# Alpha is transparency, gamma is brightness, what is beta?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alpha-is-transparency-gamma-is-brightness-what-is-beta/346398>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 28, 2006, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alpha-is-transparency-gamma-is-brightness-what-is-beta/346398 "2006-02-28T00:52:43Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\
**Post date:** [February 28, 2006, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alpha-is-transparency-gamma-is-brightness-what-is-beta/346398/1 "2006-02-28T00:52:43Z")

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In (computer) graphics, the alpha value of a given pixel governs how transparent it is and the gamma value of the monitor governs how bright it is. I presume beta is assigned to something (value or hue, perhaps?) and maybe epsilon and beyond are as well. Are they?

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**Author:** ![Punoqllads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@Punoqllads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punoqllads)\
**Post date:** [February 28, 2006, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alpha-is-transparency-gamma-is-brightness-what-is-beta/346398/2 "2006-02-28T01:19:57Z")

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Nope.

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**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\
**Post date:** [February 28, 2006, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alpha-is-transparency-gamma-is-brightness-what-is-beta/346398/3 "2006-02-28T01:22:20Z")

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> [@Punoqllads](#):
>
> Nope.

How… existentialist. 😉 Why was beta skipped? Bad memories of the video wars?

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**Author:** ![Punoqllads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@Punoqllads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punoqllads)\
**Post date:** [February 28, 2006, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alpha-is-transparency-gamma-is-brightness-what-is-beta/346398/4 "2006-02-28T01:31:16Z")

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Gamma came from physics and other scientificey origins. Alpha was a graphics geek hack.