diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/media/image/ClientImageManager.java b/src/java/com/threerings/media/image/ClientImageManager.java
index ce32d9f6..85e132e7 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/media/image/ClientImageManager.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/media/image/ClientImageManager.java
@@ -44,6 +44,15 @@ public class ClientImageManager extends ImageManager
         _runCacheSize = cacheKilobytes;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Sets if images should be recreated in the graphics context's preferred format before
+     * rendering. This must be called before the ImageManager is created.
+     */
+    public static void setPrepareImages (boolean prepareImages)
+    {
+        _runPrepareImages = prepareImages;
+    }
+
     public ClientImageManager (ResourceManager rmgr, OptimalImageCreator icreator)
     {
         super(rmgr, icreator);
@@ -75,7 +84,7 @@ public class ClientImageManager extends ImageManager
             src = getImage(key, zations);
             bounds = new Rectangle(0, 0, src.getWidth(), src.getHeight());
 
-        } else if (!_prepareImages.getValue()) {
+        } else if (!_runPrepareImages) {
             src = getImage(key, zations);
             percentageOfDataBuffer =
                 (bounds.width * bounds.height)/(float)(src.getHeight() * src.getWidth());
@@ -84,7 +93,7 @@ public class ClientImageManager extends ImageManager
 
         if (_runBlank.getValue()) {
             return new BlankMirage(bounds.width, bounds.height);
-        } else if (_prepareImages.getValue()) {
+        } else if (_runPrepareImages) {
             return new CachedVolatileMirage(this, key, bounds, zations);
         } else {
             return new BufferedMirage(src, percentageOfDataBuffer);
@@ -107,6 +116,11 @@ public class ClientImageManager extends ImageManager
         "Cause image manager to optimize all images for display.",
         "narya.media.image.prep_images", MediaPrefs.config, true);
 
+    /**
+     * If images should be prepared for the graphics context in this run.
+     */
+    protected static boolean _runPrepareImages = _prepareImages.getValue();
+
     /** A debug toggle for running entirely without rendering images. */
     protected static RuntimeAdjust.BooleanAdjust _runBlank = new RuntimeAdjust.BooleanAdjust(
         "Cause image manager to return blank images.",
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/media/image/ImageUtil.java b/src/java/com/threerings/media/image/ImageUtil.java
index 7cd82753..0e77a03d 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/media/image/ImageUtil.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/media/image/ImageUtil.java
@@ -446,8 +446,7 @@ public class ImageUtil
         } else {
             // otherwise composite them by rendering them with an alpha
             // rule
-            BufferedImage target = isrc.createImage(
-                wid, hei, Transparency.TRANSLUCENT);
+            BufferedImage target = isrc.createImage(wid, hei, Transparency.TRANSLUCENT);
             Graphics2D g2 = target.createGraphics();
             try {
                 g2.drawImage(mask, 0, 0, null);
@@ -484,8 +483,7 @@ public class ImageUtil
         //  But it's something to consider)
 
         // composite them by rendering them with an alpha rule
-        BufferedImage target = isrc.createImage(
-            wid, hei, Transparency.TRANSLUCENT);
+        BufferedImage target = isrc.createImage(wid, hei, Transparency.TRANSLUCENT);
         Graphics2D g2 = target.createGraphics();
         try {
             g2.setColor(Color.BLACK); // whatever, really