diff --git a/HISTORY.md b/HISTORY.md
index bc0d28fc..cd59cf24 100755
--- a/HISTORY.md
+++ b/HISTORY.md
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 * morphic: made keyboard handler (more) invisible, thanks, Bernat!
 * gui: made remaining synchronous http requests asynch (url: #open, #run)
 * morphic, gui: switch to scripts tab when dragging a block into the editor pane
+* blocks: refactored transparency handling for syntax elements
 
 ### 2020-07-13
 * paint, symbols: new iconic buttons for grow, shrink and flip actions, thanks, Jadga!
diff --git a/snap.html b/snap.html
index 4053f881..7bbf1ee0 100755
--- a/snap.html
+++ b/snap.html
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
         <script src="src/morphic.js?version=2020-07-15"></script>
         <script src="src/symbols.js?version=2020-07-01"></script>
         <script src="src/widgets.js?version=2020-07-13"></script>
-        <script src="src/blocks.js?version=2020-07-02"></script>
+        <script src="src/blocks.js?version=2020-07-15"></script>
         <script src="src/threads.js?version=2020-07-09"></script>
         <script src="src/objects.js?version=2020-07-13"></script>
         <script src="src/gui.js?version=2020-07-15"></script>
diff --git a/src/blocks.js b/src/blocks.js
index 5c8c2d0b..e9b23692 100644
--- a/src/blocks.js
+++ b/src/blocks.js
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ CustomCommandBlockMorph, SymbolMorph, ToggleButtonMorph, DialMorph*/
 
 // Global stuff ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
-modules.blocks = '2020-July-02';
+modules.blocks = '2020-July-15';
 
 var SyntaxElementMorph;
 var BlockMorph;
@@ -284,6 +284,7 @@ SyntaxElementMorph.prototype.setScale = function (num) {
 
 SyntaxElementMorph.prototype.setScale(1);
 SyntaxElementMorph.prototype.isCachingInputs = false;
+SyntaxElementMorph.prototype.alpha = 1;
 
 // SyntaxElementMorph instance creation:
 
@@ -302,6 +303,7 @@ SyntaxElementMorph.prototype.init = function () {
 
     this.defaults = [];
     this.cachedInputs = null;
+    delete this.alpha;
 };
 
 // SyntaxElementMorph accessing:
@@ -4421,7 +4423,7 @@ BlockMorph.prototype.prepareToBeGrabbed = function (hand) {
 };
 
 BlockMorph.prototype.justDropped = function () {
-    this.alpha = 1;
+    delete this.alpha;
     this.allComments().forEach(comment =>
         comment.stopFollowing()
     );
@@ -5595,7 +5597,7 @@ ReporterBlockMorph.prototype.prepareToBeGrabbed = function (handMorph) {
         this.setPosition(oldPos);
     }
     ReporterBlockMorph.uber.prepareToBeGrabbed.call(this, handMorph);
-    this.alpha = 0.85;
+    this.alpha = Math.min(this.alpha, 0.85);
     this.cachedSlotSpec = null;
 };
 
@@ -6188,7 +6190,6 @@ function RingMorph() {
 RingMorph.prototype.init = function () {
     RingMorph.uber.init.call(this);
     this.category = 'other';
-    this.alpha = RingMorph.prototype.alpha;
     this.contrast = RingMorph.prototype.contrast;
     this.setExtent(new Point(200, 80));
 };
@@ -7968,7 +7969,6 @@ function RingCommandSlotMorph() {
 RingCommandSlotMorph.prototype.init = function () {
     RingCommandSlotMorph.uber.init.call(this);
     this.color = new Color(0, 17, 173);
-    this.alpha = RingMorph.prototype.alpha;
     this.contrast = RingMorph.prototype.contrast;
 };
 
@@ -11933,7 +11933,6 @@ function RingReporterSlotMorph(isPredicate) {
 
 RingReporterSlotMorph.prototype.init = function (isPredicate) {
     RingReporterSlotMorph.uber.init.call(this, isPredicate, true);
-    this.alpha = RingMorph.prototype.alpha;
     this.contrast = RingMorph.prototype.contrast;
 };