diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/cast/util/TileUtil.java b/src/java/com/threerings/cast/util/TileUtil.java
index 95d3a90bf..716097188 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/cast/util/TileUtil.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/cast/util/TileUtil.java
@@ -1,17 +1,15 @@
 //
-// $Id: TileUtil.java,v 1.6 2001/12/17 03:33:41 mdb Exp $
+// $Id: TileUtil.java,v 1.7 2002/01/18 17:48:11 shaper Exp $
 
 package com.threerings.cast.util;
 
 import java.awt.Image;
-import java.awt.image.BufferedImage;
 
+import com.threerings.media.ImageUtil;
 import com.threerings.media.sprite.MultiFrameImage;
 import com.threerings.media.sprite.Sprite;
-// import com.threerings.media.tile.*;
 
 import com.threerings.cast.Log;
-// import com.threerings.cast.*;
 
 /**
  * Miscellaneous tile-related utility functions.
@@ -73,9 +71,8 @@ public class TileUtil
             _images = new Image[frameCount];
             for (int i = 0; i < frameCount; i++) {
                 Image img = template.getFrame(i);
-                _images[i] = new BufferedImage(img.getWidth(null),
-                                               img.getHeight(null),
-                                               BufferedImage.TYPE_INT_ARGB);
+                _images[i] = ImageUtil.createImage(
+                    img.getWidth(null), img.getHeight(null));
             }
         }
 
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/media/image/ImageUtil.java b/src/java/com/threerings/media/image/ImageUtil.java
index 5a8d98930..ab0462fda 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/media/image/ImageUtil.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/media/image/ImageUtil.java
@@ -1,10 +1,14 @@
 //
-// $Id: ImageUtil.java,v 1.1 2001/12/07 01:33:29 mdb Exp $
+// $Id: ImageUtil.java,v 1.2 2002/01/18 17:48:11 shaper Exp $
 
 package com.threerings.media;
 
 import java.awt.Image;
 import java.awt.Graphics;
+import java.awt.GraphicsConfiguration;
+import java.awt.GraphicsDevice;
+import java.awt.GraphicsEnvironment;
+import java.awt.Transparency;
 import java.awt.image.BufferedImage;
 
 /**
@@ -19,6 +23,12 @@ public class ImageUtil
      * image. If it is not, the subimage will be created and the data will
      * be rendered into the newly created image.
      *
+     * @param source the source image.
+     * @param x the left coordinate of the sub-image.
+     * @param y the top coordinate of the sub-image.
+     * @param width the sub-image width.
+     * @param height the sub-image height.
+     *
      * @return the desired subimage.
      */
     public static Image getSubimage (
@@ -28,8 +38,7 @@ public class ImageUtil
             return ((BufferedImage)source).getSubimage(x, y, width, height);
 
         } else {
-            BufferedImage target =
-                new BufferedImage(width, height, BufferedImage.TYPE_INT_ARGB);
+            BufferedImage target = createImage(width, height);
             Graphics g = target.getGraphics();
             g.drawImage(source, 0, 0, width, height,
                         x, y, x+width, y+height, null);
@@ -37,4 +46,50 @@ public class ImageUtil
             return target;
         }
     }
+
+    /**
+     * 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.
+     *
+     * @param width the desired image width.
+     * @param height the desired image height.
+     *
+     * @return the blank image.
+     */
+    public static BufferedImage createImage (int width, int height)
+    {
+        return createImage(width, height, Transparency.TRANSLUCENT);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Creates a new blank image with the given dimensions and
+     * transparency.  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.
+     * @param transparency the desired image transparency; one of the
+     * constants in {@link java.awt.Transparency}.
+     *
+     * @return the blank image.
+     */
+    public static BufferedImage createImage (
+        int width, int height, int transparency)
+    {
+        return _gc.createCompatibleImage(width, height, transparency);
+    }
+
+    /** The graphics configuration for the default screen device. */
+    protected static GraphicsConfiguration _gc;
+    static {
+        GraphicsEnvironment env =
+            GraphicsEnvironment.getLocalGraphicsEnvironment();
+        GraphicsDevice gd = env.getDefaultScreenDevice();
+        _gc = gd.getDefaultConfiguration();
+    };
 }
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/media/tile/TileSet.java b/src/java/com/threerings/media/tile/TileSet.java
index 05225c9f4..1b46715bf 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/media/tile/TileSet.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/media/tile/TileSet.java
@@ -1,14 +1,15 @@
 //
-// $Id: TileSet.java,v 1.23 2001/12/07 01:33:29 mdb Exp $
+// $Id: TileSet.java,v 1.24 2002/01/18 17:48:11 shaper Exp $
 
 package com.threerings.media.tile;
 
 import java.awt.Image;
-import java.awt.image.BufferedImage;
+import java.awt.Transparency;
 
 import java.io.IOException;
 import java.io.Serializable;
 
+import com.threerings.media.ImageUtil;
 import com.threerings.media.Log;
 
 /**
@@ -188,8 +189,7 @@ public abstract class TileSet
     protected Image createErrorImage (int width, int height)
     {
         // return a blank image for now
-        return new BufferedImage(width, height,
-                                 BufferedImage.TYPE_BYTE_INDEXED);
+        return ImageUtil.createImage(width, height, Transparency.OPAQUE);
     }
 
     /**