Alpha map works like so:
Code:
//you can fade the result by changing the alpha component -- RGB will be ignored
private Color alphaFilter = new Color(1f, 1f, 1f, 1f);
//you can tint the result by changing the RGB components -- alpha will be ignored
private Color colorFilter = new Color(1f, 1f, 1f, 1f);
public void render(GameContainer c, Graphics g) throws SlickException {
//render the map first
g.setDrawMode(Graphics.MODE_ALPHA_MAP);
alpha.draw(50, 50, 500, 500);
//render the image we want blended
g.setDrawMode(Graphics.MODE_ALPHA_BLEND);
clouds.draw(50, 50, 500, 500, alphaFilter);
//then reset draw mode to normal
g.setDrawMode(Graphics.MODE_NORMAL, colorFilter);
}
The colorFilter/alphaFilter parameters are optional.
Alpha:

Clouds:

Result:
