diff --git a/osu.Game/Graphics/OsuColor.cs b/osu.Game/Graphics/OsuColor.cs
index e516b38983..af62e29f27 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Graphics/OsuColor.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Graphics/OsuColor.cs
@@ -6,6 +6,11 @@ namespace osu.Game.Graphics
 {
     public static class OsuColor
     {
+        public static Color4 Opacity(this Color4 color, float a) => new Color4(color.R, color.G, color.B, a);
+        public static Color4 Opacity(this Color4 color, byte a) => new Color4(color.R, color.G, color.B, a / 255f);
+        public static Color4 Gray(float amt) => new Color4(amt, amt, amt, 1f);
+        public static Color4 Gray(byte amt) => new Color4(amt, amt, amt, 255);
+    
         public static readonly Color4 OsuPink = new Color4(255, 102, 170, 255);
     
         public static readonly Color4 BeatmapPanelUnselected = new Color4(20, 43, 51, 255);
diff --git a/osu.Game/Graphics/UserInterface/BackButton.cs b/osu.Game/Graphics/UserInterface/BackButton.cs
index 3203240581..faa47eae2b 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Graphics/UserInterface/BackButton.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Graphics/UserInterface/BackButton.cs
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Graphics.UserInterface
             {
                 RelativeSizeAxes = Axes.Both,
                 Shear = new Vector2(shear, 0),
-                Colour = new Color4(255, 255, 255, 128),
+                Colour = Color4.White.Opacity(0.5f),
             };
             Add(flash);
 
diff --git a/osu.Game/Overlays/ChatOverlay.cs b/osu.Game/Overlays/ChatOverlay.cs
index 22f7a3a78f..a3ae3ca876 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Overlays/ChatOverlay.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Overlays/ChatOverlay.cs
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ using osu.Framework.Graphics.Containers;
 using osu.Framework.Graphics.Sprites;
 using osu.Framework.Graphics.Transformations;
 using osu.Framework.Threading;
+using osu.Game.Graphics;
 using osu.Game.Online.API;
 using osu.Game.Online.API.Requests;
 using osu.Game.Online.Chat;
@@ -45,7 +46,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Overlays
                 {
                     Depth = float.MaxValue,
                     RelativeSizeAxes = Axes.Both,
-                    Colour = new Color4(0.1f, 0.1f, 0.1f, 0.4f),
+                    Colour = OsuColor.Gray(0.1f).Opacity(0.4f),
                 },
                 content = new Container
                 {
diff --git a/osu.Game/Overlays/MusicController.cs b/osu.Game/Overlays/MusicController.cs
index 0ef986a4e6..932306d033 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Overlays/MusicController.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Overlays/MusicController.cs
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Overlays
             EdgeEffect = new EdgeEffect
             {
                 Type = EdgeEffectType.Shadow,
-                Colour = new Color4(0, 0, 0, 40),
+                Colour = Color4.Black.Opacity(40),
                 Radius = 5,
             };
 
@@ -402,7 +402,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Overlays
                         Height = 50,
                         Origin = Anchor.BottomCentre,
                         Anchor = Anchor.BottomCentre,
-                        Colour = new Color4(0, 0, 0, 127)
+                        Colour = Color4.Black.Opacity(0.5f)
                     }
                 };
             }
diff --git a/osu.Game/Overlays/Options/SliderOption.cs b/osu.Game/Overlays/Options/SliderOption.cs
index ff0e8318d8..2571db8ec2 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Overlays/Options/SliderOption.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Overlays/Options/SliderOption.cs
@@ -111,8 +111,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Overlays.Options
                         {
                             new Box
                             {
-                                Colour = new Color4(OsuColor.SliderbarNub.R,
-                                    OsuColor.SliderbarNub.G, OsuColor.SliderbarNub.B, 0),
+                                Colour = OsuColor.SliderbarNub.Opacity(0),
                                 RelativeSizeAxes = Axes.Both
                             }
                         }
diff --git a/osu.Game/Overlays/Toolbar/Toolbar.cs b/osu.Game/Overlays/Toolbar/Toolbar.cs
index df6168b6c5..3ff127e964 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Overlays/Toolbar/Toolbar.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Overlays/Toolbar/Toolbar.cs
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Overlays.Toolbar
                 solidBackground = new Box
                 {
                     RelativeSizeAxes = Axes.Both,
-                    Colour = new Color4(0.1f, 0.1f, 0.1f, 1),
+                    Colour = OsuColor.Gray(0.1f),
                     Alpha = alpha_normal,
                 },
                 gradientBackground = new Box
@@ -75,7 +75,8 @@ namespace osu.Game.Overlays.Toolbar
                     Anchor = Anchor.BottomLeft,
                     Alpha = 0,
                     Height = 90,
-                    ColourInfo = ColourInfo.GradientVertical(new Color4(0.1f, 0.1f, 0.1f, 0.5f), new Color4(0.1f, 0.1f, 0.1f, 0f)),
+                    ColourInfo = ColourInfo.GradientVertical(
+                        OsuColor.Gray(0.1f).Opacity(0.5f), OsuColor.Gray(0.1f).Opacity(0)),
                 },
                 new FlowContainer
                 {
diff --git a/osu.Game/Overlays/Toolbar/ToolbarButton.cs b/osu.Game/Overlays/Toolbar/ToolbarButton.cs
index 80b2fcdb42..1d8999d2a4 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Overlays/Toolbar/ToolbarButton.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Overlays/Toolbar/ToolbarButton.cs
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Overlays.Toolbar
                 HoverBackground = new Box
                 {
                     RelativeSizeAxes = Axes.Both,
-                    Colour = new Color4(80, 80, 80, 180),
+                    Colour = OsuColor.Gray(80).Opacity(180),
                     BlendingMode = BlendingMode.Additive,
                     Alpha = 0,
                 },
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Overlays.Toolbar
         {
             Action?.Invoke();
             sampleClick.Play();
-            HoverBackground.FlashColour(new Color4(255, 255, 255, 100), 500, EasingTypes.OutQuint);
+            HoverBackground.FlashColour(Color4.White.Opacity(100), 500, EasingTypes.OutQuint);
             return true;
         }
 
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Overlays.Toolbar
                 new Box
                 {
                     RelativeSizeAxes = Axes.Both,
-                    Colour = new Color4(30, 30, 30, 255)
+                    Colour = OsuColor.Gray(30)
                 },
                 new Triangles
                 {
diff --git a/osu.Game/Overlays/Toolbar/ToolbarOverlayToggleButton.cs b/osu.Game/Overlays/Toolbar/ToolbarOverlayToggleButton.cs
index b72a358456..c4bec26767 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Overlays/Toolbar/ToolbarOverlayToggleButton.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Overlays/Toolbar/ToolbarOverlayToggleButton.cs
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ using osu.Game.Configuration;
 using osu.Game.Online.API;
 using OpenTK;
 using OpenTK.Graphics;
+using osu.Game.Graphics;
 
 namespace osu.Game.Overlays.Toolbar
 {
@@ -41,7 +42,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Overlays.Toolbar
             Add(StateBackground = new Box
             {
                 RelativeSizeAxes = Axes.Both,
-                Colour = new Color4(150, 150, 150, 180),
+                Colour = OsuColor.Gray(150).Opacity(180),
                 BlendingMode = BlendingMode.Additive,
                 Depth = 2,
                 Alpha = 0,
diff --git a/osu.Game/Overlays/Toolbar/ToolbarUserButton.cs b/osu.Game/Overlays/Toolbar/ToolbarUserButton.cs
index 09708fc403..e093dbeca0 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Overlays/Toolbar/ToolbarUserButton.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Overlays/Toolbar/ToolbarUserButton.cs
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ using osu.Game.Configuration;
 using osu.Game.Online.API;
 using OpenTK;
 using OpenTK.Graphics;
+using osu.Game.Graphics;
 
 namespace osu.Game.Overlays.Toolbar
 {
@@ -73,7 +74,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Overlays.Toolbar
                 {
                     Type = EdgeEffectType.Shadow,
                     Radius = 4,
-                    Colour = new Color4(0, 0, 0, 0.1f),
+                    Colour = Color4.Black.Opacity(0.1f),
                 };
 
                 Masking = true;
diff --git a/osu.Game/Screens/Menu/Button.cs b/osu.Game/Screens/Menu/Button.cs
index 28158457dd..719d75b018 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Screens/Menu/Button.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Screens/Menu/Button.cs
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Screens.Menu
                     EdgeEffect = new EdgeEffect
                     {
                         Type = EdgeEffectType.Shadow,
-                        Colour = new Color4(0, 0, 0, 0.2f),
+                        Colour = Color4.Black.Opacity(0.2f),
                         Roundness = 5,
                         Radius = 8,
                     },
diff --git a/osu.Game/Screens/Menu/ButtonSystem.cs b/osu.Game/Screens/Menu/ButtonSystem.cs
index 6e15d458c1..c2b9513d56 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Screens/Menu/ButtonSystem.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Screens/Menu/ButtonSystem.cs
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Screens.Menu
                         {
                             RelativeSizeAxes = Axes.Both,
                             Size = new Vector2(2, 1),
-                            Colour = new Color4(50, 50, 50, 255),
+                            Colour = OsuColor.Gray(50),
                             Anchor = Anchor.Centre,
                             Origin = Anchor.Centre,
                         },
diff --git a/osu.Game/Screens/Select/BeatmapInfoWedge.cs b/osu.Game/Screens/Select/BeatmapInfoWedge.cs
index eb176f4bdd..e451aa9991 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Screens/Select/BeatmapInfoWedge.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Screens/Select/BeatmapInfoWedge.cs
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Screens.Select
                     new Container
                     {
                         RelativeSizeAxes = Axes.Both,
-                        ColourInfo = ColourInfo.GradientVertical(Color4.White, new Color4(1f, 1f, 1f, 0.3f)),
+                        ColourInfo = ColourInfo.GradientVertical(Color4.White, Color4.White.Opacity(0.3f)),
                         Children = new []
                         {
                             // Zoomed-in and cropped beatmap background
diff --git a/osu.Game/Screens/Select/PlaySongSelect.cs b/osu.Game/Screens/Select/PlaySongSelect.cs
index b14e959755..f2df737d7f 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Screens/Select/PlaySongSelect.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Screens/Select/PlaySongSelect.cs
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Screens.Select
                     {
                         RelativeSizeAxes = Axes.Both,
                         Size = new Vector2(1, 0.5f),
-                        Colour = new Color4(0, 0, 0, 0.5f),
+                        Colour = Color4.Black.Opacity(0.5f),
                         Shear = new Vector2(0.15f, 0),
                         EdgeSmoothness = new Vector2(2, 0),
                     },
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Screens.Select
                         RelativePositionAxes = Axes.Y,
                         Size = new Vector2(1, -0.5f),
                         Position = new Vector2(0, 1),
-                        Colour = new Color4(0, 0, 0, 0.5f),
+                        Colour = Color4.Black.Opacity(0.5f),
                         Shear = new Vector2(-0.15f, 0),
                         EdgeSmoothness = new Vector2(2, 0),
                     },
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Screens.Select
                         {
                             RelativeSizeAxes = Axes.Both,
                             Size = Vector2.One,
-                            Colour = new Color4(0, 0, 0, 0.5f),
+                            Colour = Color4.Black.Opacity(0.5f),
                         },
                         new BackButton
                         {