diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/media/image/ImageManager.java b/src/java/com/threerings/media/image/ImageManager.java
index 6fafd2e87..81ea02760 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/media/image/ImageManager.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/media/image/ImageManager.java
@@ -1,15 +1,11 @@
 //
-// $Id: ImageManager.java,v 1.11 2001/12/13 05:15:16 mdb Exp $
+// $Id: ImageManager.java,v 1.12 2002/01/18 17:55:43 shaper Exp $
 
 package com.threerings.media;
 
 import java.awt.Component;
 import java.awt.Graphics2D;
-import java.awt.GraphicsConfiguration;
-import java.awt.GraphicsDevice;
-import java.awt.GraphicsEnvironment;
 import java.awt.Image;
-import java.awt.Transparency;
 import java.awt.image.BufferedImage;
 
 import java.io.InputStream;
@@ -44,12 +40,6 @@ public class ImageManager
     {
 	_rmgr = rmgr;
 
-        // obtain information on our graphics environment
-        GraphicsEnvironment genv =
-            GraphicsEnvironment.getLocalGraphicsEnvironment();
-        GraphicsDevice gdev = genv.getDefaultScreenDevice();
-        _gconf = gdev.getDefaultConfiguration();
-
         // try to figure out which image loader we'll be using
         try {
             _loader = (ImageLoader)Class.forName(IMAGEIO_LOADER).newInstance();
@@ -92,8 +82,7 @@ public class ImageManager
         int sheight = src.getHeight(null);
 
         // now convert the image to a format optimized for display
-        BufferedImage dest = _gconf.createCompatibleImage(
-            swidth, sheight, Transparency.BITMASK);
+        BufferedImage dest = ImageUtil.createImage(swidth, sheight);
         Graphics2D g2 = dest.createGraphics();
         g2.drawImage(src, 0, 0, null);
         g2.dispose();
@@ -112,9 +101,6 @@ public class ImageManager
     /** A cache of loaded images. */
     protected HashMap _imgs = new HashMap();
 
-    /** The graphics configuration of our default display device. */
-    protected GraphicsConfiguration _gconf;
-
     /** The classname of the ImageIO-based image loader which we attempt
      * to use but fallback from if we're not running a JVM that has
      * ImageIO support. */
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/media/image/ImageUtil.java b/src/java/com/threerings/media/image/ImageUtil.java
index ab0462fda..7e330f077 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/media/image/ImageUtil.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/media/image/ImageUtil.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 //
-// $Id: ImageUtil.java,v 1.2 2002/01/18 17:48:11 shaper Exp $
+// $Id: ImageUtil.java,v 1.3 2002/01/18 17:55:43 shaper Exp $
 
 package com.threerings.media;
 
@@ -48,11 +48,11 @@ public class ImageUtil
     }
 
     /**
-     * Creates a new blank, translucent image with the given dimensions.
-     * The format of the created image is compatible with the graphics
-     * configuration of the default screen device, such that no format
-     * conversion will be necessary when rendering the image to that
-     * device.
+     * Creates a new blank image with the given dimensions and
+     * transparency set to {@link Transparency#BITMASK}.  The format of
+     * the created image is compatible with the graphics configuration of
+     * the default screen device, such that no format conversion will be
+     * necessary when rendering the image to that device.
      *
      * @param width the desired image width.
      * @param height the desired image height.
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ public class ImageUtil
      */
     public static BufferedImage createImage (int width, int height)
     {
-        return createImage(width, height, Transparency.TRANSLUCENT);
+        return createImage(width, height, Transparency.BITMASK);
     }
 
     /**
@@ -87,6 +87,7 @@ public class ImageUtil
     /** The graphics configuration for the default screen device. */
     protected static GraphicsConfiguration _gc;
     static {
+        // obtain information on our graphics environment
         GraphicsEnvironment env =
             GraphicsEnvironment.getLocalGraphicsEnvironment();
         GraphicsDevice gd = env.getDefaultScreenDevice();