there is much easier solution:
- (UIImage *)tranlucentWithAlpha:(CGFloat)alpha
{
UIGraphicsBeginImageContextWithOptions(self.size, NO, self.scale);
[self drawAtPoint:CGPointZero blendMode:kCGBlendModeNormal alpha:alpha];
UIImage *image = UIGraphicsGetImageFromCurrentImageContext();
UIGraphicsEndImageContext();
return image;
}