diff --git a/TFT_eSPI.cpp b/TFT_eSPI.cpp
index 8be3a37..8091383 100644
--- a/TFT_eSPI.cpp
+++ b/TFT_eSPI.cpp
@@ -387,7 +387,7 @@ void TFT_eSPI::writedata(uint8_t c)
 ** Function name:           readcommand8 (for ILI9341 Interface II i.e. IM [3:0] = "1101")
 ** Description:             Read a 8 bit data value from an indexed command register
 ***************************************************************************************/
-  uint8_t  TFT_eSPI::readcommand8(uint8_t cmd_function, uint8_t index)
+uint8_t TFT_eSPI::readcommand8(uint8_t cmd_function, uint8_t index)
 {
   spi_begin();
   index = 0x10 + (index & 0x0F);
@@ -415,7 +415,7 @@ void TFT_eSPI::writedata(uint8_t c)
 ** Function name:           readcommand16 (for ILI9341 Interface II i.e. IM [3:0] = "1101")
 ** Description:             Read a 16 bit data value from an indexed command register
 ***************************************************************************************/
-  uint16_t  TFT_eSPI::readcommand16(uint8_t cmd_function, uint8_t index)
+uint16_t TFT_eSPI::readcommand16(uint8_t cmd_function, uint8_t index)
 {
   uint32_t reg = 0;
   reg |= (readcommand8(cmd_function, index + 0) <<  8);
@@ -429,7 +429,7 @@ void TFT_eSPI::writedata(uint8_t c)
 ** Function name:           readcommand32 (for ILI9341 Interface II i.e. IM [3:0] = "1101")
 ** Description:             Read a 32 bit data value from an indexed command register
 ***************************************************************************************/
-  uint32_t  TFT_eSPI::readcommand32(uint8_t cmd_function, uint8_t index)
+uint32_t TFT_eSPI::readcommand32(uint8_t cmd_function, uint8_t index)
 {
   uint32_t reg;
 
@@ -472,7 +472,7 @@ uint16_t TFT_eSPI::readPixel(int32_t x0, int32_t y0)
 ** Function name:           read rectangle (for SPI Interface II i.e. IM [3:0] = "1101")
 ** Description:             Read 565 pixel colours from a defined area
 ***************************************************************************************/
-  void  TFT_eSPI::readRect(uint32_t x, uint32_t y, uint32_t w, uint32_t h, uint16_t *data)
+void TFT_eSPI::readRect(uint32_t x, uint32_t y, uint32_t w, uint32_t h, uint16_t *data)
 {
   if ((x > _width) || (y > _height) || (w == 0) || (h == 0)) return;
   
@@ -510,7 +510,7 @@ uint16_t TFT_eSPI::readPixel(int32_t x0, int32_t y0)
 ** Function name:           push rectangle (for SPI Interface II i.e. IM [3:0] = "1101")
 ** Description:             push 565 pixel colours into a defined area
 ***************************************************************************************/
-  void  TFT_eSPI::pushRect(uint32_t x, uint32_t y, uint32_t w, uint32_t h, uint16_t *data)
+void TFT_eSPI::pushRect(uint32_t x, uint32_t y, uint32_t w, uint32_t h, uint16_t *data)
 {
   if ((x >= _width) || (y >= _height) || (w == 0) || (h == 0)) return;
 
@@ -538,7 +538,7 @@ uint16_t TFT_eSPI::readPixel(int32_t x0, int32_t y0)
 ** Function name:           push sprite
 ** Description:             plot 16 bit sprite in a defined area with clipping
 ***************************************************************************************/
-  void  TFT_eSPI::pushSprite(int32_t x, int32_t y, uint32_t w, uint32_t h, uint16_t *data)
+void TFT_eSPI::pushSprite(int32_t x, int32_t y, uint32_t w, uint32_t h, uint16_t *data)
 {
 
   if ((x >= (int32_t)_width) || (y >= (int32_t)_height)) return;
@@ -586,12 +586,68 @@ uint16_t TFT_eSPI::readPixel(int32_t x0, int32_t y0)
   spi_end();
 }
 
+/***************************************************************************************
+** Function name:           push sprite
+** Description:             plot 16 bit sprite with 1 colour being transparent
+***************************************************************************************/
+void TFT_eSPI::pushSprite(int32_t x, int32_t y, uint32_t w, uint32_t h, uint16_t *data, uint16_t transp)
+{
+
+  if ((x >= (int32_t)_width) || (y >= (int32_t)_height)) return;
+
+  int32_t dx = 0;
+  int32_t dy = 0;
+  int32_t dw = w;
+  int32_t dh = h;
+
+  if (x < 0) { dw += x; dx = -x; x = 0; }
+  if (y < 0) { dh += y; dy = -y; y = 0; }
+  
+  if ((x + w) > _width ) dw = _width  - x;
+  if ((y + h) > _height) dh = _height - y;
+
+  if (dw < 1 || dh < 1) return;
+
+  spi_begin();
+
+  data += dx + dy * w;
+
+  int32_t xe = x + dw - 1, ye = y + dh - 1;
+  
+  while (dh--)
+  {
+    int32_t len = dw;
+    uint16_t* ptr = data;
+    int32_t px = x;
+    boolean move = true;
+    
+    while (len--)
+    {
+      if (transp != *ptr)
+      {
+        if (move) { move = false; setAddrWindow(px, y, xe, ye); }
+        SPI.write16(*ptr>>8 | *ptr <<8);
+      }
+      else move = true;
+      px++;
+      ptr++;
+    }
+
+    y++;
+    data += w;
+  }
+
+  CS_H;
+
+  spi_end();
+}
+
 
 /***************************************************************************************
 ** Function name:           push sprite
 ** Description:             plot 8 bit sprite with clipping using a line buffer
 ***************************************************************************************/
-  void  TFT_eSPI::pushSprite(int32_t x, int32_t y, uint32_t w, uint32_t h, uint8_t *data)
+void TFT_eSPI::pushSprite(int32_t x, int32_t y, uint32_t w, uint32_t h, uint8_t *data)
 {
   if ((x >= (int32_t)_width) || (y >= (int32_t)_height)) return;
 
@@ -658,12 +714,85 @@ uint16_t TFT_eSPI::readPixel(int32_t x0, int32_t y0)
 }
 
 
+/***************************************************************************************
+** Function name:           push sprite
+** Description:             plot 8 bit sprite with 1 colour being transparent
+***************************************************************************************/
+void TFT_eSPI::pushSprite(int32_t x, int32_t y, uint32_t w, uint32_t h, uint8_t *data, uint8_t transp)
+{
+  if ((x >= (int32_t)_width) || (y >= (int32_t)_height)) return;
+
+  int32_t dx = 0;
+  int32_t dy = 0;
+  int32_t dw = w;
+  int32_t dh = h;
+
+  if (x < 0) { dw += x; dx = -x; x = 0; }
+  if (y < 0) { dh += y; dy = -y; y = 0; }
+  
+  if ((x + w) > _width ) dw = _width  - x;
+  if ((y + h) > _height) dh = _height - y;
+
+  if (dw < 1 || dh < 1) return;
+
+  spi_begin();
+
+  data += dx + dy * w;
+
+  int32_t xe = x + dw - 1, ye = y + dh - 1;
+
+  uint8_t  blue[] = {0, 11, 21, 31}; // blue 2 to 5 bit colour lookup table
+
+  _lastColor = -1; // Set to illegal value
+
+  // Used to store last shifted colour
+  uint16_t color565 = 0;
+
+  while (dh--)
+  {
+    int32_t len = dw;
+    uint8_t* ptr = data; //<<<<<<<<< changed to 8 bit
+    int32_t px = x;
+    boolean move = true;
+    
+    while (len--)
+    {
+      if (transp != *ptr)
+      {
+        if (move) { move = false; setAddrWindow(px, y, xe, ye); }
+        uint32_t color = *ptr;
+
+        // Shifts are slow so check if colour has changed first
+        if (color != _lastColor) {
+          //          =====Green=====     ===============Red==============
+          color565 = (color & 0x1C)<<6 | (color & 0xC0)<<5 | (color & 0xE0)<<8
+          //          =====Green=====    =======Blue======
+                   | (color & 0x1C)<<3 | blue[color & 0x03];
+          _lastColor = color;
+        }
+        SPI.write16(color565);
+      }
+      else move = true;
+      px++;
+      ptr++;
+    }
+
+    y++;
+    data += w;
+  }
+
+  CS_H;
+
+  spi_end();
+}
+
+
 /***************************************************************************************
 ** Function name:           read rectangle (for SPI Interface II i.e. IM [3:0] = "1101")
 ** Description:             Read RGB pixel colours from a defined area
 ***************************************************************************************/
 // If w and h are 1, then 1 pixel is read, *data array size must be 3 bytes per pixel
-  void  TFT_eSPI::readRectRGB(int32_t x0, int32_t y0, int32_t w, int32_t h, uint8_t *data)
+void  TFT_eSPI::readRectRGB(int32_t x0, int32_t y0, int32_t w, int32_t h, uint8_t *data)
 {
   spi_begin();
 
@@ -4301,7 +4430,7 @@ void TFT_eSprite::deleteSprite(void)
 
 /***************************************************************************************
 ** Function name:           pushSprite
-** Description:             Delete the sprite to free up memory (RAM)
+** Description:             Push the sprite to the TFT at x, y
 *************************************************************************************x*/
 void TFT_eSprite::pushSprite(int32_t x, int32_t y)
 {
@@ -4312,6 +4441,23 @@ void TFT_eSprite::pushSprite(int32_t x, int32_t y)
 }
 
 
+/***************************************************************************************
+** Function name:           pushSprite
+** Description:             Push the sprite to the TFT at x, y with transparent colour
+*************************************************************************************x*/
+void TFT_eSprite::pushSprite(int32_t x, int32_t y, uint16_t transp)
+{
+  if (!_created ) return;
+
+  if (_bpp16) _tft->pushSprite(x, y, _iwidth, _iheight, _img, transp );
+  else
+  {
+    transp = (uint8_t)((transp & 0xE000)>>8 | (transp & 0x0700)>>6 | (transp & 0x0018)>>3);
+    _tft->pushSprite(x, y, _iwidth, _iheight, _img8, (uint8_t) transp);
+  }
+}
+
+
 /***************************************************************************************
 ** Function name:           readPixel
 ** Description:             Read 565 colour of a pixel at defined coordinates
@@ -4493,7 +4639,11 @@ void TFT_eSprite::fillSprite(uint32_t color)
   // Use memset if possible as it is super fast
   if(( (uint8_t)color == (uint8_t)(color>>8) ) && _bpp16)
                     memset(_img,  (uint8_t)color, _iwidth * _iheight * 2);
-  else if (!_bpp16) memset(_img8, (uint8_t)color, _iwidth * _iheight);
+  else if (!_bpp16)
+  {
+    color = (color & 0xE000)>>8 | (color & 0x0700)>>6 | (color & 0x0018)>>3;
+    memset(_img8, (uint8_t)color, _iwidth * _iheight);
+  }
 
   else fillRect(0, 0, _iwidth, _iheight, color);
 }
@@ -4770,7 +4920,8 @@ void TFT_eSprite::drawFastVLine(int32_t x, int32_t y, int32_t h, uint32_t color)
   if (_bpp16)
   {
     color = (color >> 8) | (color << 8);
-    while (h--) _img[x + _iwidth * y++] = (uint16_t) color;
+    int32_t yp = x + _iwidth * y;
+    while (h--) {_img[yp] = (uint16_t) color; yp += _iwidth;}
   }
   else
   {
@@ -4823,14 +4974,17 @@ void TFT_eSprite::fillRect(int32_t x, int32_t y, int32_t w, int32_t h, uint32_t
   if ((y + h) > _iheight) h = _iheight - y;
   if ((w < 1) || (h < 1)) return;
 
+  int32_t yp = _iwidth * y;
+
   if (_bpp16)
   {
     color = (color >> 8) | (color << 8);
+
     while (h--)
     {
-      int32_t ix = x, iw = w;
-      while (iw--) _img[_iwidth * y + ix++] = (uint16_t) color;
-      y++;
+      uint32_t ix = x, iw = w;
+      while (iw--) _img[yp + ix++] = (uint16_t) color;
+      yp += _iwidth;
     }
   }
   else
@@ -4838,10 +4992,8 @@ void TFT_eSprite::fillRect(int32_t x, int32_t y, int32_t w, int32_t h, uint32_t
     color = (color & 0xE000)>>8 | (color & 0x0700)>>6 | (color & 0x0018)>>3;
     while (h--)
     {
-      //int32_t ix = x, iw = w;
-      //while (iw--) _img8[_iwidth * y + ix++] = (uint8_t) color;
-	  memset(_img8 + _iwidth * y + x, (uint8_t)color, w);
-      y++;
+	  memset(_img8 + yp + x, (uint8_t)color, w);
+      yp += _iwidth;
     }
   }
 }
diff --git a/TFT_eSPI.h b/TFT_eSPI.h
index d38bf6e..ef4ecf8 100644
--- a/TFT_eSPI.h
+++ b/TFT_eSPI.h
@@ -246,10 +246,14 @@
 #define TFT_MAGENTA     0xF81F      /* 255,   0, 255 */
 #define TFT_YELLOW      0xFFE0      /* 255, 255,   0 */
 #define TFT_WHITE       0xFFFF      /* 255, 255, 255 */
-#define TFT_ORANGE      0xFD20      /* 255, 165,   0 */
-#define TFT_GREENYELLOW 0xAFE5      /* 173, 255,  47 */
-#define TFT_PINK        0xF81F
+#define TFT_ORANGE      0xFDA0      /* 255, 180,   0 */
+#define TFT_GREENYELLOW 0xB7E0      /* 180, 255,   0 */
+#define TFT_PINK        0xFC9F
 
+// Next is a special 16 bit colour value that encodes to 8 bits
+// and will then decode back to the same 16 bit value.
+// Convenient for 8 bit and 16 bit transparent sprites.
+#define TFT_TRANSPARENT 0x0120
 
 // Swap any type
 template <typename T> static inline void
@@ -406,6 +410,9 @@ class TFT_eSPI : public Print {
   void     pushRect(uint32_t x0, uint32_t y0, uint32_t w, uint32_t h, uint16_t *data);
   void     pushSprite(int32_t x0, int32_t y0, uint32_t w, uint32_t h, uint16_t *data);
   void     pushSprite(int32_t x0, int32_t y0, uint32_t w, uint32_t h, uint8_t  *data);
+  void     pushSprite(int32_t x0, int32_t y0, uint32_t w, uint32_t h, uint16_t *data, uint16_t transparent);
+  void     pushSprite(int32_t x0, int32_t y0, uint32_t w, uint32_t h, uint8_t  *data, uint8_t  transparent);
+ 
            // This next function has been used successfully to dump the TFT screen to a PC for documentation purposes
            // It reads a screen area and returns the RGB 8 bit colour values of each pixel
            // Set w and h to 1 to read 1 pixel's colour. The data buffer must be at least w * h * 3 bytes
@@ -590,6 +597,7 @@ class TFT_eSprite : public TFT_eSPI {
   void     pushBitmap(uint32_t x0, uint32_t y0, uint32_t w, uint32_t h, uint16_t *data);
 
   void     pushSprite(int32_t x, int32_t y);
+  void     pushSprite(int32_t x, int32_t y, uint16_t transparent);
 
   int16_t  drawChar(unsigned int uniCode, int x, int y, int font),
            drawChar(unsigned int uniCode, int x, int y);
@@ -607,11 +615,11 @@ class TFT_eSprite : public TFT_eSPI {
  
   uint16_t *_img;
   uint8_t  *_img8;
-  bool     _created;
+  bool     _created, _bpp16;
 
   int32_t  _icursor_x, _icursor_y, _xs, _ys, _xe, _ye, _xptr, _yptr;
 
-  int32_t  _iwidth, _iheight, _bpp16;
+  int32_t  _iwidth, _iheight;
 
 };
 
diff --git a/examples/Sprite/Transparent_Sprite_Demo/Transparent_Sprite_Demo.ino b/examples/Sprite/Transparent_Sprite_Demo/Transparent_Sprite_Demo.ino
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c8039e7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/Sprite/Transparent_Sprite_Demo/Transparent_Sprite_Demo.ino
@@ -0,0 +1,144 @@
+/*
+  Sketch to show creation of a sprite with a transparent
+  background, then plot it on the TFT.
+
+  Example for library:
+  https://github.com/Bodmer/TFT_eSPI
+
+  A Sprite is notionally an invisible graphics screen that is
+  kept in the processors RAM. Graphics can be drawn into the
+  Sprite just as it can be drawn directly to the screen. Once
+  the Sprite is completed it can be plotted onto the screen in
+  any position. If there is sufficient RAM then the Sprite can
+  be the same size as the screen and used as a frame buffer.
+
+  A 16 bit Sprite occupies (2 * width * height) bytes in RAM.
+
+  On a ESP8266 Sprite sizes up to 126 x 160 can be accomodated,
+  this size requires 40kBytes of RAM for a 16 bit colour depth.
+  
+  When 8 bit colour depth sprites are created they occupy
+  (width * height) bytes in RAM, so larger sprites can be
+  created, or the RAM required is halved.
+*/
+
+#include <TFT_eSPI.h>                 // Include the graphics library (this includes the sprite functions)
+
+TFT_eSPI    tft = TFT_eSPI();         // Create object "tft"
+
+TFT_eSprite img = TFT_eSprite(&tft);  // Create Sprite object "img" with pointer to "tft" object
+                                      // the pointer is used by pushSprite() to push it onto the TFT
+
+void setup(void) {
+  Serial.begin(250000);
+
+  tft.init();
+
+  tft.setRotation(0);
+}
+
+void loop() {
+
+  tft.fillScreen(TFT_NAVY);
+
+  // Draw 10 sprites containing a "transparent" colour
+  for (int i = 0; i < 10; i++)
+  {
+    int x = random(240-70);
+    int y = random(320-80);
+    int c = random(0x10000); // Random colour
+    drawStar(x, y, c);
+  }
+
+  delay(2000);
+
+  uint32_t dt = millis();
+
+  // Now go bananas and draw 500 nore
+  for (int i = 0; i < 500; i++)
+  {
+    int x = random(240-70);
+    int y = random(320-80);
+    int c = random(0x10000); // Random colour
+    drawStar(x, y, c);
+    yield(); // Stop watchdog reset
+  }
+
+  // Show time in milliseconds to draw and then push 1 sprite to TFT screen
+  numberBox( 10, 10, (millis()-dt)/500.0 );
+
+  delay(2000);
+
+}
+
+// #########################################################################
+// Create sprite, plot graphics in it, plot to screen, then delete sprite
+// #########################################################################
+void drawStar(int x, int y, int star_color)
+{
+  // Create an 8 bit sprite 70x 80 pixels (uses 5600 bytes of RAM)
+  img.setColorDepth(8);
+  img.createSprite(70, 80);
+
+  // Fill Sprite with a "transparent" colour
+  // TFT_TRANSPARENT is already defined for convenience
+  // We could also fill with any colour as "transparent" and later specify that
+  // same colour when we push the Sprite onto the screen.
+  img.fillSprite(TFT_TRANSPARENT);
+
+  // Draw 2 triangles to create a filled in star
+  img.fillTriangle(35, 0, 0,59, 69,59, star_color);
+  img.fillTriangle(35,79, 0,20, 69,20, star_color);
+
+  // Punch a star shaped hole in the middle with a smaller transparent star
+  img.fillTriangle(35, 7, 6,56, 63,56, TFT_TRANSPARENT);
+  img.fillTriangle(35,73, 6,24, 63,24, TFT_TRANSPARENT);
+
+  // Push sprite to TFT screen CGRAM at coordinate x,y (top left corner)
+  // Specify what colour is to be treated as transparent.
+  img.pushSprite(x, y, TFT_TRANSPARENT);
+
+  // Delete it to free memory
+  img.deleteSprite();
+ 
+}
+
+// #########################################################################
+// Draw a number in a rounded rectangle with some transparent pixels
+// #########################################################################
+void numberBox(int x, int y, float num )
+{
+
+  // Size of sprite
+  #define IWIDTH  80
+  #define IHEIGHT 35
+
+  // Create a 8 bit sprite 80 pixels wide, 35 high (2800 bytes of RAM needed)
+  img.setColorDepth(8);
+  img.createSprite(IWIDTH, IHEIGHT);
+
+  // Fill it with black (this will be the transparent colour this time)
+  img.fillSprite(TFT_BLACK);
+
+  // Draw a background for the numbers
+  img.fillRoundRect(  0, 0,  80, 35, 15, TFT_RED);
+  img.drawRoundRect(  0, 0,  80, 35, 15, TFT_WHITE);
+
+  // Set the font parameters
+  img.setTextSize(1);           // Font size scaling is x1
+  img.setTextColor(TFT_WHITE);  // White text, no background colour
+
+  // Set text coordinate datum to middle right
+  img.setTextDatum(MR_DATUM);
+
+  // Draw the number to 3 decimal places at 70,20 in font 4
+  img.drawFloat(num, 3, 70, 20, 4);
+
+  // Push sprite to TFT screen CGRAM at coordinate x,y (top left corner)
+  // All black pixels will not be drawn hence will show as "transparent"
+  img.pushSprite(x, y, TFT_BLACK);
+
+  // Delete sprite to free up the RAM
+  img.deleteSprite();
+}
+