Android Animation Alpha

Try this

AlphaAnimation animation1 = new AlphaAnimation(0.2f, 1.0f);
animation1.setDuration(1000);
animation1.setStartOffset(5000);
animation1.setFillAfter(true);
iv.startAnimation(animation1);

Might be a little late, but found a lovely solution in the android docs.

//In transition: (alpha from 0 to 0.5)
view.setAlpha(0f);
view.setVisibility(View.VISIBLE);
view.animate()
   .alpha(0.5f)
   .setDuration(400)
   .setListener(null);

//Out transition: (alpha from 0.5 to 0)
view.setAlpha(0.5f)
view.animate()
   .alpha(0f)
   .setDuration(400)
   .setListener(new AnimatorListenerAdapter() {
           @Override
           public void onAnimationEnd(Animator animation) {
           view.setVisibility(View.GONE);
         }
    });