diff --git a/doc/script/introduction.txt b/doc/script/introduction.txt
index b98eac44..4ec20585 100644
--- a/doc/script/introduction.txt
+++ b/doc/script/introduction.txt
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ Possible constants are:
 | @123.5@		[[type:double]]
 | @"abc"@		[[type:string]]
 | @rgb(255,0,0)@	[[type:color]]
+| @rgba(0,0,0,0)@	[[type:color]]
 | @[a,b,c]@		[[type:list]]
 Note: Strings, list and colors don't have to be constants, they can contain other code.
 
diff --git a/doc/type/font.txt b/doc/type/font.txt
index 03e73382..f52bf454 100644
--- a/doc/type/font.txt
+++ b/doc/type/font.txt
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ A reference to a normal [[type:font]] for drawing text.
 | @underline@		[[type:scriptable]] [[type:boolean]]	@false@		Should the font be underlined?
 | @color@		[[type:scriptable]] [[type:color]]	@rgb(0,0,0)@	What color should text be drawn in?
 | @shadow color@	[[type:scriptable]] [[type:color]]	@"transparent"@	Color for a shadow below the text.
-| @shadow displacement x@	[[type:double]]			@0@		Relative position of the shadow in pixels. A shadow is only drawn if the displacement is nonzero.
+| @shadow displacement x@	[[type:double]]			@0@		Relative position of the shadow in pixels.
 | @shadow displacement y@	[[type:double]]			@0@		^^^
 | @shadow blur@		[[type:double]]				@0@		How much should the shadow be blurred?
 | @separator color@	[[type:color]]				@rgba(0,0,0,128)@	Color for @"<sep-soft>"@ tags inserted by the [[fun:combined_editor]] function.
diff --git a/src/data/keyword.cpp b/src/data/keyword.cpp
index 368e087f..f9eb8b1e 100644
--- a/src/data/keyword.cpp
+++ b/src/data/keyword.cpp
@@ -642,7 +642,7 @@ KeywordParamValue::operator String() const {
 
 KeywordParamValue::operator int()    const { return *to_script(value); } // a bit of a hack
 KeywordParamValue::operator double() const { return *to_script(value); }
-KeywordParamValue::operator Color()  const { return *to_script(value); }
+KeywordParamValue::operator AColor() const { return *to_script(value); }
 int KeywordParamValue::itemCount()   const { return  to_script(value)->itemCount(); }
 
 ScriptValueP KeywordParamValue::getMember(const String& name) const {
diff --git a/src/data/keyword.hpp b/src/data/keyword.hpp
index 07d08433..6cc993f9 100644
--- a/src/data/keyword.hpp
+++ b/src/data/keyword.hpp
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ class KeywordParamValue : public ScriptValue {
 	virtual operator String() const;
 	virtual operator int()    const;
 	virtual operator double() const;
-	virtual operator Color()  const;
+	virtual operator AColor() const;
 	virtual int itemCount()   const;
 	virtual ScriptValueP getMember(const String& name) const;
 };
diff --git a/src/gfx/color.cpp b/src/gfx/color.cpp
index 83f75692..58e06e68 100644
--- a/src/gfx/color.cpp
+++ b/src/gfx/color.cpp
@@ -24,13 +24,7 @@ template <> void Reader::handle(AColor& col) {
 	if (!col.Ok()) col = AColor(0,0,0,0);
 }
 template <> void Writer::handle(const AColor& col) {
-	if (col.alpha == 255) {
-		handle(String::Format(_("rgb(%u,%u,%u)"), col.Red(), col.Green(), col.Blue()));
-	} else if (col.alpha == 0) {
-		handle(_("transparent"));
-	} else {
-		handle(String::Format(_("rgba(%u,%u,%u,%u)"), col.Red(), col.Green(), col.Blue(), col.alpha));
-	}
+	handle(format_acolor(col));
 }
 
 
@@ -56,6 +50,16 @@ AColor parse_acolor(const String& v) {
 	}
 }
 
+String format_acolor(AColor col) {
+	if (col.alpha == 255) {
+		return String::Format(_("rgb(%u,%u,%u)"), col.Red(), col.Green(), col.Blue());
+	} else if (col.alpha == 0) {
+		return _("transparent");
+	} else {
+		return String::Format(_("rgba(%u,%u,%u,%u)"), col.Red(), col.Green(), col.Blue(), col.alpha);
+	}
+}
+
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Color utility functions
 
 Color lerp(const Color& a, const Color& b, double t) {
diff --git a/src/gfx/color.hpp b/src/gfx/color.hpp
index 6d1d66a2..6b1d39b8 100644
--- a/src/gfx/color.hpp
+++ b/src/gfx/color.hpp
@@ -35,6 +35,9 @@ Color parse_color(const String& value);
 /// Parse a color with alpha
 AColor parse_acolor(const String& value);
 
+/// Convert an AColor to a string
+String format_acolor(AColor col);
+
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Color utility functions
 
 inline int bot(int x) { return max(0,   x); } ///< bottom range check for color values
diff --git a/src/script/context.cpp b/src/script/context.cpp
index 887375cb..c8499dce 100644
--- a/src/script/context.cpp
+++ b/src/script/context.cpp
@@ -29,6 +29,9 @@ void instrBinary (BinaryInstructionType  i, ScriptValueP& a, const ScriptValueP&
 // Perform a ternary simple instruction, store the result in a (not in *a)
 void instrTernary(TernaryInstructionType i, ScriptValueP& a, const ScriptValueP& b, const ScriptValueP& c);
 
+// Perform a quaternary simple instruction, store the result in a (not in *a)
+void instrQuaternary(QuaternaryInstructionType i, ScriptValueP& a, const ScriptValueP& b, const ScriptValueP& c, const ScriptValueP& d);
+
 
 ScriptValueP Context::eval(const Script& script, bool useScope) {
 	size_t stack_size = stack.size();
@@ -172,6 +175,16 @@ ScriptValueP Context::eval(const Script& script, bool useScope) {
 					ScriptValueP  b = stack.back(); stack.pop_back();
 					ScriptValueP& a = stack.back();
 					instrTernary(i.instr3, a, b, c);
+//					cout << "\t\t-> " << (String)*stack.back() << endl;
+					break;
+				}
+				// Simple instruction: quaternary
+				case I_QUATERNARY: {
+					ScriptValueP  d = stack.back(); stack.pop_back();
+					ScriptValueP  c = stack.back(); stack.pop_back();
+					ScriptValueP  b = stack.back(); stack.pop_back();
+					ScriptValueP& a = stack.back();
+					instrQuaternary(i.instr4, a, b, c, d);
 //					cout << "\t\t-> " << (String)*stack.back() << endl;
 					break;
 				}
@@ -370,6 +383,16 @@ void instrTernary(TernaryInstructionType i, ScriptValueP& a, const ScriptValueP&
 	}
 }
 
+// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Simple instructions : quaternary
+
+void instrQuaternary(QuaternaryInstructionType i, ScriptValueP& a, const ScriptValueP& b, const ScriptValueP& c, const ScriptValueP& d) {
+	switch (i) {
+		case I_RGBA:
+			a = to_script(AColor((int)*a, (int)*b, (int)*c, (int)*d));
+			break;
+	}
+}
+
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Simple instructions : object
 
 void Context::makeObject(size_t n) {
diff --git a/src/script/dependency.cpp b/src/script/dependency.cpp
index 88fd0fd0..7427df84 100644
--- a/src/script/dependency.cpp
+++ b/src/script/dependency.cpp
@@ -319,6 +319,15 @@ ScriptValueP Context::dependencies(const Dependency& dep, const Script& script)
 					a = dependency_dummy;
 					break;
 				}
+				// Simple instruction: quaternary
+				case I_QUATERNARY: {
+					ScriptValueP  d = stack.back(); stack.pop_back();
+					ScriptValueP  c = stack.back(); stack.pop_back();
+					ScriptValueP  b = stack.back(); stack.pop_back();
+					ScriptValueP& a = stack.back();
+					a = dependency_dummy;
+					break;
+				}
 			}
 		}
 	} catch (...) {
diff --git a/src/script/parser.cpp b/src/script/parser.cpp
index 142def72..892c928c 100644
--- a/src/script/parser.cpp
+++ b/src/script/parser.cpp
@@ -511,6 +511,18 @@ void parseExpr(TokenIterator& input, Script& script, Precedence minPrec) {
 				parseOper(input, script, PREC_ALL); // b
 				expectToken(input, _(")"));
 				script.addInstruction(I_TERNARY, I_RGB);
+			} else if (token == _("rgba")) {
+				// rgba(r, g, b, a)
+				expectToken(input, _("("));
+				parseOper(input, script, PREC_ALL); // r
+				expectToken(input, _(","));
+				parseOper(input, script, PREC_ALL); // g
+				expectToken(input, _(","));
+				parseOper(input, script, PREC_ALL); // b
+				expectToken(input, _(","));
+				parseOper(input, script, PREC_ALL); // a
+				expectToken(input, _(")"));
+				script.addInstruction(I_QUATERNARY, I_RGBA);
 			} else if (token == _("min") || token == _("max")) {
 				// min(x,y,z,...)
 				unsigned int op = token == _("min") ? I_MIN : I_MAX;
diff --git a/src/script/script.cpp b/src/script/script.cpp
index c629b6e3..39426111 100644
--- a/src/script/script.cpp
+++ b/src/script/script.cpp
@@ -187,6 +187,11 @@ String Script::dumpInstr(unsigned int pos, Instruction i) const {
 				case I_RGB:			ret += _("rgb");		break;
 			}
 			break;
+		case I_QUATERNARY:	ret += _("quaternary\t");
+			switch (i.instr3) {
+				case I_RGBA:		ret += _("rgba");		break;
+			}
+			break;
 	}
 	// arg
 	switch (i.instr) {
@@ -227,7 +232,9 @@ const Instruction* Script::backtraceSkip(const Instruction* instr, int to_skip)
 			case I_BINARY:
 				to_skip += 1; break; // nett stack effect 1-2 == -1
 			case I_TERNARY:
-				to_skip += 2; break; // nett stack effect 1-3 == -1
+				to_skip += 2; break; // nett stack effect 1-3 == -2
+			case I_QUATERNARY:
+				to_skip += 3; break; // nett stack effect 1-4 == -3
 			case I_CALL:
 				to_skip += instr->data; // arguments of call
 				break;
diff --git a/src/script/script.hpp b/src/script/script.hpp
index 712b58b9..5ac5a891 100644
--- a/src/script/script.hpp
+++ b/src/script/script.hpp
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ enum InstructionType
 ,	I_UNARY			= -4 ///< pop 1 value,  apply a function, push the result
 ,	I_BINARY		= -3 ///< pop 2 values, apply a function, push the result
 ,	I_TERNARY		= -2 ///< pop 3 values, apply a function, push the result
+,	I_QUATERNARY	= -1 ///< pop 4 values, apply a function, push the result
 };
 
 /// Types of unary instructions (taking one argument from the stack)
@@ -82,17 +83,23 @@ enum TernaryInstructionType
 {	I_RGB			///< pop r,g,b, push a color value
 };
 
+/// Types of quaternary instructions (taking four arguments from the stack)
+enum QuaternaryInstructionType
+{	I_RGBA			///< pop r,g,b,a, push an acolor value
+};
+
 /// An instruction in a script, consists of the opcode and data
-/** If the opcode is one of I_UNARY,I_BINARY,I_TERNARY,
+/** If the opcode is one of I_UNARY,I_BINARY,I_TERNARY,I_QUATERNARY,
  *  Then the instr? member gives the actual instruction to perform
  */
 struct Instruction {
 	InstructionType instr : 4;
 	union {
-		unsigned int			data   : 28;
-		UnaryInstructionType	instr1 : 28;
-		BinaryInstructionType	instr2 : 28;
-		TernaryInstructionType	instr3 : 28;
+		unsigned int				data   : 28;
+		UnaryInstructionType		instr1 : 28;
+		BinaryInstructionType		instr2 : 28;
+		TernaryInstructionType		instr3 : 28;
+		QuaternaryInstructionType	instr4 : 28;
 	};
 };
 
diff --git a/src/script/scriptable.cpp b/src/script/scriptable.cpp
index 5440c701..caf96cc9 100644
--- a/src/script/scriptable.cpp
+++ b/src/script/scriptable.cpp
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 #include <script/parser.hpp>
 #include <script/script.hpp>
 #include <script/value.hpp>
+#include <gfx/color.hpp>
 
 Alignment from_string(const String&);
 
@@ -23,9 +24,11 @@ void store(const ScriptValueP& val, String& var)              { var = val->toStr
 void store(const ScriptValueP& val, int&    var)              { var = *val; }
 void store(const ScriptValueP& val, double& var)              { var = *val; }
 void store(const ScriptValueP& val, bool&   var)              { var = static_cast<int>(*val); }
-void store(const ScriptValueP& val, Color&  var)              { var = *val; }
+void store(const ScriptValueP& val, Color&  var)              { var = (AColor)*val; }
+void store(const ScriptValueP& val, AColor& var)              { var = *val; }
 void store(const ScriptValueP& val, Defaultable<String>& var) { var.assign(*val); }
-void store(const ScriptValueP& val, Defaultable<Color>& var)  { var.assign(*val); }
+void store(const ScriptValueP& val, Defaultable<Color>&  var) { var.assign((AColor)*val); }
+void store(const ScriptValueP& val, Defaultable<AColor>& var) { var.assign(*val); }
 void store(const ScriptValueP& val, Alignment& var)           { var = from_string(val->toString()); }
 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- : OptionalScript
diff --git a/src/script/scriptable.hpp b/src/script/scriptable.hpp
index ffd1fb51..77da8813 100644
--- a/src/script/scriptable.hpp
+++ b/src/script/scriptable.hpp
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 #include <script/parser.hpp>
 #include <script/to_value.hpp>
 
+class AColor;
 DECLARE_POINTER_TYPE(Script);
 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Store
@@ -28,6 +29,7 @@ void store(const ScriptValueP& val, int&    var);
 void store(const ScriptValueP& val, double& var);
 void store(const ScriptValueP& val, bool&   var);
 void store(const ScriptValueP& val, Color&  var);
+void store(const ScriptValueP& val, AColor& var);
 void store(const ScriptValueP& val, Defaultable<String>& var);
 void store(const ScriptValueP& val, Defaultable<Color>&  var);
 void store(const ScriptValueP& val, Alignment& var);
diff --git a/src/script/to_value.hpp b/src/script/to_value.hpp
index 3a358da7..f2057885 100644
--- a/src/script/to_value.hpp
+++ b/src/script/to_value.hpp
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ class ScriptDelayedError : public ScriptValue {
 	virtual operator String() const;
 	virtual operator double() const;
 	virtual operator int()    const;
-	virtual operator Color()  const;
+	virtual operator AColor() const;
 	virtual int itemCount() const;
 	virtual const void* comparePointer() const;
 	// these can propagate the error
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ class ScriptObject : public ScriptValue {
 	virtual operator String() const { ScriptValueP d = getDefault(); return d ? *d : ScriptValue::operator String(); }
 	virtual operator double() const { ScriptValueP d = getDefault(); return d ? *d : ScriptValue::operator double(); }
 	virtual operator int()    const { ScriptValueP d = getDefault(); return d ? *d : ScriptValue::operator int(); }
-	virtual operator Color()  const { ScriptValueP d = getDefault(); return d ? *d : ScriptValue::operator Color(); }
+	virtual operator AColor() const { ScriptValueP d = getDefault(); return d ? *d : ScriptValue::operator AColor(); }
 	virtual ScriptValueP getMember(const String& name) const {
 		GetMember gm(name);
 		gm.handle(*value);
@@ -254,7 +254,8 @@ class ScriptObject : public ScriptValue {
 inline ScriptValueP to_script(long          v) { return to_script((int) v); }
        ScriptValueP to_script(double        v);
        ScriptValueP to_script(const String& v);
-       ScriptValueP to_script(const Color&  v);
+       ScriptValueP to_script(Color         v);
+       ScriptValueP to_script(AColor        v);
 inline ScriptValueP to_script(bool          v) { return v ? script_true : script_false; }
 template <typename T>
 inline ScriptValueP to_script(const vector<T>*     v) { return new_intrusive1<ScriptCollection<vector<T> > >(v); }
@@ -282,7 +283,8 @@ template <> inline String       from_script<String>      (const ScriptValueP& va
 template <> inline int          from_script<int>         (const ScriptValueP& value) { return *value; }
 template <> inline double       from_script<double>      (const ScriptValueP& value) { return *value; }
 template <> inline bool         from_script<bool>        (const ScriptValueP& value) { return *value; }
-template <> inline Color        from_script<Color>       (const ScriptValueP& value) { return *value; }
+template <> inline Color        from_script<Color>       (const ScriptValueP& value) { return (AColor)*value; }
+template <> inline AColor       from_script<AColor>      (const ScriptValueP& value) { return *value; }
 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- : EOF
 #endif
diff --git a/src/script/value.cpp b/src/script/value.cpp
index 2ab225cd..319226d1 100644
--- a/src/script/value.cpp
+++ b/src/script/value.cpp
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
 ScriptValue::operator String()                              const { throw ScriptError(_ERROR_2_("can't convert", typeName(), _TYPE_("string" ))); }
 ScriptValue::operator int()                                 const { throw ScriptError(_ERROR_2_("can't convert", typeName(), _TYPE_("integer" ))); }
 ScriptValue::operator double()                              const { throw ScriptError(_ERROR_2_("can't convert", typeName(), _TYPE_("double"  ))); }
-ScriptValue::operator Color()                               const { throw ScriptError(_ERROR_2_("can't convert", typeName(), _TYPE_("color"   ))); }
+ScriptValue::operator AColor()                              const { throw ScriptError(_ERROR_2_("can't convert", typeName(), _TYPE_("color"   ))); }
 ScriptValueP ScriptValue::eval(Context&)                    const { return delayError(_ERROR_2_("can't convert", typeName(), _TYPE_("function"))); }
 ScriptValueP ScriptValue::getMember(const String& name)     const { return delayError(_ERROR_2_("has no member", typeName(), name));              }
 ScriptValueP ScriptValue::next()                                  { throw InternalError(_("Can't convert from ")+typeName()+_(" to iterator")); }
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ String ScriptDelayedError::typeName() const            { throw error; }
 ScriptDelayedError::operator String() const            { throw error; }
 ScriptDelayedError::operator double() const            { throw error; }
 ScriptDelayedError::operator int()    const            { throw error; }
-ScriptDelayedError::operator Color()  const            { throw error; }
+ScriptDelayedError::operator AColor() const            { throw error; }
 int ScriptDelayedError::itemCount() const              { throw error; }
 const void* ScriptDelayedError::comparePointer() const { throw error; }
 ScriptValueP ScriptDelayedError::getMember(const String&) const                           { return new_intrusive1<ScriptDelayedError>(error); }
@@ -191,18 +191,12 @@ class ScriptString : public ScriptValue {
 			throw ScriptError(_ERROR_3_("can't convert value", value, typeName(), _TYPE_("integer")));
 		}
 	}
-	virtual operator Color() const {
-		UInt r,g,b;
-		if (wxSscanf(value.c_str(),_("rgb(%u,%u,%u)"),&r,&g,&b)) {
-			return Color(r, g, b);
-		} else {
-			// color from database?
-			Color c(value);
-			if (!c.Ok()) {
-				throw ScriptError(_ERROR_3_("can't convert value", value, typeName(), _TYPE_("color")));
-			}
-			return c;
+	virtual operator AColor() const {
+		AColor c = parse_acolor(value);
+		if (!c.Ok()) {
+			throw ScriptError(_ERROR_3_("can't convert value", value, typeName(), _TYPE_("color")));
 		}
+		return c;
 	}
 	virtual int itemCount() const { return (int)value.size(); }
 	virtual ScriptValueP getMember(const String& name) const {
@@ -225,23 +219,26 @@ ScriptValueP to_script(const String& v) {
 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Color
 
-// Color values
-class ScriptColor : public ScriptValue {
+// AColor values
+class ScriptAColor : public ScriptValue {
   public:
-	ScriptColor(const Color& v) : value(v) {}
+	ScriptAColor(const AColor& v) : value(v) {}
 	virtual ScriptType type() const { return SCRIPT_COLOR; }
 	virtual String typeName() const { return _TYPE_("color"); }
-	virtual operator Color()  const { return value; }
+	virtual operator AColor() const { return value; }
 	virtual operator int()    const { return (value.Red() + value.Blue() + value.Green()) / 3; }
 	virtual operator String() const {
-		return String::Format(_("rgb(%u,%u,%u)"), value.Red(), value.Green(), value.Blue());
+		return format_acolor(value);
 	}
   private:
-	Color value;
+	AColor value;
 };
 
-ScriptValueP to_script(const Color& v) {
-	return new_intrusive1<ScriptColor>(v);
+ScriptValueP to_script(Color v) {
+	return new_intrusive1<ScriptAColor>(v);
+}
+ScriptValueP to_script(AColor v) {
+	return new_intrusive1<ScriptAColor>(v);
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/script/value.hpp b/src/script/value.hpp
index 1400f1f5..830a3567 100644
--- a/src/script/value.hpp
+++ b/src/script/value.hpp
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Includes
 
 #include <util/prec.hpp>
+#include <gfx/color.hpp>
 class Context;
 class Dependency;
 
@@ -55,7 +56,7 @@ class ScriptValue : public IntrusivePtrBaseWithDelete {
 	/// Convert this value to a boolean
 	inline  operator bool()   const { return (int)*this; }
 	/// Convert this value to a color
-	virtual operator Color()  const;
+	virtual operator AColor() const;
 	
 	/// Explicit overload to convert to a string
 	/** This is sometimes necessary, because wxString has an int constructor,