diff --git a/gfxlcd/demos/assets/numbers.jpg b/gfxlcd/demos/assets/numbers.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f8904ad
Binary files /dev/null and b/gfxlcd/demos/assets/numbers.jpg differ
diff --git a/gfxlcd/demos/ili_image.py b/gfxlcd/demos/ili_image.py
index a1274f2..057e9d6 100644
--- a/gfxlcd/demos/ili_image.py
+++ b/gfxlcd/demos/ili_image.py
@@ -17,3 +17,7 @@ RPi.GPIO.output(LED, 1)
 
 image_file = Image.open("assets/japan_temple_240x320.jpg")
 lcd_tft.draw_image(0, 0, image_file)
+
+numbers_image = Image.open("assets/dsp2017_101_64.png")
+lcd_tft.transparency_color = (0, 0, 0)
+lcd_tft.draw_image(10, 10, numbers_image)
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diff --git a/gfxlcd/drawing/area.py b/gfxlcd/drawing/area.py
index 9712b39..f631c69 100644
--- a/gfxlcd/drawing/area.py
+++ b/gfxlcd/drawing/area.py
@@ -132,6 +132,36 @@ class Area(Pixel):
             pos_x + width - 1,
             pos_y + height - 1
         )
-        for r, g, b in list(image_file.getdata()):
-            self.color = (r, g, b)
-            self.driver.data(self._converted_color(), None)
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+        row = 0
+        col = 0
+        area = None
+        temporary_area = None
+        for red, green, blue in list(image_file.getdata()):
+            if self._is_transparent((red, green, blue)):
+                area = (pos_x, pos_y + row + 1,  pos_x + width - 1, pos_y + height - 1)
+                temporary_area = (pos_x + col + 1, pos_y + row, pos_x + width - 1, pos_y + row)
+            else:
+                if temporary_area is not None:
+                    self._set_area(*temporary_area)
+                    temporary_area = None
+                self.color = (red, green, blue)
+                self.driver.data(self._converted_color(), None)
+
+            col += 1
+            if col > width - 1:
+                col = 0
+                row += 1
+                if area is not None:
+                    self._set_area(*area)
+                    area = None
+
+    def _is_transparent(self, color):
+        """check if color is a transparency color"""
+        if self.options['transparency_color'] is None:
+            return False
+        elif type(self.options['transparency_color'][0]) == int and color == self.options['transparency_color']:
+            return True
+        elif type(self.options['transparency_color'][0]) == list and color in self.options['transparency_color']:
+            return True
+
+        return False
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