diff --git a/src/common.cc b/src/common.cc
index ee9519d20..3794bcdfe 100644
--- a/src/common.cc
+++ b/src/common.cc
@@ -602,4 +602,40 @@ namespace sharp {
     }
   }
 
+  /*
+    Apply the alpha channel to a given colour
+  */
+  std::tuple<VImage, std::vector<double>> ApplyAlpha(VImage image, double colour[4]) {
+    // Scale up 8-bit values to match 16-bit input image
+    double const multiplier = sharp::Is16Bit(image.interpretation()) ? 256.0 : 1.0;
+    // Create alphaColour colour
+    std::vector<double> alphaColour;
+    if (image.bands() > 2) {
+      alphaColour = {
+        multiplier * colour[0],
+        multiplier * colour[1],
+        multiplier * colour[2]
+      };
+    } else {
+      // Convert sRGB to greyscale
+      alphaColour = { multiplier * (
+        0.2126 * colour[0] +
+        0.7152 * colour[1] +
+        0.0722 * colour[2])
+      };
+    }
+    // Add alpha channel to alphaColour colour
+    if (colour[3] < 255.0 || HasAlpha(image)) {
+      alphaColour.push_back(colour[3] * multiplier);
+    }
+    // Ensure alphaColour colour uses correct colourspace
+    alphaColour = sharp::GetRgbaAsColourspace(alphaColour, image.interpretation());
+    // Add non-transparent alpha channel, if required
+    if (colour[3] < 255.0 && !HasAlpha(image)) {
+      image = image.bandjoin(
+        VImage::new_matrix(image.width(), image.height()).new_from_image(255 * multiplier));
+    }
+    return std::make_tuple(image, alphaColour);
+  }
+
 }  // namespace sharp
diff --git a/src/common.h b/src/common.h
index 5ac1cf13c..4b31008c4 100644
--- a/src/common.h
+++ b/src/common.h
@@ -255,6 +255,11 @@ namespace sharp {
   */
   std::vector<double> GetRgbaAsColourspace(std::vector<double> const rgba, VipsInterpretation const interpretation);
 
+  /*
+    Apply the alpha channel to a given colour
+   */
+  std::tuple<VImage, std::vector<double>> ApplyAlpha(VImage image, double colour[4]);
+
 }  // namespace sharp
 
 #endif  // SRC_COMMON_H_
diff --git a/src/pipeline.cc b/src/pipeline.cc
index a1e414fce..4c6d2bbfd 100644
--- a/src/pipeline.cc
+++ b/src/pipeline.cc
@@ -421,35 +421,8 @@ class PipelineWorker : public Nan::AsyncWorker {
       // Crop/embed
       if (image.width() != baton->width || image.height() != baton->height) {
         if (baton->canvas == Canvas::EMBED) {
-          // Scale up 8-bit values to match 16-bit input image
-          double const multiplier = sharp::Is16Bit(image.interpretation()) ? 256.0 : 1.0;
-          // Create background colour
           std::vector<double> background;
-          if (image.bands() > 2) {
-            background = {
-              multiplier * baton->background[0],
-              multiplier * baton->background[1],
-              multiplier * baton->background[2]
-            };
-          } else {
-            // Convert sRGB to greyscale
-            background = { multiplier * (
-              0.2126 * baton->background[0] +
-              0.7152 * baton->background[1] +
-              0.0722 * baton->background[2])
-            };
-          }
-          // Add alpha channel to background colour
-          if (baton->background[3] < 255.0 || HasAlpha(image)) {
-            background.push_back(baton->background[3] * multiplier);
-          }
-          // Ensure background colour uses correct colourspace
-          background = sharp::GetRgbaAsColourspace(background, image.interpretation());
-          // Add non-transparent alpha channel, if required
-          if (baton->background[3] < 255.0 && !HasAlpha(image)) {
-            image = image.bandjoin(
-              VImage::new_matrix(image.width(), image.height()).new_from_image(255 * multiplier));
-          }
+          std::tie(image, background) = sharp::ApplyAlpha(image, baton->background);
 
           // Embed
 
@@ -511,35 +484,9 @@ class PipelineWorker : public Nan::AsyncWorker {
 
       // Extend edges
       if (baton->extendTop > 0 || baton->extendBottom > 0 || baton->extendLeft > 0 || baton->extendRight > 0) {
-        // Scale up 8-bit values to match 16-bit input image
-        double const multiplier = sharp::Is16Bit(image.interpretation()) ? 256.0 : 1.0;
-        // Create background colour
         std::vector<double> background;
-        if (image.bands() > 2) {
-          background = {
-            multiplier * baton->background[0],
-            multiplier * baton->background[1],
-            multiplier * baton->background[2]
-          };
-        } else {
-          // Convert sRGB to greyscale
-          background = { multiplier * (
-            0.2126 * baton->background[0] +
-            0.7152 * baton->background[1] +
-            0.0722 * baton->background[2])
-          };
-        }
-        // Add alpha channel to background colour
-        if (baton->background[3] < 255.0 || HasAlpha(image)) {
-          background.push_back(baton->background[3] * multiplier);
-        }
-        // Ensure background colour uses correct colourspace
-        background = sharp::GetRgbaAsColourspace(background, image.interpretation());
-        // Add non-transparent alpha channel, if required
-        if (baton->background[3] < 255.0 && !HasAlpha(image)) {
-          image = image.bandjoin(
-            VImage::new_matrix(image.width(), image.height()).new_from_image(255 * multiplier));
-        }
+        std::tie(image, background) = sharp::ApplyAlpha(image, baton->background);
+
         // Embed
         baton->width = image.width() + baton->extendLeft + baton->extendRight;
         baton->height = image.height() + baton->extendTop + baton->extendBottom;