PSWTPath.createEllipse(400, 400, 75, 150);
         circle.setPaint(Color.YELLOW);
         canvas.getLayer().addChild(circle);
 
+
         PSWTText text = new PSWTText("Hello World\nMultiline");        
         text.translate(350, 150);
         text.setPenColor(Color.GRAY);
diff --git a/swt/src/main/java/org/piccolo2d/extras/swt/PSWTPath.java b/swt/src/main/java/org/piccolo2d/extras/swt/PSWTPath.java
index 1208a1e..06d7b5e 100644
--- a/swt/src/main/java/org/piccolo2d/extras/swt/PSWTPath.java
+++ b/swt/src/main/java/org/piccolo2d/extras/swt/PSWTPath.java
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@
     private static final Color DEFAULT_STROKE_PAINT = Color.black;
     private static final BasicStroke BASIC_STROKE = new BasicStroke();
     private static final float PEN_WIDTH = 1f;
+    private static final float DEFAULT_TRANSPARENCY = 1.0f;
 
     private Paint strokePaint;
 
@@ -84,6 +85,7 @@
     private AffineTransform inverseXForm;
 
     private double[] shapePts;
+    private float transparency = DEFAULT_TRANSPARENCY;
 
     /**
      * Creates a path representing the rectangle provided.
@@ -315,6 +317,7 @@
     protected void paint(final PPaintContext paintContext) {
         final Paint p = getPaint();
         final SWTGraphics2D g2 = (SWTGraphics2D) paintContext.getGraphics();
+        g2.setTransparency(transparency);
 
         if (internalXForm != null) {
             g2.transform(internalXForm);
@@ -571,4 +574,25 @@
         PBounds bounds = getBoundsReference();                                                                                                        
         return new Point2D.Double(bounds.x + (bounds.width / 2.0), bounds.y + (bounds.height / 2.0));
     } 
+
+    /**
+     * Return the transparency for this SWT path node.
+     *
+     * @return the transparency for this SWT path node
+     */
+    public float getTransparency() {
+        return transparency;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Set the transparency for this SWT path node to <code>transparency</code>.
+     *
+     * @param transparency transparency, must be between <code>0.0f</code> and <code>1.0f</code> inclusive
+     */
+    public void setTransparency(final float transparency) {
+        if ((transparency < 0.0f) || (transparency > 1.0f)) {
+            throw new IllegalArgumentException("transparency must be between 0.0f and 1.0f inclusive");
+        }
+        this.transparency = transparency;
+    }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/swt/src/main/java/org/piccolo2d/extras/swt/SWTGraphics2D.java b/swt/src/main/java/org/piccolo2d/extras/swt/SWTGraphics2D.java
index 9b8e6cd..c9c802f 100644
--- a/swt/src/main/java/org/piccolo2d/extras/swt/SWTGraphics2D.java
+++ b/swt/src/main/java/org/piccolo2d/extras/swt/SWTGraphics2D.java
@@ -86,6 +86,7 @@
     private static final int DEFAULT_FONT_SIZE = 12;
 
     private static final boolean DEFAULT_STRING_TRANSPARENCY = true;
+    private static final float DEFAULT_TRANSPARENCY = 1.0f;
 
     /**
      * The number of Graphics Contexts active as determined by called to
@@ -116,7 +117,9 @@
     /** The current font to use when drawing text. */
     protected org.eclipse.swt.graphics.Font curFont;
     /** The current stroke width to use when drawing lines. */
-    protected double lineWidth = 1.0;
+    protected double lineWidth = 1.0d;
+    /** Transparency, <code>0.0f &lt;= transparency &lt;= 1.0f</code>. */
+    private float transparency = DEFAULT_TRANSPARENCY;
 
     /**
      * Constructor for SWTGraphics2D.
@@ -1163,6 +1166,28 @@
     }
 
     /**
+     * Return the transparency for this graphics context.
+     *
+     * @return the transparency for this graphics context
+     */
+    public float getTransparency() {
+        return transparency;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Set the transparency for this graphics context to <code>transparency</code>.
+     *
+     * @param transparency transparency, must be between <code>0.0f</code> and <code>1.0f</code> inclusive
+     */
+    public void setTransparency(final float transparency) {
+        if ((transparency < 0.0f) || (transparency > 1.0f)) {
+            throw new IllegalArgumentException("transparency must be between 0.0f and 1.0f inclusive");
+        }
+        this.transparency = transparency;
+        gc.setAlpha((int) (this.transparency * 255.0f));
+    }
+
+    /**
      * Fills a gradient rectangle of in the direction specified.
      * 
      * @param x left of resulting rectangle