diff --git a/DESCRIPTION b/DESCRIPTION
index bf6321cd..432003cd 100644
--- a/DESCRIPTION
+++ b/DESCRIPTION
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ Authors@R:
 Description: Lightweight extension of the base R graphics system, with support
       for automatic legends, facets, themes, and various other enhancements.
 License: Apache License (>= 2)
+Remotes: etiennebacher/altdoc
 Depends:
   R (>= 4.0)
 Imports: 
@@ -45,7 +46,7 @@ Imports:
   tools,
   utils
 Suggests:
-  altdoc (>= 0.5.0),
+  altdoc (>= 0.5.0.9000),
   fontquiver,
   png,
   rsvg,
diff --git a/R/by_aesthetics.R b/R/by_aesthetics.R
index 857902ce..6cde8c6d 100755
--- a/R/by_aesthetics.R
+++ b/R/by_aesthetics.R
@@ -37,8 +37,11 @@ by_col = function(ngrps = 1L, col = NULL, palette = NULL, gradient = NULL, order
     }
     if (isTRUE(gradient)) {
       col = rev(col)
+    } else if (!ordered && is.numeric(col)) {
+      col = palette()[col]
     }
     if (anyNA(col) || is.character(col)) {
+      if (alpha) col = adjustcolor(col, alpha.f = alpha)
       return(col)
     }
   }