Displaying user interface elements having transparent effects

A computer storage device including executable instructions which, when executed, operate to process pixel data by:

• processing a video stream including video pixel data;
• processing a UI element from UI pixel data having transparency effects;
• using an overlay window to identify an area to display the video stream, wherein the overlay window includes an alpha value of zero and occludes each pixel that has a lower z-value than the overlay window;
• blending the UI element with the overlay window based in part on overlay functionality and color keying functionality
• compositing the UI element with the video stream including determining a blended alpha value for a resulting composition;
• and,
• outputting the resulting composition for display.

A user interface configured to:

• provide a UI element having an amount of transparency and to create an overlay window having an alpha value and occlusion properties;
• blend the UI element with the overlay window based in part on overlay functionality and color keying functionality;
• provide a video stream;
• combine the UI element with the video stream such that the video stream shows through the UI element including using a zero alpha value for the overlay window;
• and,
• use display controller hardware to process pixel data for display including use of one or more of overlay hardware, color keying hardware, and alpha blending hardware.