diff --git a/src/transparency.h b/src/transparency.h
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/transparency.h
@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+/* $Id$ */
+
+/** @file transparency.h */
+
+#ifndef TRANSPARENCY_H
+#define TRANSPARENCY_H
+
+/**
+ * Transparency option bits: which position in _transparency_opt stands for which transparency.
+ * If you change the order, change the order of the ShowTransparencyToolbar() stuff in transparency_gui.cpp too.
+ * If you add or remove an option don't forget to change the transparency 'hot keys' in main_gui.cpp.
+ * If you add an option and have more then 8, change the typedef TransparencyOptionBits and
+ * the save stuff (e.g. SLE_UINT8 to SLE_UINT16) in settings.cpp .
+ */
+enum TransparencyOption {
+	TO_SIGNS = 0,  ///< signs
+	TO_TREES,      ///< trees
+	TO_HOUSES,     ///< town buildings
+	TO_INDUSTRIES, ///< industries
+	TO_BUILDINGS,  ///< player buildings - depots, stations, HQ, ...
+	TO_BRIDGES,    ///< bridges
+	TO_STRUCTURES, ///< unmovable structures
+	TO_LOADING,    ///< loading indicators
+	TO_END,
+};
+
+typedef byte TransparencyOptionBits; ///< transparency option bits
+extern TransparencyOptionBits _transparency_opt;
+
+/**
+ * Check if the transparency option bit is set
+ * and if we aren't in the game menu (there's never transparency)
+ *
+ * @param to the structure which transparency option is ask for
+ */
+static inline bool IsTransparencySet(TransparencyOption to)
+{
+	return (HASBIT(_transparency_opt, to) && _game_mode != GM_MENU);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Toggle the transparency option bit
+ *
+ * @param to the structure which transparency option is toggle
+ */
+static inline void ToggleTransparency(TransparencyOption to)
+{
+	TOGGLEBIT(_transparency_opt, to);
+}
+
+/** Toggle all transparency options (except signs) or restore the stored transparencies */
+static inline void ResetRestoreAllTransparency()
+{
+	/* backup of the original transparencies or if all transparencies false toggle them to true */
+	static TransparencyOptionBits trans_opt = ~0;
+
+	if (_transparency_opt == 0) {
+		/* no structure is transparent, so restore the old transparency if present otherwise set all true */
+		_transparency_opt = trans_opt;
+	} else {
+		/* any structure is transparent, so store current transparency settings and reset it */
+		trans_opt = _transparency_opt;
+		_transparency_opt = 0;
+	}
+
+	MarkWholeScreenDirty();
+}
+
+#endif /* TRANSPARENCY_H */