public static int parseColor(String colorString) throws IllegalArgumentException {
        if (colorString.charAt(0) == '#') {
            // Use a long to avoid rollovers on #ffXXXXXX
            long color = Long.parseLong(colorString.substring(1), 16);
            if (colorString.length() == 7) {
                // Set the alpha value
                color |= 0x00000000ff000000;
            } else if (colorString.length() != 9) {
                throw new IllegalArgumentException("Unknown color");
            }
            return (int)color;
        } 
        throw new IllegalArgumentException("Unknown color");
    }