    #! /usr/local/bin/ruby -w
    require 'RMagick'

    # Demonstrate partial transparency and the get_pixels and
    # store_pixels methods by creating an image that goes from
    # full-color on the left to monochrome on the right.

    # Read the colorful picture of a rock formation. Scale
    # it to 300 pixels high because we don't want a big picture.
    rocks = Magick::Image.read('images/Red_Rocks.jpg').first
    rocks.scale!(300.0/rocks.rows)

    # Make a monochrome copy. See Image#quantize for details
    grayrocks = rocks.quantize(256, Magick::GRAYColorspace)

    rows = grayrocks.rows
    cols = grayrocks.columns

    # Create an array of opacity values, proceeding from
    # transparent to opaque. The array should have as many
    # elements as there are columns in the image. The first
    # element should be TransparentOpacity and each succeeding
    # element slightly more opaque than its predecessor.
    step = Magick::TransparentOpacity / cols.to_f
    opacity_steps = Array.new(cols)
    cols.times { |x|
        opacity_steps[x] = Magick::TransparentOpacity - Integer(x * step)
        if opacity_steps[x] < Magick::OpaqueOpacity
            opacity_steps[x] = Magick::OpaqueOpacity
        end
    }

    # Get each row of pixels from the mono image.
    # Copy the pre-computed opacity values to the pixels.
    # Store the pixels back.
    rows.times { |y|
        pixels = grayrocks.get_pixels(0, y, cols, 1)
        pixels.each_with_index { |p,x| p.opacity = opacity_steps[x] }
        grayrocks.store_pixels(0, y, cols, 1, pixels)
    }

    # Composite the mono version of the image over the color version.
    grayrocks.matte = true
    combine = rocks.composite(grayrocks, Magick::CenterGravity, Magick::OverCompositeOp)
    #combine.display
    combine.write 'get_pixels.jpg'
    exit