diff --git a/defaults.go b/defaults.go
index 482d489..f6d13d3 100644
--- a/defaults.go
+++ b/defaults.go
@@ -103,6 +103,9 @@ var (
 	ColorAlternateYellow = drawing.Color{R: 240, G: 174, B: 90, A: 255}
 	// ColorAlternateLightGray is a alternate theme color.
 	ColorAlternateLightGray = drawing.Color{R: 187, G: 190, B: 191, A: 255}
+
+	// ColorTransparent is a transparent (alpha zero) color.
+	ColorTransparent = drawing.Color{R: 0, G: 0, B: 0, A: 0}
 )
 
 var (
@@ -171,6 +174,11 @@ var (
 	DashArrayDashesLarge = []int{10, 10}
 )
 
+// NewColor returns a new color.
+func NewColor(r, g, b, a uint8) drawing.Color {
+	return drawing.Color{R: r, G: g, B: b, A: a}
+}
+
 // GetDefaultColor returns a color from the default list by index.
 // NOTE: the index will wrap around (using a modulo).
 func GetDefaultColor(index int) drawing.Color {