Android - Make camera preview semi-transparent

Question

I want to make my camera preview see through. I saw this following post:

how to make surfaceview transparent

About making a surface view transparent but the problem is that I am extending surface view for more control over the camera and they say that extending the surface view will make this solution invalid and don't explain why/propose another solution.

What can I do to achieve this?

EDIT:

Yes, I have tried what is in the Linked Post.

THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO ACHIEVE

             TOP
=================================

 SEMI-TRANSPARENT CAMERA PREVIEW
         [FULLSCREEN]
=================================

        IMAGES AND TEXT
=================================

           BOTTOM

Answer 1

Place another view over your Preview view and make that view semi-transparent. To make view semi-transparent you have to give alpha value with color to the background ex:

 <View 
      android:background=#88000000/>