Java SE (Java Platform, Standard Edition)

I'm trying to make a BufferedImage transparent (the background of an image).
Apparently I need type INT_ARGB or something like that. But I get my bitmap from a file off my hard disk, so once its loaded, is there a way to convert to to int_argb? And whats the best way to set transparency for the image? Is there a way I can specify an RGB color of the bufferedimage and say "make that transparent"? And then if I draw this image onto another BufferedImage, then draw the last bufferedimage, will my transparency carry through, or do I have to set the transparency at the highest level?

Any help would be appreciated.
-haikka