color_to_alpha.py

from PIL import Image, ImageMath

def difference1(source, color):
    """When source is bigger than color"""
    return (source - color) / (255.0 - color)

def difference2(source, color):
    """When color is bigger than source"""
    return (color - source) / color


def color_to_alpha(image, color=None):
    image = image.convert('RGBA')
    width, height = image.size

    color = map(float, color)
    img_bands = [band.convert("F") for band in image.split()]

    # Find the maximum difference rate between source and color. I had to use two
    # difference functions because ImageMath.eval only evaluates the expression
    # once.
    alpha = ImageMath.eval(
        """float(
            max(
                max(
                    max(
                        difference1(red_band, cred_band),
                        difference1(green_band, cgreen_band)
                    ),
                    difference1(blue_band, cblue_band)
                ),
                max(
                    max(
                        difference2(red_band, cred_band),
                        difference2(green_band, cgreen_band)
                    ),
                    difference2(blue_band, cblue_band)
                )
            )
        )""",
        difference1=difference1,
        difference2=difference2,
        red_band = img_bands[0],
        green_band = img_bands[1],
        blue_band = img_bands[2],
        cred_band = color[0],
        cgreen_band = color[1],
        cblue_band = color[2]
    )

    # Calculate the new image colors after the removal of the selected color
    new_bands = [
        ImageMath.eval(
            "convert((image - color) / alpha + color, 'L')",
            image = img_bands[i],
            color = color[i],
            alpha = alpha
        )
        for i in xrange(3)
    ]

    # Add the new alpha band
    new_bands.append(ImageMath.eval(
        "convert(alpha_band * alpha, 'L')",
        alpha = alpha,
        alpha_band = img_bands[3]
    ))

    return Image.merge('RGBA', new_bands)