diff --git a/app/src/main/java/org/dslul/openboard/inputmethod/keyboard/KeyboardTheme.java b/app/src/main/java/org/dslul/openboard/inputmethod/keyboard/KeyboardTheme.java
index 85bfb1e2b..0fca466cf 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/org/dslul/openboard/inputmethod/keyboard/KeyboardTheme.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/org/dslul/openboard/inputmethod/keyboard/KeyboardTheme.java
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ public final class KeyboardTheme implements Comparable<KeyboardTheme> {
                         Color.parseColor("#FFFFFF"),
                         Color.parseColor("#FFFFFF"),
                         Color.parseColor("#282828"),
-                        Color.parseColor("#282828")
+                        Color.parseColor("#80FFFFFF")
                 );
             case THEME_DARKER:
                 return new Colors(
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/org/dslul/openboard/inputmethod/keyboard/KeyboardView.java b/app/src/main/java/org/dslul/openboard/inputmethod/keyboard/KeyboardView.java
index 8f976f034..429ce6d0a 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/org/dslul/openboard/inputmethod/keyboard/KeyboardView.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/org/dslul/openboard/inputmethod/keyboard/KeyboardView.java
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ import org.dslul.openboard.inputmethod.latin.R;
 import org.dslul.openboard.inputmethod.latin.common.BackgroundType;
 import org.dslul.openboard.inputmethod.latin.common.Colors;
 import org.dslul.openboard.inputmethod.latin.common.Constants;
+import org.dslul.openboard.inputmethod.latin.common.StringUtils;
 import org.dslul.openboard.inputmethod.latin.settings.Settings;
 import org.dslul.openboard.inputmethod.latin.suggestions.MoreSuggestionsView;
 import org.dslul.openboard.inputmethod.latin.utils.TypefaceUtils;
@@ -428,7 +429,10 @@ public class KeyboardView extends View {
             }
 
             if (key.isEnabled()) {
-                paint.setColor(key.selectTextColor(params));
+                if (StringUtils.mightBeEmoji(label))
+                    paint.setColor(key.selectTextColor(params) | 0xFF000000); // ignore alpha for emojis (though actually color isn't applied anyway and we could just set white)
+                else
+                    paint.setColor(key.selectTextColor(params));
                 // Set a drop shadow for the text if the shadow radius is positive value.
                 if (mKeyTextShadowRadius > 0.0f) {
                     paint.setShadowLayer(mKeyTextShadowRadius, 0.0f, 0.0f, params.mTextShadowColor);
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/org/dslul/openboard/inputmethod/keyboard/MainKeyboardView.java b/app/src/main/java/org/dslul/openboard/inputmethod/keyboard/MainKeyboardView.java
index aa005a38d..c122c10b7 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/org/dslul/openboard/inputmethod/keyboard/MainKeyboardView.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/org/dslul/openboard/inputmethod/keyboard/MainKeyboardView.java
@@ -64,10 +64,8 @@ import java.util.WeakHashMap;
  * A view that is responsible for detecting key presses and touch movements.
  *
  * @attr ref R.styleable#MainKeyboardView_languageOnSpacebarTextRatio
- * @attr ref R.styleable#MainKeyboardView_languageOnSpacebarTextColor
  * @attr ref R.styleable#MainKeyboardView_languageOnSpacebarTextShadowRadius
  * @attr ref R.styleable#MainKeyboardView_languageOnSpacebarTextShadowColor
- * @attr ref R.styleable#MainKeyboardView_languageOnSpacebarFinalAlpha
  * @attr ref R.styleable#MainKeyboardView_languageOnSpacebarFadeoutAnimator
  * @attr ref R.styleable#MainKeyboardView_altCodeKeyWhileTypingFadeoutAnimator
  * @attr ref R.styleable#MainKeyboardView_altCodeKeyWhileTypingFadeinAnimator
@@ -203,15 +201,13 @@ public final class MainKeyboardView extends KeyboardView implements DrawingProxy
         mLanguageOnSpacebarTextRatio = mainKeyboardViewAttr.getFraction(
                 R.styleable.MainKeyboardView_languageOnSpacebarTextRatio, 1, 1, 1.0f);
         final Colors colors = Settings.getInstance().getCurrent().mColors;
-        mLanguageOnSpacebarTextColor = colors.getSpaceBarText(); //mainKeyboardViewAttr.getColor(R.styleable.MainKeyboardView_languageOnSpacebarTextColor, 0);
+        mLanguageOnSpacebarTextColor = colors.getSpaceBarText();
         mLanguageOnSpacebarTextShadowRadius = mainKeyboardViewAttr.getFloat(
                 R.styleable.MainKeyboardView_languageOnSpacebarTextShadowRadius,
                 LANGUAGE_ON_SPACEBAR_TEXT_SHADOW_RADIUS_DISABLED);
         mLanguageOnSpacebarTextShadowColor = mainKeyboardViewAttr.getColor(
                 R.styleable.MainKeyboardView_languageOnSpacebarTextShadowColor, 0);
-        mLanguageOnSpacebarFinalAlpha = mainKeyboardViewAttr.getInt(
-                R.styleable.MainKeyboardView_languageOnSpacebarFinalAlpha,
-                Constants.Color.ALPHA_OPAQUE);
+        mLanguageOnSpacebarFinalAlpha = Color.alpha(mLanguageOnSpacebarTextColor);
         final int languageOnSpacebarFadeoutAnimatorResId = mainKeyboardViewAttr.getResourceId(
                 R.styleable.MainKeyboardView_languageOnSpacebarFadeoutAnimator, 0);
         final int altCodeKeyWhileTypingFadeoutAnimatorResId = mainKeyboardViewAttr.getResourceId(
@@ -249,6 +245,8 @@ public final class MainKeyboardView extends KeyboardView implements DrawingProxy
         mMoreKeysKeyboardContainer = inflater.inflate(moreKeysKeyboardLayoutId, null);
         mMoreKeysKeyboardForActionContainer = inflater.inflate(moreKeysKeyboardForActionLayoutId, null);
         mLanguageOnSpacebarFadeoutAnimator = loadObjectAnimator(languageOnSpacebarFadeoutAnimatorResId, this);
+        if (mLanguageOnSpacebarFadeoutAnimator != null)
+            mLanguageOnSpacebarFadeoutAnimator.setIntValues(255, mLanguageOnSpacebarFinalAlpha);
         mAltCodeKeyWhileTypingFadeoutAnimator = loadObjectAnimator(altCodeKeyWhileTypingFadeoutAnimatorResId, this);
         mAltCodeKeyWhileTypingFadeinAnimator = loadObjectAnimator(altCodeKeyWhileTypingFadeinAnimatorResId, this);
 
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/org/dslul/openboard/inputmethod/latin/common/Colors.kt b/app/src/main/java/org/dslul/openboard/inputmethod/latin/common/Colors.kt
index e45c5108d..59b8b49d4 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/org/dslul/openboard/inputmethod/latin/common/Colors.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/org/dslul/openboard/inputmethod/latin/common/Colors.kt
@@ -126,11 +126,11 @@ class Colors (
                 else stateList(brightenOrDarken(accent, true), accent)
             spaceBarStateList = stateList(brightenOrDarken(spaceBar, true), spaceBar)
         }
-        keyTextFilter = colorFilter(keyText, BlendModeCompat.SRC_ATOP)
+        keyTextFilter = colorFilter(keyText)
         actionKeyIconColorFilter = when {
             themeStyle == STYLE_HOLO -> keyTextFilter
             // the white icon may not have enough contrast, and can't be adjusted by the user
-            isBrightColor(accent) -> colorFilter(Color.DKGRAY, BlendModeCompat.SRC_ATOP)
+            isBrightColor(accent) -> colorFilter(Color.DKGRAY)
             else -> null
         }
     }
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/org/dslul/openboard/inputmethod/latin/settings/ColorsSettingsFragment.kt b/app/src/main/java/org/dslul/openboard/inputmethod/latin/settings/ColorsSettingsFragment.kt
index f077a105e..9bc832347 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/org/dslul/openboard/inputmethod/latin/settings/ColorsSettingsFragment.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/org/dslul/openboard/inputmethod/latin/settings/ColorsSettingsFragment.kt
@@ -98,9 +98,7 @@ open class ColorsSettingsFragment : Fragment(R.layout.color_settings) {
                 val hidden = RichInputMethodManager.getInstance().inputMethodManager.hideSoftInputFromWindow(binding.dummyText.windowToken, 0)
                 val initialColor = Settings.readUserColor(prefs, requireContext(), colorPrefs[index], isNight)
                 val picker = ColorPickerView(requireContext())
-                // todo: later alpha bar should be activated, but currently setting alpha leads to glitches,
-                //  e.g. when setting alpha on key text it's not applied for key icons, but for emojis
-                picker.showAlpha(false)
+                picker.showAlpha(colorPref != Settings.PREF_COLOR_BACKGROUND_SUFFIX) // background behind background looks broken and sometimes is dark, sometimes light
                 picker.showHex(true)
                 picker.showPreview(true)
                 picker.color = initialColor
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/org/dslul/openboard/inputmethod/latin/settings/Settings.java b/app/src/main/java/org/dslul/openboard/inputmethod/latin/settings/Settings.java
index cad025f39..8a304310f 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/org/dslul/openboard/inputmethod/latin/settings/Settings.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/org/dslul/openboard/inputmethod/latin/settings/Settings.java
@@ -522,8 +522,10 @@ public final class Settings implements SharedPreferences.OnSharedPreferenceChang
             case PREF_COLOR_SPACEBAR_SUFFIX:
                 return readUserColor(prefs, context, PREF_COLOR_KEYS_SUFFIX, isNight);
             case PREF_COLOR_SPACEBAR_TEXT_SUFFIX:
-                if (ColorUtilKt.isBrightColor(readUserColor(prefs, context, PREF_COLOR_SPACEBAR_SUFFIX, isNight))) return Color.DKGRAY;
-                else return readUserColor(prefs, context, PREF_COLOR_TEXT_SUFFIX, isNight);
+                final int spacebar = readUserColor(prefs, context, PREF_COLOR_SPACEBAR_SUFFIX, isNight);
+                final int hintText = readUserColor(prefs, context, PREF_COLOR_HINT_TEXT_SUFFIX, isNight);
+                if (ColorUtilKt.colorDistanceSquared(hintText, spacebar) > 80 * 80) return hintText & 0x80FFFFFF; // add some transparency
+                else return readUserColor(prefs, context, PREF_COLOR_TEXT_SUFFIX, isNight) & 0x80FFFFFF;
             case PREF_COLOR_BACKGROUND_SUFFIX:
             default:
                 return ContextCompat.getColor(getDayNightContext(context, isNight), R.color.keyboard_background);
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/org/dslul/openboard/inputmethod/latin/suggestions/SuggestionStripView.java b/app/src/main/java/org/dslul/openboard/inputmethod/latin/suggestions/SuggestionStripView.java
index 96169331b..532da77aa 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/org/dslul/openboard/inputmethod/latin/suggestions/SuggestionStripView.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/org/dslul/openboard/inputmethod/latin/suggestions/SuggestionStripView.java
@@ -203,13 +203,13 @@ public final class SuggestionStripView extends RelativeLayout implements OnClick
         mToolbarArrowIcon = ContextCompat.getDrawable(context, R.drawable.ic_arrow_right);
         mDefaultBackground = mToolbarKey.getBackground();
         colors.setBackgroundColor(mDefaultBackground, BackgroundType.SUGGESTION);
-        mEnabledToolKeyBackground.setColors(new int[] {colors.getAccent(), Color.TRANSPARENT});
+        mEnabledToolKeyBackground.setColors(new int[] {colors.getAccent() | 0xFF000000, Color.TRANSPARENT}); // ignore alpha on accent color
         mEnabledToolKeyBackground.setGradientType(GradientDrawable.RADIAL_GRADIENT);
         mEnabledToolKeyBackground.setGradientRadius(mToolbarKey.getLayoutParams().height / 2f); // nothing else has a usable height at this state
 
         mToolbarKey.setOnClickListener(this);
         mToolbarKey.setImageDrawable(Settings.getInstance().getCurrent().mIncognitoModeEnabled ? mIncognitoIcon : mToolbarArrowIcon);
-        mToolbarKey.setColorFilter(colors.getKeyText()); // maybe different color?
+        mToolbarKey.setColorFilter(colors.getKeyTextFilter()); // maybe different color?
         mToolbarKey.setBackground(new ShapeDrawable(new OvalShape())); // ShapeDrawable color is black, need src_atop filter
         mToolbarKey.getBackground().setColorFilter(colors.getDoubleAdjustedBackground(), PorterDuff.Mode.SRC_ATOP);
         mToolbarKey.getLayoutParams().height *= 0.82; // shrink the whole key a little (drawable not affected)
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/org/dslul/openboard/inputmethod/latin/utils/ColorUtil.kt b/app/src/main/java/org/dslul/openboard/inputmethod/latin/utils/ColorUtil.kt
index 02806672a..662cc1013 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/org/dslul/openboard/inputmethod/latin/utils/ColorUtil.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/org/dslul/openboard/inputmethod/latin/utils/ColorUtil.kt
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ package org.dslul.openboard.inputmethod.latin.utils
 import android.graphics.Color
 import androidx.annotation.ColorInt
 import androidx.core.graphics.ColorUtils
+import kotlin.math.max
+import kotlin.math.min
 
 fun isBrightColor(@ColorInt color: Int) =
     if (android.R.color.transparent == color) true
@@ -14,6 +16,13 @@ fun isDarkColor(@ColorInt color: Int) =
     if (android.R.color.transparent == color) true
     else getBrightnessSquared(color) < 50 * 50
 
+fun colorDistanceSquared(@ColorInt color1: Int, @ColorInt color2: Int): Int {
+    val diffR = Color.red(color1) - Color.red(color2)
+    val diffG = Color.green(color1) - Color.green(color2)
+    val diffB = Color.blue(color1) - Color.blue(color2)
+    return diffR * diffR + diffB * diffB + diffG * diffG
+}
+
 @ColorInt
 fun brightenOrDarken(@ColorInt color: Int, preferDarken: Boolean) =
     if (preferDarken) {
diff --git a/app/src/main/res/animator/language_on_spacebar_fadeout.xml b/app/src/main/res/animator/language_on_spacebar_fadeout.xml
index 8b7c8de98..e92c9f0f7 100644
--- a/app/src/main/res/animator/language_on_spacebar_fadeout.xml
+++ b/app/src/main/res/animator/language_on_spacebar_fadeout.xml
@@ -12,4 +12,4 @@
     android:startOffset="1200"
     android:duration="200"
     android:valueFrom="255"
-    android:valueTo="@integer/config_language_on_spacebar_final_alpha" />
+    android:valueTo="128" />
diff --git a/app/src/main/res/drawable/ic_delete.xml b/app/src/main/res/drawable/ic_delete.xml
index 6ecabab35..97082d3d1 100644
--- a/app/src/main/res/drawable/ic_delete.xml
+++ b/app/src/main/res/drawable/ic_delete.xml
@@ -8,6 +8,6 @@
     android:viewportWidth="24"
     android:viewportHeight="24">
     <path
-        android:fillColor="@color/foreground_weak"
+        android:fillColor="#FFF"
         android:pathData="M6,19c0,1.1 0.9,2 2,2h8c1.1,0 2,-0.9 2,-2V7H6v12zM19,4h-3.5l-1,-1h-5l-1,1H5v2h14V4z"/>
 </vector>
diff --git a/app/src/main/res/layout/language_list_item.xml b/app/src/main/res/layout/language_list_item.xml
index f7ebdb9d5..d51216682 100644
--- a/app/src/main/res/layout/language_list_item.xml
+++ b/app/src/main/res/layout/language_list_item.xml
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
     SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-only
 -->
 <LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
+    xmlns:app="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto"
     android:paddingHorizontal="16dp"
     android:paddingVertical="4dp"
     android:minHeight="48dp"
@@ -31,6 +32,7 @@
         android:id="@+id/delete_button"
         android:paddingEnd="10dp"
         android:src="@drawable/ic_delete"
+        app:tint="@color/foreground_weak"
         android:visibility="gone"
         android:layout_gravity="center_vertical"
         android:layout_width="wrap_content"
diff --git a/app/src/main/res/values/attrs.xml b/app/src/main/res/values/attrs.xml
index f0cf9cabe..0c6e23c43 100644
--- a/app/src/main/res/values/attrs.xml
+++ b/app/src/main/res/values/attrs.xml
@@ -70,11 +70,9 @@
     <declare-styleable name="MainKeyboardView">
         <!-- Size of the text for spacebar language label, in the proportion of key height. -->
         <attr name="languageOnSpacebarTextRatio" format="fraction" />
-        <attr name="languageOnSpacebarTextColor" format="color" />
         <attr name="languageOnSpacebarTextShadowRadius" format="float" />
         <attr name="languageOnSpacebarTextShadowColor" format="color" />
         <!-- Fadeout animator for spacebar language label. -->
-        <attr name="languageOnSpacebarFinalAlpha" format="integer" />
         <attr name="languageOnSpacebarFadeoutAnimator" format="reference" />
         <!-- Fadeout and fadein animator for altCodeWhileTyping keys. -->
         <attr name="altCodeKeyWhileTypingFadeoutAnimator" format="reference" />
diff --git a/app/src/main/res/values/colors.xml b/app/src/main/res/values/colors.xml
index a8e66ec07..47ff8988f 100644
--- a/app/src/main/res/values/colors.xml
+++ b/app/src/main/res/values/colors.xml
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@
 
     <!-- Color resources for the old LXX_Light theme, now used for THEME_LIGHT. -->
     <color name="key_hint_letter_color_lxx_light">#B337474F</color>
-    <color name="spacebar_letter_color_lxx_light">#B337474F</color>
+    <color name="spacebar_letter_color_lxx_light">#8037474F</color>
     <color name="key_text_color_lxx_light">#37474F</color>
 
     <!-- Color resources for the old LXX_Dark theme, now used for several dark themes. -->
diff --git a/app/src/main/res/values/config-common.xml b/app/src/main/res/values/config-common.xml
index 95e9359f4..a8bc47851 100644
--- a/app/src/main/res/values/config-common.xml
+++ b/app/src/main/res/values/config-common.xml
@@ -47,7 +47,6 @@
     <integer name="config_sliding_key_input_preview_shadow_ratio">-1</integer>
     <dimen name="config_key_hysteresis_distance_for_sliding_modifier">8.0dp</dimen>
 
-    <integer name="config_language_on_spacebar_final_alpha">128</integer>
     <dimen name="config_language_on_spacebar_horizontal_margin">3dp</dimen>
 
     <integer name="config_gesture_floating_preview_text_linger_timeout">200</integer>
diff --git a/app/src/main/res/values/themes-common.xml b/app/src/main/res/values/themes-common.xml
index 1f03e52ed..cd1f78d86 100644
--- a/app/src/main/res/values/themes-common.xml
+++ b/app/src/main/res/values/themes-common.xml
@@ -67,7 +67,6 @@
         <item name="moreKeysKeyboardLayout">@layout/more_keys_keyboard</item>
         <item name="showMoreKeysKeyboardAtTouchedPoint">@bool/config_show_more_keys_keyboard_at_touched_point</item>
         <item name="languageOnSpacebarTextRatio">@fraction/config_language_on_spacebar_text_ratio</item>
-        <item name="languageOnSpacebarFinalAlpha">@integer/config_language_on_spacebar_final_alpha</item>
         <item name="languageOnSpacebarFadeoutAnimator">@animator/language_on_spacebar_fadeout</item>
         <!-- Remove animations for now because it could drain a non-negligible amount of battery while typing.
         <item name="altCodeKeyWhileTypingFadeoutAnimator">@anim/alt_code_key_while_typing_fadeout</item>
diff --git a/app/src/main/res/values/themes-holo_base.xml b/app/src/main/res/values/themes-holo_base.xml
index 6a6b3673a..e45a37326 100644
--- a/app/src/main/res/values/themes-holo_base.xml
+++ b/app/src/main/res/values/themes-holo_base.xml
@@ -67,7 +67,6 @@
         <item name="gestureFloatingPreviewColor">@color/gesture_floating_preview_color_holo</item>
         <item name="gestureTrailColor">@color/highlight_color_holo_white</item>
         <item name="slidingKeyInputPreviewColor">@color/highlight_translucent_color_holo_white</item>
-        <item name="languageOnSpacebarTextColor">@color/spacebar_text_color_holo</item>
         <item name="languageOnSpacebarTextShadowRadius">1.0</item>
         <item name="languageOnSpacebarTextShadowColor">@color/spacebar_text_shadow_color_holo</item>
     </style>
diff --git a/app/src/main/res/values/themes-lxx-base.xml b/app/src/main/res/values/themes-lxx-base.xml
index 7c9872e9b..53d4d08ed 100644
--- a/app/src/main/res/values/themes-lxx-base.xml
+++ b/app/src/main/res/values/themes-lxx-base.xml
@@ -53,7 +53,6 @@
         <item name="gestureFloatingPreviewColor">@color/gesture_floating_preview_color_lxx_light</item>
         <item name="gestureTrailColor">@color/gesture_trail_color_lxx_light</item>
         <item name="slidingKeyInputPreviewColor">@color/sliding_key_input_preview_color_lxx_light</item>
-        <item name="languageOnSpacebarTextColor">@color/language_on_spacebar_text_color_lxx_light</item>
         <!-- A negative value to disable text shadow layer. -->
         <item name="languageOnSpacebarTextShadowRadius">-1.0</item>
     </style>