diff --git a/player/command.c b/player/command.c
index d9f5dbc969..dc6b12a91c 100644
--- a/player/command.c
+++ b/player/command.c
@@ -2307,11 +2307,11 @@ static int property_imgparams(const struct mp_image_params *p, int action, void
     for (int i = 0; i < desc.num_planes; i++)
         bpp += desc.bpp[i] >> (desc.xs[i] + desc.ys[i]);
 
-    enum mp_alpha_type alpha = p->alpha;
-    // Alpha type is not supported by FFmpeg, so MP_ALPHA_AUTO may mean alpha
+    enum pl_alpha_mode alpha = p->repr.alpha;
+    // Alpha type is not supported by FFmpeg, so PL_ALPHA_UNKNOWN may mean alpha
     // is of an unknown type, or simply not present. Normalize to AUTO=no alpha.
-    if (!!(desc.flags & MP_IMGFLAG_ALPHA) != (alpha != MP_ALPHA_AUTO))
-        alpha = (desc.flags & MP_IMGFLAG_ALPHA) ? MP_ALPHA_STRAIGHT : MP_ALPHA_AUTO;
+    if (!!(desc.flags & MP_IMGFLAG_ALPHA) != (alpha != PL_ALPHA_UNKNOWN))
+        alpha = (desc.flags & MP_IMGFLAG_ALPHA) ? PL_ALPHA_INDEPENDENT : PL_ALPHA_UNKNOWN;
 
     const struct pl_hdr_metadata *hdr = &p->color.hdr;
     bool has_cie_y     = pl_hdr_metadata_contains(hdr, PL_HDR_METADATA_CIE_Y);
@@ -2357,9 +2357,9 @@ static int property_imgparams(const struct mp_image_params *p, int action, void
             SUB_PROP_STR(m_opt_choice_str(mp_stereo3d_names, p->stereo3d))},
         {"rotate",          SUB_PROP_INT(p->rotate)},
         {"alpha",
-            SUB_PROP_STR(m_opt_choice_str(mp_alpha_names, alpha)),
+            SUB_PROP_STR(m_opt_choice_str(pl_alpha_names, alpha)),
             // avoid using "auto" for "no", so just make it unavailable
-            .unavailable = alpha == MP_ALPHA_AUTO},
+            .unavailable = alpha == PL_ALPHA_UNKNOWN},
         {"min-luma",    SUB_PROP_FLOAT(hdr->min_luma),     .unavailable = !has_hdr10},
         {"max-luma",    SUB_PROP_FLOAT(hdr->max_luma),     .unavailable = !has_hdr10},
         {"max-cll",     SUB_PROP_FLOAT(hdr->max_cll),      .unavailable = !has_hdr10},
diff --git a/sub/draw_bmp.c b/sub/draw_bmp.c
index cde8f503f3..cf214401a8 100644
--- a/sub/draw_bmp.c
+++ b/sub/draw_bmp.c
@@ -431,7 +431,7 @@ static bool render_rgba(struct mp_draw_sub_cache *p, struct part *part,
                 mp_image_set_size(&src_img, sw, sh);
                 src_img.planes[0] = s_ptr;
                 src_img.stride[0] = s_stride;
-                src_img.params.alpha = MP_ALPHA_PREMUL;
+                src_img.params.repr.alpha = PL_ALPHA_PREMULTIPLIED;
 
                 scaled = mp_image_alloc(IMGFMT_BGRA, dw, dh);
                 if (!scaled)
@@ -525,7 +525,7 @@ static bool reinit_to_video(struct mp_draw_sub_cache *p)
     struct mp_image_params *params = &p->params;
     mp_image_params_guess_csp(params);
 
-    bool need_premul = params->alpha != MP_ALPHA_PREMUL &&
+    bool need_premul = params->repr.alpha != PL_ALPHA_PREMULTIPLIED &&
         (mp_imgfmt_get_desc(params->imgfmt).flags & MP_IMGFLAG_ALPHA);
 
     // Intermediate format for video_overlay. Requirements:
@@ -660,7 +660,7 @@ static bool reinit_to_video(struct mp_draw_sub_cache *p)
         return false;
 
     mp_image_params_guess_csp(&p->rgba_overlay->params);
-    p->rgba_overlay->params.alpha = MP_ALPHA_PREMUL;
+    p->rgba_overlay->params.repr.alpha = PL_ALPHA_PREMULTIPLIED;
 
     p->overlay_tmp->params.color = params->color;
     p->video_tmp->params.color = params->color;
@@ -677,7 +677,7 @@ static bool reinit_to_video(struct mp_draw_sub_cache *p)
 
         p->video_overlay->params.color = params->color;
         p->video_overlay->params.chroma_location = params->chroma_location;
-        p->video_overlay->params.alpha = MP_ALPHA_PREMUL;
+        p->video_overlay->params.repr.alpha = PL_ALPHA_PREMULTIPLIED;
 
         if (p->scale_in_tiles)
             p->video_overlay->params.chroma_location = MP_CHROMA_CENTER;
@@ -762,7 +762,7 @@ static bool reinit_to_video(struct mp_draw_sub_cache *p)
         if (!p->premul_tmp)
             return false;
         mp_image_set_params(p->premul_tmp, params);
-        p->premul_tmp->params.alpha = MP_ALPHA_PREMUL;
+        p->premul_tmp->params.repr.alpha = PL_ALPHA_PREMULTIPLIED;
 
         // Only zimg supports this.
         p->premul->force_scaler = MP_SWS_ZIMG;
@@ -787,7 +787,7 @@ static bool reinit_to_overlay(struct mp_draw_sub_cache *p)
         return false;
 
     mp_image_params_guess_csp(&p->rgba_overlay->params);
-    p->rgba_overlay->params.alpha = MP_ALPHA_PREMUL;
+    p->rgba_overlay->params.repr.alpha = PL_ALPHA_PREMULTIPLIED;
 
     // Some non-sense with the intention to somewhat isolate the returned image.
     mp_image_setfmt(&p->res_overlay, p->rgba_overlay->imgfmt);
diff --git a/sub/draw_bmp.h b/sub/draw_bmp.h
index fda7797c9e..b4c7378290 100644
--- a/sub/draw_bmp.h
+++ b/sub/draw_bmp.h
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ struct mp_draw_sub_cache *mp_draw_sub_alloc_test(struct mp_image *dst);
 
 // Render the sub-bitmaps in sbs_list to dst. sbs_list must have been rendered
 // for an OSD resolution equivalent to dst's size (UB if not).
-// Warning: if dst is a format with alpha, and dst is not set to MP_ALPHA_PREMUL
+// Warning: if dst is a format with alpha, and dst is not set to PL_ALPHA_PREMULTIPLIED
 //          (not done by default), this will be extremely slow.
 // Warning: the caller is responsible for ensuring that dst is writable.
 //  cache: allocated instance; caches non-changing OSD parts etc.
diff --git a/video/csputils.c b/video/csputils.c
index 3b43ba9f5b..e1b7823b33 100644
--- a/video/csputils.c
+++ b/video/csputils.c
@@ -112,10 +112,10 @@ const struct m_opt_choice_alternatives mp_chroma_names[] = {
     {0}
 };
 
-const struct m_opt_choice_alternatives mp_alpha_names[] = {
-    {"auto",        MP_ALPHA_AUTO},
-    {"straight",    MP_ALPHA_STRAIGHT},
-    {"premul",      MP_ALPHA_PREMUL},
+const struct m_opt_choice_alternatives pl_alpha_names[] = {
+    {"auto",        PL_ALPHA_UNKNOWN},
+    {"straight",    PL_ALPHA_INDEPENDENT},
+    {"premul",      PL_ALPHA_PREMULTIPLIED},
     {0}
 };
 
diff --git a/video/csputils.h b/video/csputils.h
index 80901659cf..ac37e205ab 100644
--- a/video/csputils.h
+++ b/video/csputils.h
@@ -120,14 +120,7 @@ enum mp_chroma_location {
 };
 
 extern const struct m_opt_choice_alternatives mp_chroma_names[];
-
-enum mp_alpha_type {
-    MP_ALPHA_AUTO,
-    MP_ALPHA_STRAIGHT,
-    MP_ALPHA_PREMUL,
-};
-
-extern const struct m_opt_choice_alternatives mp_alpha_names[];
+extern const struct m_opt_choice_alternatives pl_alpha_names[];
 
 extern const struct m_sub_options mp_csp_equalizer_conf;
 
diff --git a/video/filter/vf_format.c b/video/filter/vf_format.c
index 4a14fc9102..6a3e9fd390 100644
--- a/video/filter/vf_format.c
+++ b/video/filter/vf_format.c
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ static void set_params(struct vf_format_opts *p, struct mp_image_params *out,
     if (p->rotate >= 0)
         out->rotate = p->rotate;
     if (p->alpha)
-        out->alpha = p->alpha;
+        out->repr.alpha = p->alpha;
 
     if (p->w > 0 && set_size)
         out->w = p->w;
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ static const m_option_t vf_opts_fields[] = {
     {"chroma-location", OPT_CHOICE_C(chroma_location, mp_chroma_names)},
     {"stereo-in", OPT_CHOICE_C(stereo_in, mp_stereo3d_names)},
     {"rotate", OPT_INT(rotate), M_RANGE(-1, 359)},
-    {"alpha", OPT_CHOICE_C(alpha, mp_alpha_names)},
+    {"alpha", OPT_CHOICE_C(alpha, pl_alpha_names)},
     {"w", OPT_INT(w)},
     {"h", OPT_INT(h)},
     {"dw", OPT_INT(dw)},
diff --git a/video/mp_image.c b/video/mp_image.c
index b499d89f97..44bd6feaa6 100644
--- a/video/mp_image.c
+++ b/video/mp_image.c
@@ -523,7 +523,6 @@ void mp_image_copy_attributes(struct mp_image *dst, struct mp_image *src)
     dst->params.repr = src->params.repr;
     dst->params.light = src->params.light;
     dst->params.chroma_location = src->params.chroma_location;
-    dst->params.alpha = src->params.alpha;
     dst->params.crop = src->params.crop;
     dst->nominal_fps = src->nominal_fps;
 
@@ -790,9 +789,9 @@ char *mp_image_params_to_str_buf(char *b, size_t bs,
             mp_snprintf_cat(b, bs, " stereo=%s",
                             MP_STEREO3D_NAME_DEF(p->stereo3d, "?"));
         }
-        if (p->alpha) {
+        if (p->repr.alpha) {
             mp_snprintf_cat(b, bs, " A=%s",
-                            m_opt_choice_str(mp_alpha_names, p->alpha));
+                            m_opt_choice_str(pl_alpha_names, p->repr.alpha));
         }
     } else {
         snprintf(b, bs, "???");
@@ -842,7 +841,6 @@ bool mp_image_params_equal(const struct mp_image_params *p1,
            p1->chroma_location == p2->chroma_location &&
            p1->rotate == p2->rotate &&
            p1->stereo3d == p2->stereo3d &&
-           p1->alpha == p2->alpha &&
            mp_rect_equals(&p1->crop, &p2->crop);
 }
 
@@ -1052,7 +1050,7 @@ struct mp_image *mp_image_from_av_frame(struct AVFrame *src)
         dst->params.stereo3d = p->stereo3d;
         // Might be incorrect if colorspace changes.
         dst->params.light = p->light;
-        dst->params.alpha = p->alpha;
+        dst->params.repr.alpha = p->repr.alpha;
     }
 
     sd = av_frame_get_side_data(src, AV_FRAME_DATA_DISPLAYMATRIX);
diff --git a/video/mp_image.h b/video/mp_image.h
index c1ba89ee0a..443488c9e1 100644
--- a/video/mp_image.h
+++ b/video/mp_image.h
@@ -54,7 +54,6 @@ struct mp_image_params {
     // The image should be rotated clockwise (0-359 degrees).
     int rotate;
     enum mp_stereo3d_mode stereo3d; // image is encoded with this mode
-    enum mp_alpha_type alpha;   // usually auto; only set if explicitly known
     struct mp_rect crop;        // crop applied on image
 };
 
diff --git a/video/out/gpu/video.c b/video/out/gpu/video.c
index d685b978d2..6714ef04b1 100644
--- a/video/out/gpu/video.c
+++ b/video/out/gpu/video.c
@@ -2397,7 +2397,7 @@ static void pass_convert_yuv(struct gl_video *p)
     p->components = 3;
     if (!p->has_alpha || p->opts.alpha_mode == ALPHA_NO) {
         GLSL(color.a = 1.0;)
-    } else if (p->image_params.alpha == MP_ALPHA_PREMUL) {
+    } else if (p->image_params.repr.alpha == PL_ALPHA_PREMULTIPLIED) {
         p->components = 4;
     } else {
         p->components = 4;
diff --git a/video/out/placebo/utils.c b/video/out/placebo/utils.c
index b60e4ff5bc..ffba30401f 100644
--- a/video/out/placebo/utils.c
+++ b/video/out/placebo/utils.c
@@ -72,17 +72,6 @@ void mppl_log_set_probing(pl_log log, bool probing)
     pl_log_update(log, &params);
 }
 
-enum pl_alpha_mode mp_alpha_to_pl(enum mp_alpha_type alpha)
-{
-    switch (alpha) {
-    case MP_ALPHA_AUTO:             return PL_ALPHA_UNKNOWN;
-    case MP_ALPHA_STRAIGHT:         return PL_ALPHA_INDEPENDENT;
-    case MP_ALPHA_PREMUL:           return PL_ALPHA_PREMULTIPLIED;
-    }
-
-    MP_ASSERT_UNREACHABLE();
-}
-
 enum pl_chroma_location mp_chroma_to_pl(enum mp_chroma_location chroma)
 {
     switch (chroma) {
diff --git a/video/out/placebo/utils.h b/video/out/placebo/utils.h
index 103fa4ce24..84b2e0468e 100644
--- a/video/out/placebo/utils.h
+++ b/video/out/placebo/utils.h
@@ -27,7 +27,6 @@ static inline struct pl_rect2d mp_rect2d_to_pl(struct mp_rect rc)
     };
 }
 
-enum pl_alpha_mode mp_alpha_to_pl(enum mp_alpha_type alpha);
 enum pl_chroma_location mp_chroma_to_pl(enum mp_chroma_location chroma);
 
 void mp_map_dovi_metadata_to_pl(struct mp_image *mpi,
diff --git a/video/out/vo_gpu_next.c b/video/out/vo_gpu_next.c
index dee8bc2301..fc9ccbe38d 100644
--- a/video/out/vo_gpu_next.c
+++ b/video/out/vo_gpu_next.c
@@ -575,7 +575,7 @@ static bool map_frame(pl_gpu gpu, pl_tex *tex, const struct pl_source_frame *src
         .repr = {
             .sys = par->repr.sys,
             .levels = par->repr.levels,
-            .alpha = mp_alpha_to_pl(par->alpha),
+            .alpha = par->repr.alpha,
         },
         .profile = {
             .data = mpi->icc_profile ? mpi->icc_profile->data : NULL,
diff --git a/video/zimg.c b/video/zimg.c
index f744fe2c4b..4ea32af83a 100644
--- a/video/zimg.c
+++ b/video/zimg.c
@@ -375,7 +375,7 @@ static bool setup_format(zimg_image_format *zfmt, struct mp_zimg_repack *r,
             r->z_planes[3] = n; // alpha, always plane 4 in zimg
 
 #if HAVE_ZIMG_ALPHA
-            zfmt->alpha = fmt.alpha == MP_ALPHA_PREMUL
+            zfmt->alpha = fmt.repr.alpha == PL_ALPHA_PREMULTIPLIED
                 ? ZIMG_ALPHA_PREMULTIPLIED : ZIMG_ALPHA_STRAIGHT;
 #else
             return false;