union colorClass
    as uinteger colour 'color value
    type
      as ubyte  b 'color blue  component
      as ubyte  g 'color green component
      as ubyte  r 'color red   component
      as ubyte  a 'color alpha component
    end type    
    declare operator let(value as uinteger) 'define object assignment ....... ex: object=var
    declare operator cast() as string       'define object string output .... ex: print object
    declare operator cast() as uinteger     'define object numerical output . ex: var=object    
    declare operator + (byref c1 as colorClass,byref c2 as colorClass) as colorClass
    declare constructor(byval value as uinteger=&hFF000000)
  end union
    
  operator colorClass.let(value as uinteger): colour=value:        end operator    
  operator colorClass.cast() as string:       return str$(colour): end operator
  operator colorClass.cast() as uinteger:     return colour:       end operator

  operator colorClass.+(byref c1 as colorClass,byref c2 as colorClass) as colorClass
    
    dim as colorClass newColor
    
    with newColor
      .r=c1.r+c2.r
      .g=c1.g+c2.g
      .b=c1.b+c2.b      
    end with
    
    return newColor
    
  end operator

' =============================================================================
'          Name: rgbaClass constructor (05.17.08)
'    Parameters:
'       [value]: initial color value [&hFF000000]
' -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
'   Description: Construct color class instance
'      Comments: The default color value [&hFF000000] is the equivalent of
'                rgba(0,0,0,255). This allows subsequent rgb only updates to
'                'take effect' without modifying the alpha value.
' =============================================================================  
  constructor colorClass(byval value as uinteger)
    colour=value
  end constructor