diff --git a/extras/Jucer (experimental)/Source/Project/jucer_ProjectExport_MSVC.h b/extras/Jucer (experimental)/Source/Project/jucer_ProjectExport_MSVC.h
index 0fa44c825f..2c2a7d3fc9 100644
--- a/extras/Jucer (experimental)/Source/Project/jucer_ProjectExport_MSVC.h	
+++ b/extras/Jucer (experimental)/Source/Project/jucer_ProjectExport_MSVC.h	
@@ -296,7 +296,7 @@ protected:
             dataBlock.writeInt (0); // clr used
             dataBlock.writeInt (0); // clr important
 
-            const Image::BitmapData bitmap (image, 0, 0, w, h);
+            const Image::BitmapData bitmap (image, false);
             const int alphaThreshold = 5;
 
             int y;
diff --git a/extras/Jucer (experimental)/Source/Project/jucer_ProjectExport_XCode.h b/extras/Jucer (experimental)/Source/Project/jucer_ProjectExport_XCode.h
index 3e0478ea3c..cfc4f5b7bb 100644
--- a/extras/Jucer (experimental)/Source/Project/jucer_ProjectExport_XCode.h	
+++ b/extras/Jucer (experimental)/Source/Project/jucer_ProjectExport_XCode.h	
@@ -266,7 +266,7 @@ private:
                 data.write (type, 4);
                 data.writeIntBigEndian (8 + 4 * w * h);
 
-                const Image::BitmapData bitmap (image, 0, 0, w, h);
+                const Image::BitmapData bitmap (image, false);
 
                 int y;
                 for (y = 0; y < h; ++y)
diff --git a/extras/juce demo/Source/demos/OpenGLDemo.cpp b/extras/juce demo/Source/demos/OpenGLDemo.cpp
index 8e03cc5098..02f5075fca 100644
--- a/extras/juce demo/Source/demos/OpenGLDemo.cpp	
+++ b/extras/juce demo/Source/demos/OpenGLDemo.cpp	
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ public:
 
         glPixelStorei (GL_UNPACK_ALIGNMENT, 4);
 
-        Image::BitmapData srcData (image, 0, 0, image.getWidth(), image.getHeight());
+        Image::BitmapData srcData (image, false);
 
         glTexImage2D (GL_TEXTURE_2D, 0, 4, image.getWidth(), image.getHeight(),
                       0, GL_RGB,
diff --git a/extras/juce demo/Source/demos/RenderingTestComponent.cpp b/extras/juce demo/Source/demos/RenderingTestComponent.cpp
index c4c7ecd148..e93d5b9ce7 100644
--- a/extras/juce demo/Source/demos/RenderingTestComponent.cpp	
+++ b/extras/juce demo/Source/demos/RenderingTestComponent.cpp	
@@ -192,9 +192,7 @@ private:
                                                    .rotated (bouncingNumber[3])
                                                    .scaled (bouncingNumber[2] + 4.0f, bouncingNumber[2] + 4.0f)
                                                    .translated (bouncingPointX[2], bouncingPointY[2]));
-        g.reduceClipRegion (argbImage,
-                            Rectangle<int> (0, 0, argbImage.getWidth(), argbImage.getHeight()),
-                            transform);
+        g.reduceClipRegion (argbImage, transform);
     }
 
     void drawPaths (Graphics& g, bool /*solid*/, bool linearGradient, bool radialGradient)
@@ -268,8 +266,7 @@ private:
                                                    .followedBy (getTransform()));
 
         g.setOpacity ((float) owner.opacitySlider->getValue());
-        g.drawImageTransformed (image, image.getBounds(),
-                                transform, false);
+        g.drawImageTransformed (image, transform, false);
     }
 
     void drawTiling (Graphics& g, const Image& image)
diff --git a/src/core/juce_PlatformDefs.h b/src/core/juce_PlatformDefs.h
index 8fd28b8918..6d4df460e7 100644
--- a/src/core/juce_PlatformDefs.h
+++ b/src/core/juce_PlatformDefs.h
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@
 
     @see Logger::outputDebugString
   */
-  #define DBG(dbgtext)                  Logger::outputDebugString (dbgtext);
+  #define DBG(dbgtext)                  JUCE_NAMESPACE::Logger::outputDebugString (dbgtext);
 
   //==============================================================================
   // Assertions..
diff --git a/src/core/juce_StandardHeader.h b/src/core/juce_StandardHeader.h
index 5ff919c344..fcd6ec1eed 100644
--- a/src/core/juce_StandardHeader.h
+++ b/src/core/juce_StandardHeader.h
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@
 */
 #define JUCE_MAJOR_VERSION      1
 #define JUCE_MINOR_VERSION      52
-#define JUCE_BUILDNUMBER        39
+#define JUCE_BUILDNUMBER        40
 
 /** Current Juce version number.
 
diff --git a/src/gui/components/controls/juce_ToolbarItemComponent.cpp b/src/gui/components/controls/juce_ToolbarItemComponent.cpp
index d08ffbfba1..5a966c9a5d 100644
--- a/src/gui/components/controls/juce_ToolbarItemComponent.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/components/controls/juce_ToolbarItemComponent.cpp
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ public:
 
             if (dnd != 0)
             {
-                dnd->startDragging (Toolbar::toolbarDragDescriptor, getParentComponent(), Image(), true);
+                dnd->startDragging (Toolbar::toolbarDragDescriptor, getParentComponent(), Image::null, true);
 
                 ToolbarItemComponent* const tc = dynamic_cast <ToolbarItemComponent*> (getParentComponent());
 
diff --git a/src/gui/components/filebrowser/juce_FileListComponent.cpp b/src/gui/components/filebrowser/juce_FileListComponent.cpp
index 7b24202192..3cf56888b8 100644
--- a/src/gui/components/filebrowser/juce_FileListComponent.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/components/filebrowser/juce_FileListComponent.cpp
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ private:
 
     void clearIcon()
     {
-        icon = Image();
+        icon = Image::null;
     }
 
     void updateIcon (const bool onlyUpdateIfCached)
diff --git a/src/gui/components/filebrowser/juce_ImagePreviewComponent.cpp b/src/gui/components/filebrowser/juce_ImagePreviewComponent.cpp
index 1625a35209..0506f4a5f6 100644
--- a/src/gui/components/filebrowser/juce_ImagePreviewComponent.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/components/filebrowser/juce_ImagePreviewComponent.cpp
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ void ImagePreviewComponent::timerCallback()
 {
     stopTimer();
 
-    currentThumbnail = Image();
+    currentThumbnail = Image::null;
     currentDetails = String::empty;
     repaint();
 
diff --git a/src/gui/components/juce_Component.cpp b/src/gui/components/juce_Component.cpp
index db3f2efc96..1dd64e4fda 100644
--- a/src/gui/components/juce_Component.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/components/juce_Component.cpp
@@ -502,7 +502,7 @@ void Component::setBufferedToImage (const bool shouldBeBuffered)
 {
     if (shouldBeBuffered != flags.bufferToImageFlag)
     {
-        bufferedImage_ = Image();
+        bufferedImage_ = Image::null;
         flags.bufferToImageFlag = shouldBeBuffered;
     }
 }
@@ -1478,7 +1478,7 @@ void Component::repaint()
 void Component::repaint (const int x, const int y,
                          const int w, const int h)
 {
-    bufferedImage_ = Image();
+    bufferedImage_ = Image::null;
 
     if (flags.visibleFlag)
         internalRepaint (x, y, w, h);
diff --git a/src/gui/components/menus/juce_PopupMenu.cpp b/src/gui/components/menus/juce_PopupMenu.cpp
index 70bf9f0837..3f1a744e75 100644
--- a/src/gui/components/menus/juce_PopupMenu.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/components/menus/juce_PopupMenu.cpp
@@ -1334,7 +1334,7 @@ void PopupMenu::addCommandItem (ApplicationCommandManager* commandManager,
                                                       : info.shortName,
                              target != 0 && (info.flags & ApplicationCommandInfo::isDisabled) == 0,
                              (info.flags & ApplicationCommandInfo::isTicked) != 0,
-                             Image(),
+                             Image::null,
                              Colours::black,
                              false,
                              0, 0,
@@ -1369,7 +1369,7 @@ void PopupMenu::addCustomItem (const int itemResultId,
 
     addSeparatorIfPending();
 
-    items.add (new Item (itemResultId, String::empty, true, false, Image(),
+    items.add (new Item (itemResultId, String::empty, true, false, Image::null,
                          Colours::black, false, customComponent, 0, 0));
 }
 
diff --git a/src/gui/components/menus/juce_PopupMenu.h b/src/gui/components/menus/juce_PopupMenu.h
index f99c77e3e4..815b06fca8 100644
--- a/src/gui/components/menus/juce_PopupMenu.h
+++ b/src/gui/components/menus/juce_PopupMenu.h
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ public:
                   const String& itemText,
                   bool isActive = true,
                   bool isTicked = false,
-                  const Image& iconToUse = Image());
+                  const Image& iconToUse = Image::null);
 
     /** Adds an item that represents one of the commands in a command manager object.
 
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ public:
                           const Colour& itemTextColour,
                           bool isActive = true,
                           bool isTicked = false,
-                          const Image& iconToUse = Image());
+                          const Image& iconToUse = Image::null);
 
     /** Appends a custom menu item.
 
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ public:
     void addSubMenu (const String& subMenuName,
                      const PopupMenu& subMenu,
                      bool isActive = true,
-                     const Image& iconToUse = Image(),
+                     const Image& iconToUse = Image::null,
                      bool isTicked = false);
 
     /** Appends a separator to the menu, to help break it up into sections.
diff --git a/src/gui/components/mouse/juce_DragAndDropContainer.h b/src/gui/components/mouse/juce_DragAndDropContainer.h
index 11dc9275c0..90c1f778cd 100644
--- a/src/gui/components/mouse/juce_DragAndDropContainer.h
+++ b/src/gui/components/mouse/juce_DragAndDropContainer.h
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ public:
     */
     void startDragging (const String& sourceDescription,
                         Component* sourceComponent,
-                        const Image& dragImage = Image(),
+                        const Image& dragImage = Image::null,
                         bool allowDraggingToOtherJuceWindows = false,
                         const Point<int>* imageOffsetFromMouse = 0);
 
diff --git a/src/gui/components/special/juce_ColourSelector.cpp b/src/gui/components/special/juce_ColourSelector.cpp
index 974f5e3248..03f962d258 100644
--- a/src/gui/components/special/juce_ColourSelector.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/components/special/juce_ColourSelector.cpp
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ public:
             const int height = getHeight() / 2;
             colours = Image (Image::RGB, width, height, false);
 
-            Image::BitmapData pixels (colours, 0, 0, width, height, true);
+            Image::BitmapData pixels (colours, true);
 
             for (int y = 0; y < height; ++y)
             {
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ public:
         if (lastHue != h)
         {
             lastHue = h;
-            colours = Image();
+            colours = Image::null;
             repaint();
         }
 
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ public:
 
     void resized()
     {
-        colours = Image();
+        colours = Image::null;
         updateMarker();
     }
 
diff --git a/src/gui/components/special/juce_MagnifierComponent.cpp b/src/gui/components/special/juce_MagnifierComponent.cpp
index f338fe9e8a..aba7e4a6c0 100644
--- a/src/gui/components/special/juce_MagnifierComponent.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/components/special/juce_MagnifierComponent.cpp
@@ -275,9 +275,7 @@ void MagnifierComponent::paint (Graphics& g)
     }
 
     g.setImageResamplingQuality (quality);
-    g.drawImageTransformed (temp, temp.getBounds(),
-                            AffineTransform::scale ((float) scaleFactor, (float) scaleFactor),
-                            false);
+    g.drawImageTransformed (temp, AffineTransform::scale ((float) scaleFactor, (float) scaleFactor), false);
 }
 
 void MagnifierComponent::childBoundsChanged (Component* c)
diff --git a/src/gui/components/windows/juce_CallOutBox.cpp b/src/gui/components/windows/juce_CallOutBox.cpp
index 0342f71da2..d2fc0b6e9e 100644
--- a/src/gui/components/windows/juce_CallOutBox.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/components/windows/juce_CallOutBox.cpp
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ void CallOutBox::updatePosition (const Rectangle<int>& newAreaToPointTo, const R
 void CallOutBox::refreshPath()
 {
     repaint();
-    background = Image();
+    background = Image::null;
     outline.clear();
 
     const float gap = 4.5f;
diff --git a/src/gui/graphics/contexts/juce_FillType.cpp b/src/gui/graphics/contexts/juce_FillType.cpp
index 653c084698..40711e405d 100644
--- a/src/gui/graphics/contexts/juce_FillType.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/graphics/contexts/juce_FillType.cpp
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ bool FillType::operator!= (const FillType& other) const
 void FillType::setColour (const Colour& newColour) throw()
 {
     gradient = 0;
-    image = Image();
+    image = Image::null;
     colour = newColour;
 }
 
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ void FillType::setGradient (const ColourGradient& newGradient)
     }
     else
     {
-        image = Image();
+        image = Image::null;
         gradient = new ColourGradient (newGradient);
         colour = Colours::black;
     }
diff --git a/src/gui/graphics/contexts/juce_Graphics.cpp b/src/gui/graphics/contexts/juce_Graphics.cpp
index 56618a91a9..9ba8f77c24 100644
--- a/src/gui/graphics/contexts/juce_Graphics.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/graphics/contexts/juce_Graphics.cpp
@@ -105,10 +105,10 @@ bool Graphics::reduceClipRegion (const Path& path, const AffineTransform& transf
     return ! context->isClipEmpty();
 }
 
-bool Graphics::reduceClipRegion (const Image& image, const Rectangle<int>& sourceClipRegion, const AffineTransform& transform)
+bool Graphics::reduceClipRegion (const Image& image, const AffineTransform& transform)
 {
     saveStateIfPending();
-    context->clipToImageAlpha (image, sourceClipRegion, transform);
+    context->clipToImageAlpha (image, transform);
     return ! context->isClipEmpty();
 }
 
@@ -667,7 +667,7 @@ void Graphics::drawImage (const Image& imageToDraw,
 
     if (imageToDraw.isValid() && context->clipRegionIntersects  (Rectangle<int> (dx, dy, dw, dh)))
     {
-        drawImageTransformed (imageToDraw, Rectangle<int> (sx, sy, sw, sh),
+        drawImageTransformed (imageToDraw.getClippedImage (Rectangle<int> (sx, sy, sw, sh)),
                               AffineTransform::scale (dw / (float) sw, dh / (float) sh)
                                               .translated ((float) dx, (float) dy),
                               fillAlphaChannelWithCurrentBrush);
@@ -675,24 +675,21 @@ void Graphics::drawImage (const Image& imageToDraw,
 }
 
 void Graphics::drawImageTransformed (const Image& imageToDraw,
-                                     const Rectangle<int>& imageSubRegion,
                                      const AffineTransform& transform,
                                      const bool fillAlphaChannelWithCurrentBrush) const
 {
     if (imageToDraw.isValid() && ! context->isClipEmpty())
     {
-        const Rectangle<int> srcClip (imageSubRegion.getIntersection (imageToDraw.getBounds()));
-
         if (fillAlphaChannelWithCurrentBrush)
         {
             context->saveState();
-            context->clipToImageAlpha (imageToDraw, srcClip, transform);
+            context->clipToImageAlpha (imageToDraw, transform);
             fillAll();
             context->restoreState();
         }
         else
         {
-            context->drawImage (imageToDraw, srcClip, transform, false);
+            context->drawImage (imageToDraw, transform, false);
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/gui/graphics/contexts/juce_Graphics.h b/src/gui/graphics/contexts/juce_Graphics.h
index 205d014062..6d8955aeca 100644
--- a/src/gui/graphics/contexts/juce_Graphics.h
+++ b/src/gui/graphics/contexts/juce_Graphics.h
@@ -492,18 +492,11 @@ public:
                     int sourceX, int sourceY, int sourceWidth, int sourceHeight,
                     bool fillAlphaChannelWithCurrentBrush = false) const;
 
-    /** Draws part of an image, having applied an affine transform to it.
+    /** Draws an image, having applied an affine transform to it.
 
         This lets you throw the image around in some wacky ways, rotate it, shear,
         scale it, etc.
 
-        A subregion is specified within the source image, and all transformations
-        will be treated as relative to the origin of this sub-region. So, for example if
-        your subregion is (50, 50, 100, 100), and your transform is a translation of (20, 20),
-        the resulting pixel drawn at (20, 20) in the destination context is from (50, 50) in
-        your image. If you want to use the whole image, then Image::getBounds() returns a
-        suitable rectangle to use as the imageSubRegion parameter.
-
         Images are composited using the context's current opacity, so if you
         don't want it to be drawn semi-transparently, be sure to call setOpacity (1.0f)
         (or setColour() with an opaque colour) before drawing images.
@@ -511,10 +504,12 @@ public:
         If fillAlphaChannelWithCurrentBrush is set to true, then the image's RGB channels
         are ignored and it is filled with the current brush, masked by its alpha channel.
 
+        If you want to render only a subsection of an image, use Image::getClippedImage() to
+        create the section that you need.
+
         @see setImageResamplingQuality, drawImage
     */
     void drawImageTransformed (const Image& imageToDraw,
-                               const Rectangle<int>& imageSubRegion,
                                const AffineTransform& transform,
                                bool fillAlphaChannelWithCurrentBrush = false) const;
 
@@ -588,15 +583,11 @@ public:
 
         @param image    the image whose alpha-channel should be used. If the image doesn't
                         have an alpha-channel, it is treated as entirely opaque.
-        @param sourceClipRegion     a subsection of the image that should be used. To use the
-                                    entire image, just pass a rectangle of bounds
-                                    (0, 0, image.getWidth(), image.getHeight()).
         @param transform    a matrix to apply to the image
         @returns true if the resulting clipping region is non-zero in size
         @see reduceClipRegion
     */
-    bool reduceClipRegion (const Image& image, const Rectangle<int>& sourceClipRegion,
-                           const AffineTransform& transform);
+    bool reduceClipRegion (const Image& image, const AffineTransform& transform);
 
     /** Excludes a rectangle to stop it being drawn into. */
     void excludeClipRegion (const Rectangle<int>& rectangleToExclude);
diff --git a/src/gui/graphics/contexts/juce_LowLevelGraphicsContext.h b/src/gui/graphics/contexts/juce_LowLevelGraphicsContext.h
index ec3e036895..23737ef33e 100644
--- a/src/gui/graphics/contexts/juce_LowLevelGraphicsContext.h
+++ b/src/gui/graphics/contexts/juce_LowLevelGraphicsContext.h
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ public:
     virtual bool clipToRectangleList (const RectangleList& clipRegion) = 0;
     virtual void excludeClipRectangle (const Rectangle<int>& r) = 0;
     virtual void clipToPath (const Path& path, const AffineTransform& transform) = 0;
-    virtual void clipToImageAlpha (const Image& sourceImage, const Rectangle<int>& srcClip, const AffineTransform& transform) = 0;
+    virtual void clipToImageAlpha (const Image& sourceImage, const AffineTransform& transform) = 0;
 
     virtual bool clipRegionIntersects (const Rectangle<int>& r) = 0;
     virtual const Rectangle<int> getClipBounds() const = 0;
@@ -89,8 +89,7 @@ public:
     virtual void fillRect (const Rectangle<int>& r, bool replaceExistingContents) = 0;
     virtual void fillPath (const Path& path, const AffineTransform& transform) = 0;
 
-    virtual void drawImage (const Image& sourceImage, const Rectangle<int>& srcClip,
-                            const AffineTransform& transform, bool fillEntireClipAsTiles) = 0;
+    virtual void drawImage (const Image& sourceImage, const AffineTransform& transform, bool fillEntireClipAsTiles) = 0;
 
     virtual void drawLine (const Line <float>& line) = 0;
     virtual void drawVerticalLine (int x, float top, float bottom) = 0;
diff --git a/src/gui/graphics/contexts/juce_LowLevelGraphicsPostScriptRenderer.cpp b/src/gui/graphics/contexts/juce_LowLevelGraphicsPostScriptRenderer.cpp
index c2b8396b35..724d3566f2 100644
--- a/src/gui/graphics/contexts/juce_LowLevelGraphicsPostScriptRenderer.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/graphics/contexts/juce_LowLevelGraphicsPostScriptRenderer.cpp
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ void LowLevelGraphicsPostScriptRenderer::clipToPath (const Path& path, const Aff
     out << "clip\n";
 }
 
-void LowLevelGraphicsPostScriptRenderer::clipToImageAlpha (const Image& /*sourceImage*/, const Rectangle<int>& /*srcClip*/, const AffineTransform& /*transform*/)
+void LowLevelGraphicsPostScriptRenderer::clipToImageAlpha (const Image& /*sourceImage*/, const AffineTransform& /*transform*/)
 {
     needToClip = true;
     jassertfalse; // xxx
@@ -454,11 +454,10 @@ void LowLevelGraphicsPostScriptRenderer::writeImage (const Image& im,
     out << "\n>}\n";
 }
 
-void LowLevelGraphicsPostScriptRenderer::drawImage (const Image& sourceImage, const Rectangle<int>& srcClip,
-                                                    const AffineTransform& transform, const bool /*fillEntireClipAsTiles*/)
+void LowLevelGraphicsPostScriptRenderer::drawImage (const Image& sourceImage, const AffineTransform& transform, const bool /*fillEntireClipAsTiles*/)
 {
-    const int w = jmin (sourceImage.getWidth(), srcClip.getRight());
-    const int h = jmin (sourceImage.getHeight(), srcClip.getBottom());
+    const int w = sourceImage.getWidth();
+    const int h = sourceImage.getHeight();
 
     writeClip();
 
@@ -468,7 +467,6 @@ void LowLevelGraphicsPostScriptRenderer::drawImage (const Image& sourceImage, co
 
     RectangleList imageClip;
     sourceImage.createSolidAreaMask (imageClip, 0.5f);
-    imageClip.clipTo (srcClip);
 
     out << "newpath ";
     int itemsOnLine = 0;
@@ -491,7 +489,7 @@ void LowLevelGraphicsPostScriptRenderer::drawImage (const Image& sourceImage, co
     out << w << ' ' << h << " scale\n";
     out << w << ' ' << h << " 8 [" << w << " 0 0 -" << h << ' ' << (int) 0 << ' ' << h << " ]\n";
 
-    writeImage (sourceImage, srcClip.getX(), srcClip.getY(), srcClip.getWidth(), srcClip.getHeight());
+    writeImage (sourceImage, 0, 0, w, h);
 
     out << "false 3 colorimage grestore\n";
     needToClip = true;
diff --git a/src/gui/graphics/contexts/juce_LowLevelGraphicsPostScriptRenderer.h b/src/gui/graphics/contexts/juce_LowLevelGraphicsPostScriptRenderer.h
index 2d505328f3..e730b0d421 100644
--- a/src/gui/graphics/contexts/juce_LowLevelGraphicsPostScriptRenderer.h
+++ b/src/gui/graphics/contexts/juce_LowLevelGraphicsPostScriptRenderer.h
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ public:
     bool clipToRectangleList (const RectangleList& clipRegion);
     void excludeClipRectangle (const Rectangle<int>& r);
     void clipToPath (const Path& path, const AffineTransform& transform);
-    void clipToImageAlpha (const Image& sourceImage, const Rectangle<int>& srcClip, const AffineTransform& transform);
+    void clipToImageAlpha (const Image& sourceImage, const AffineTransform& transform);
 
     void saveState();
     void restoreState();
@@ -72,8 +72,7 @@ public:
     void fillRect (const Rectangle<int>& r, bool replaceExistingContents);
     void fillPath (const Path& path, const AffineTransform& transform);
 
-    void drawImage (const Image& sourceImage, const Rectangle<int>& srcClip,
-                    const AffineTransform& transform, bool fillEntireClipAsTiles);
+    void drawImage (const Image& sourceImage, const AffineTransform& transform, bool fillEntireClipAsTiles);
 
     void drawLine (const Line <float>& line);
 
diff --git a/src/gui/graphics/contexts/juce_LowLevelGraphicsSoftwareRenderer.cpp b/src/gui/graphics/contexts/juce_LowLevelGraphicsSoftwareRenderer.cpp
index 77c9c2af40..52199228d7 100644
--- a/src/gui/graphics/contexts/juce_LowLevelGraphicsSoftwareRenderer.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/graphics/contexts/juce_LowLevelGraphicsSoftwareRenderer.cpp
@@ -986,7 +986,7 @@ public:
     virtual const Ptr excludeClipRectangle (const Rectangle<int>& r) = 0;
     virtual const Ptr clipToPath (const Path& p, const AffineTransform& transform) = 0;
     virtual const Ptr clipToEdgeTable (const EdgeTable& et) = 0;
-    virtual const Ptr clipToImageAlpha (const Image& image, const Rectangle<int>& srcClip, const AffineTransform& t, const bool betterQuality) = 0;
+    virtual const Ptr clipToImageAlpha (const Image& image, const AffineTransform& t, const bool betterQuality) = 0;
 
     virtual bool clipRegionIntersects (const Rectangle<int>& r) const = 0;
     virtual const Rectangle<int> getClipBounds() const = 0;
@@ -1224,9 +1224,9 @@ public:
         return edgeTable.isEmpty() ? 0 : this;
     }
 
-    const Ptr clipToImageAlpha (const Image& image, const Rectangle<int>& srcClip, const AffineTransform& transform, const bool betterQuality)
+    const Ptr clipToImageAlpha (const Image& image, const AffineTransform& transform, const bool betterQuality)
     {
-        const Image::BitmapData srcData (image, srcClip.getX(), srcClip.getY(), srcClip.getWidth(), srcClip.getHeight());
+        const Image::BitmapData srcData (image, false);
 
         if (transform.isOnlyTranslation())
         {
@@ -1416,9 +1416,9 @@ public:
         return Ptr (new ClipRegion_EdgeTable (clip))->clipToEdgeTable (et);
     }
 
-    const Ptr clipToImageAlpha (const Image& image, const Rectangle<int>& srcClip, const AffineTransform& transform, const bool betterQuality)
+    const Ptr clipToImageAlpha (const Image& image, const AffineTransform& transform, const bool betterQuality)
     {
-        return Ptr (new ClipRegion_EdgeTable (clip))->clipToImageAlpha (image, srcClip, transform, betterQuality);
+        return Ptr (new ClipRegion_EdgeTable (clip))->clipToImageAlpha (image, transform, betterQuality);
     }
 
     bool clipRegionIntersects (const Rectangle<int>& r) const
@@ -1803,20 +1803,20 @@ public:
         }
     }
 
-    void clipToImageAlpha (const Image& image, const Rectangle<int>& srcClip, const AffineTransform& t)
+    void clipToImageAlpha (const Image& image, const AffineTransform& t)
     {
         if (clip != 0)
         {
             if (image.hasAlphaChannel())
             {
                 cloneClipIfMultiplyReferenced();
-                clip = clip->clipToImageAlpha (image, srcClip, t.translated ((float) xOffset, (float) yOffset),
+                clip = clip->clipToImageAlpha (image, t.translated ((float) xOffset, (float) yOffset),
                                                interpolationQuality != Graphics::lowResamplingQuality);
             }
             else
             {
                 Path p;
-                p.addRectangle (srcClip);
+                p.addRectangle (image.getBounds());
                 clipToPath (p, t);
             }
         }
@@ -1839,7 +1839,7 @@ public:
         {
             if (fillType.isColour())
             {
-                Image::BitmapData destData (image, 0, 0, image.getWidth(), image.getHeight(), true);
+                Image::BitmapData destData (image, true);
                 clip->fillRectWithColour (destData, r.translated (xOffset, yOffset), fillType.colour.getPixelARGB(), replaceContents);
             }
             else
@@ -1859,7 +1859,7 @@ public:
         {
             if (fillType.isColour())
             {
-                Image::BitmapData destData (image, 0, 0, image.getWidth(), image.getHeight(), true);
+                Image::BitmapData destData (image, true);
                 clip->fillRectWithColour (destData, r.translated ((float) xOffset, (float) yOffset), fillType.colour.getPixelARGB());
             }
             else
@@ -1898,7 +1898,7 @@ public:
 
         if (shapeToFill != 0)
         {
-            Image::BitmapData destData (image, 0, 0, image.getWidth(), image.getHeight(), true);
+            Image::BitmapData destData (image, true);
 
             if (fillType.isGradient())
             {
@@ -1923,7 +1923,7 @@ public:
             }
             else if (fillType.isTiledImage())
             {
-                renderImage (image, fillType.image, fillType.image.getBounds(), fillType.transform, shapeToFill);
+                renderImage (image, fillType.image, fillType.transform, shapeToFill);
             }
             else
             {
@@ -1933,13 +1933,12 @@ public:
     }
 
     //==============================================================================
-    void renderImage (Image& destImage, const Image& sourceImage, const Rectangle<int>& srcClip,
-                      const AffineTransform& t, const SoftwareRendererClasses::ClipRegionBase* const tiledFillClipRegion)
+    void renderImage (Image& destImage, const Image& sourceImage, const AffineTransform& t, const SoftwareRendererClasses::ClipRegionBase* const tiledFillClipRegion)
     {
         const AffineTransform transform (t.translated ((float) xOffset, (float) yOffset));
 
-        const Image::BitmapData destData (destImage, 0, 0, destImage.getWidth(), destImage.getHeight(), true);
-        const Image::BitmapData srcData (sourceImage, srcClip.getX(), srcClip.getY(), srcClip.getWidth(), srcClip.getHeight());
+        const Image::BitmapData destData (destImage, true);
+        const Image::BitmapData srcData (sourceImage, false);
         const int alpha = fillType.colour.getAlpha();
         const bool betterQuality = (interpolationQuality != Graphics::lowResamplingQuality);
 
@@ -1960,7 +1959,7 @@ public:
                 }
                 else
                 {
-                    SoftwareRendererClasses::ClipRegionBase::Ptr c (new SoftwareRendererClasses::ClipRegion_EdgeTable (Rectangle<int> (tx, ty, srcClip.getWidth(), srcClip.getHeight()).getIntersection (destImage.getBounds())));
+                    SoftwareRendererClasses::ClipRegionBase::Ptr c (new SoftwareRendererClasses::ClipRegion_EdgeTable (Rectangle<int> (tx, ty, sourceImage.getWidth(), sourceImage.getHeight()).getIntersection (destImage.getBounds())));
                     c = clip->applyClipTo (c);
 
                     if (c != 0)
@@ -1981,7 +1980,7 @@ public:
         else
         {
             Path p;
-            p.addRectangle (srcClip);
+            p.addRectangle (sourceImage.getBounds());
 
             SoftwareRendererClasses::ClipRegionBase::Ptr c (clip->clone());
             c = c->clipToPath (p, transform);
@@ -2058,9 +2057,9 @@ void LowLevelGraphicsSoftwareRenderer::clipToPath (const Path& path, const Affin
     currentState->clipToPath (path, transform);
 }
 
-void LowLevelGraphicsSoftwareRenderer::clipToImageAlpha (const Image& sourceImage, const Rectangle<int>& srcClip, const AffineTransform& transform)
+void LowLevelGraphicsSoftwareRenderer::clipToImageAlpha (const Image& sourceImage, const AffineTransform& transform)
 {
-    currentState->clipToImageAlpha (sourceImage, srcClip, transform);
+    currentState->clipToImageAlpha (sourceImage, transform);
 }
 
 bool LowLevelGraphicsSoftwareRenderer::clipRegionIntersects (const Rectangle<int>& r)
@@ -2126,12 +2125,9 @@ void LowLevelGraphicsSoftwareRenderer::fillPath (const Path& path, const AffineT
     currentState->fillPath (image, path, transform);
 }
 
-void LowLevelGraphicsSoftwareRenderer::drawImage (const Image& sourceImage, const Rectangle<int>& srcClip,
-                                                  const AffineTransform& transform, const bool fillEntireClipAsTiles)
+void LowLevelGraphicsSoftwareRenderer::drawImage (const Image& sourceImage, const AffineTransform& transform, const bool fillEntireClipAsTiles)
 {
-    jassert (sourceImage.getBounds().contains (srcClip));
-
-    currentState->renderImage (image, sourceImage, srcClip, transform,
+    currentState->renderImage (image, sourceImage, transform,
                                fillEntireClipAsTiles ? currentState->clip : 0);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/gui/graphics/contexts/juce_LowLevelGraphicsSoftwareRenderer.h b/src/gui/graphics/contexts/juce_LowLevelGraphicsSoftwareRenderer.h
index e49739284f..f7308b2c26 100644
--- a/src/gui/graphics/contexts/juce_LowLevelGraphicsSoftwareRenderer.h
+++ b/src/gui/graphics/contexts/juce_LowLevelGraphicsSoftwareRenderer.h
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ public:
     bool clipToRectangleList (const RectangleList& clipRegion);
     void excludeClipRectangle (const Rectangle<int>& r);
     void clipToPath (const Path& path, const AffineTransform& transform);
-    void clipToImageAlpha (const Image& sourceImage, const Rectangle<int>& srcClip, const AffineTransform& transform);
+    void clipToImageAlpha (const Image& sourceImage, const AffineTransform& transform);
 
     bool clipRegionIntersects (const Rectangle<int>& r);
     const Rectangle<int> getClipBounds() const;
@@ -72,8 +72,7 @@ public:
     void fillRect (const Rectangle<int>& r, bool replaceExistingContents);
     void fillPath (const Path& path, const AffineTransform& transform);
 
-    void drawImage (const Image& sourceImage, const Rectangle<int>& srcClip,
-                    const AffineTransform& transform, bool fillEntireClipAsTiles);
+    void drawImage (const Image& sourceImage, const AffineTransform& transform, bool fillEntireClipAsTiles);
 
     void drawLine (const Line <float>& line);
 
diff --git a/src/gui/graphics/drawables/juce_DrawableImage.cpp b/src/gui/graphics/drawables/juce_DrawableImage.cpp
index 4ef8b78e51..65f638206b 100644
--- a/src/gui/graphics/drawables/juce_DrawableImage.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/graphics/drawables/juce_DrawableImage.cpp
@@ -108,13 +108,13 @@ void DrawableImage::render (const Drawable::RenderingContext& context) const
         if (opacity > 0.0f && ! overlayColour.isOpaque())
         {
             context.g.setOpacity (context.opacity * opacity);
-            context.g.drawImageTransformed (image, image.getBounds(), t, false);
+            context.g.drawImageTransformed (image, t, false);
         }
 
         if (! overlayColour.isTransparent())
         {
             context.g.setColour (overlayColour.withMultipliedAlpha (context.opacity));
-            context.g.drawImageTransformed (image, image.getBounds(), t, true);
+            context.g.drawImageTransformed (image, t, true);
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/gui/graphics/effects/juce_DropShadowEffect.cpp b/src/gui/graphics/effects/juce_DropShadowEffect.cpp
index aeeb3ad910..18088f4e2c 100644
--- a/src/gui/graphics/effects/juce_DropShadowEffect.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/graphics/effects/juce_DropShadowEffect.cpp
@@ -66,8 +66,8 @@ void DropShadowEffect::applyEffect (Image& image, Graphics& g)
 
     Image shadowImage (Image::SingleChannel, w, h, false);
 
-    const Image::BitmapData srcData (image, 0, 0, w, h);
-    const Image::BitmapData destData (shadowImage, 0, 0, w, h, true);
+    const Image::BitmapData srcData (image, false);
+    const Image::BitmapData destData (shadowImage, true);
 
     const int filter = roundToInt (63.0f / radius);
     const int radiusMinus1 = roundToInt ((radius - 1.0f) * 63.0f);
diff --git a/src/gui/graphics/imaging/image_file_formats/juce_GIFLoader.cpp b/src/gui/graphics/imaging/image_file_formats/juce_GIFLoader.cpp
index 3dc5b50498..d9635f8c01 100644
--- a/src/gui/graphics/imaging/image_file_formats/juce_GIFLoader.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/graphics/imaging/image_file_formats/juce_GIFLoader.cpp
@@ -33,8 +33,7 @@ BEGIN_JUCE_NAMESPACE
 
 //==============================================================================
 GIFLoader::GIFLoader (InputStream& in)
-    : image (0),
-      input (in),
+    : input (in),
       dataBlockIsZero (false),
       fresh (false),
       finished (false)
@@ -99,9 +98,7 @@ GIFLoader::GIFLoader (InputStream& in)
         image = Image ((transparent >= 0) ? Image::ARGB : Image::RGB,
                        imageWidth, imageHeight, (transparent >= 0));
 
-        readImage (imageWidth, imageHeight,
-                   (buf[8] & 0x40) != 0,
-                   transparent);
+        readImage ((buf[8] & 0x40) != 0, transparent);
 
         break;
     }
@@ -361,8 +358,7 @@ int GIFLoader::readLZWByte (const bool initialise, const int inputCodeSize)
     return code;
 }
 
-bool GIFLoader::readImage (const int width, const int height,
-                           const int interlace, const int transparent)
+bool GIFLoader::readImage (const int interlace, const int transparent)
 {
     unsigned char c;
 
@@ -381,7 +377,7 @@ bool GIFLoader::readImage (const int width, const int height,
     int index;
     int xpos = 0, ypos = 0, pass = 0;
 
-    const Image::BitmapData destData (image, 0, 0, width, height, true);
+    const Image::BitmapData destData (image, true);
     uint8* p = destData.data;
     const bool hasAlpha = image.hasAlphaChannel();
 
@@ -409,7 +405,7 @@ bool GIFLoader::readImage (const int width, const int height,
         p += destData.pixelStride;
         ++xpos;
 
-        if (xpos == width)
+        if (xpos == destData.width)
         {
             xpos = 0;
 
@@ -423,7 +419,7 @@ bool GIFLoader::readImage (const int width, const int height,
                     case 3:     ypos += 2; break;
                 }
 
-                while (ypos >= height)
+                while (ypos >= destData.height)
                 {
                     ++pass;
 
@@ -444,7 +440,7 @@ bool GIFLoader::readImage (const int width, const int height,
             p = destData.getPixelPointer (xpos, ypos);
         }
 
-        if (ypos >= height)
+        if (ypos >= destData.height)
             break;
     }
 
diff --git a/src/gui/graphics/imaging/image_file_formats/juce_GIFLoader.h b/src/gui/graphics/imaging/image_file_formats/juce_GIFLoader.h
index 108592947a..6d8082b098 100644
--- a/src/gui/graphics/imaging/image_file_formats/juce_GIFLoader.h
+++ b/src/gui/graphics/imaging/image_file_formats/juce_GIFLoader.h
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ private:
     int processExtension (int type, int& transparent);
     int readLZWByte (bool initialise, int input_code_size);
     int getCode (int code_size, bool initialise);
-    bool readImage (int width, int height, int interlace, int transparent);
+    bool readImage (int interlace, int transparent);
     static inline int makeWord (const uint8 a, const uint8 b)    { return (b << 8) | a; }
 
     GIFLoader (const GIFLoader&);
diff --git a/src/gui/graphics/imaging/image_file_formats/juce_JPEGLoader.cpp b/src/gui/graphics/imaging/image_file_formats/juce_JPEGLoader.cpp
index 4f66cd0a55..e96267ebae 100644
--- a/src/gui/graphics/imaging/image_file_formats/juce_JPEGLoader.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/graphics/imaging/image_file_formats/juce_JPEGLoader.cpp
@@ -302,7 +302,7 @@ const Image JPEGImageFormat::decodeImage (InputStream& in)
                 image = Image (Image::RGB, width, height, false);
                 const bool hasAlphaChan = image.hasAlphaChannel(); // (the native image creator may not give back what we expect)
 
-                const Image::BitmapData destData (image, 0, 0, width, height, true);
+                const Image::BitmapData destData (image, true);
 
                 for (int y = 0; y < height; ++y)
                 {
@@ -405,7 +405,7 @@ bool JPEGImageFormat::writeImageToStream (const Image& image, OutputStream& out)
     JSAMPARRAY buffer = (*jpegCompStruct.mem->alloc_sarray) ((j_common_ptr) &jpegCompStruct,
                                                              JPOOL_IMAGE, strideBytes, 1);
 
-    const Image::BitmapData srcData (image, 0, 0, jpegCompStruct.image_width, jpegCompStruct.image_height);
+    const Image::BitmapData srcData (image, false);
 
     while (jpegCompStruct.next_scanline < jpegCompStruct.image_height)
     {
diff --git a/src/gui/graphics/imaging/image_file_formats/juce_PNGLoader.cpp b/src/gui/graphics/imaging/image_file_formats/juce_PNGLoader.cpp
index a180ed6f3c..1efe035ba9 100644
--- a/src/gui/graphics/imaging/image_file_formats/juce_PNGLoader.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/graphics/imaging/image_file_formats/juce_PNGLoader.cpp
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ const Image PNGImageFormat::decodeImage (InputStream& in)
         if (pngInfoStruct == 0)
         {
             png_destroy_read_struct (&pngReadStruct, 0, 0);
-            return Image();
+            return Image::null;
         }
 
         png_set_error_fn (pngReadStruct, 0, PNGHelpers::errorCallback, PNGHelpers::errorCallback );
@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@ const Image PNGImageFormat::decodeImage (InputStream& in)
 
         hasAlphaChan = image.hasAlphaChannel(); // (the native image creator may not give back what we expect)
 
-        const Image::BitmapData destData (image, 0, 0, (int) width, (int) height, true);
+        const Image::BitmapData destData (image, true);
         uint8* srcRow = tempBuffer;
         uint8* destRow = destData.data;
 
@@ -304,7 +304,7 @@ bool PNGImageFormat::writeImageToStream (const Image& image, OutputStream& out)
     png_set_shift (pngWriteStruct, &sig_bit);
     png_set_packing (pngWriteStruct);
 
-    const Image::BitmapData srcData (image, 0, 0, width, height);
+    const Image::BitmapData srcData (image, false);
 
     for (int y = 0; y < height; ++y)
     {
diff --git a/src/gui/graphics/imaging/juce_Image.cpp b/src/gui/graphics/imaging/juce_Image.cpp
index 59ed38fdd8..fd659b0da4 100644
--- a/src/gui/graphics/imaging/juce_Image.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/graphics/imaging/juce_Image.cpp
@@ -95,6 +95,57 @@ Image::SharedImage* Image::SharedImage::createSoftwareImage (Image::PixelFormat
     return new SoftwareSharedImage (format, width, height, clearImage);
 }
 
+//==============================================================================
+class SubsectionSharedImage  : public Image::SharedImage
+{
+public:
+    SubsectionSharedImage (Image::SharedImage* const image_, const Rectangle<int>& area_)
+        : Image::SharedImage (image_->getPixelFormat(), area_.getWidth(), area_.getHeight()),
+          image (image_), area (area_)
+    {
+        pixelStride = image_->getPixelStride();
+        lineStride = image_->getLineStride();
+        imageData = image_->getPixelData (area_.getX(), area_.getY());
+    }
+
+    ~SubsectionSharedImage() {}
+
+    Image::ImageType getType() const
+    {
+        return Image::SoftwareImage;
+    }
+
+    LowLevelGraphicsContext* createLowLevelContext()
+    {
+        LowLevelGraphicsContext* g = image->createLowLevelContext();
+        g->clipToRectangle (area);
+        g->setOrigin (area.getX(), area.getY());
+        return g;
+    }
+
+    SharedImage* clone()
+    {
+        return new SubsectionSharedImage (image->clone(), area);
+    }
+
+private:
+    const ReferenceCountedObjectPtr<Image::SharedImage> image;
+    const Rectangle<int> area;
+};
+
+const Image Image::getClippedImage (const Rectangle<int>& area) const
+{
+    if (area.contains (getBounds()))
+        return *this;
+
+    const Rectangle<int> validArea (area.getIntersection (getBounds()));
+    if (validArea.isEmpty())
+        return Image::null;
+
+    return Image (new SubsectionSharedImage (image, validArea));
+}
+
+
 //==============================================================================
 Image::Image()
 {
@@ -128,6 +179,8 @@ Image::~Image()
 {
 }
 
+const Image Image::null;
+
 LowLevelGraphicsContext* Image::createLowLevelContext() const
 {
     return image == 0 ? 0 : image->createLowLevelContext();
@@ -231,6 +284,16 @@ Image::BitmapData::BitmapData (const Image& image, const int x, const int y, con
     jassert (x >= 0 && y >= 0 && w > 0 && h > 0 && x + w <= image.getWidth() && y + h <= image.getHeight());
 }
 
+Image::BitmapData::BitmapData (const Image& image, bool /*needsToBeWritable*/)
+    : data (image.image == 0 ? 0 : image.image->imageData),
+      pixelFormat (image.getFormat()),
+      lineStride (image.image == 0 ? 0 : image.image->lineStride),
+      pixelStride (image.image == 0 ? 0 : image.image->pixelStride),
+      width (image.getWidth()),
+      height (image.getHeight())
+{
+}
+
 Image::BitmapData::~BitmapData()
 {
 }
diff --git a/src/gui/graphics/imaging/juce_Image.h b/src/gui/graphics/imaging/juce_Image.h
index b63523998f..c5ea6817bf 100644
--- a/src/gui/graphics/imaging/juce_Image.h
+++ b/src/gui/graphics/imaging/juce_Image.h
@@ -139,6 +139,11 @@ public:
     */
     inline bool isNull() const throw()                      { return image == 0; }
 
+    /** A null Image object that can be used when you need to return an invalid image.
+        This object is the equivalient to an Image created with the default constructor.
+    */
+    static const Image null;
+
     //==============================================================================
     /** Returns the image's width (in pixels). */
     int getWidth() const throw()                            { return image == 0 ? 0 : image->width; }
@@ -206,6 +211,19 @@ public:
     */
     void duplicateIfShared();
 
+    /** Returns an image which refers to a subsection of this image.
+
+        This will not make a copy of the original - the new image will keep a reference to it, so that
+        if the original image is changed, the contents of the subsection will also change. Likewise if you
+        draw into the subimage, you'll also be drawing onto that area of the original image. Note that if
+        you use operator= to make the original Image object refer to something else, the subsection image
+        won't pick up this change, it'll remain pointing at the original.
+
+        The area passed-in will be clipped to the bounds of this image, so this may return a smaller
+        image than the area you asked for, or even a null image if the area was out-of-bounds.
+    */
+    const Image getClippedImage (const Rectangle<int>& area) const;
+
     //==============================================================================
     /** Returns the colour of one of the pixels in the image.
 
@@ -276,6 +294,7 @@ public:
     public:
         BitmapData (Image& image, int x, int y, int w, int h, bool needsToBeWritable);
         BitmapData (const Image& image, int x, int y, int w, int h);
+        BitmapData (const Image& image, bool needsToBeWritable);
         ~BitmapData();
 
         /** Returns a pointer to the start of a line in the image.
@@ -382,6 +401,13 @@ public:
         static SharedImage* createNativeImage (PixelFormat format, int width, int height, bool clearImage);
         static SharedImage* createSoftwareImage (PixelFormat format, int width, int height, bool clearImage);
 
+        const PixelFormat getPixelFormat() const throw()    { return format; }
+        int getWidth() const throw()                        { return width; }
+        int getHeight() const throw()                       { return height; }
+        int getPixelStride() const throw()                  { return pixelStride; }
+        int getLineStride() const throw()                   { return lineStride; }
+        uint8* getPixelData (int x, int y) const throw();
+
     protected:
         friend class Image;
         friend class Image::BitmapData;
@@ -391,8 +417,6 @@ public:
         uint8* imageData;
         var userTag;
 
-        uint8* getPixelData (int x, int y) const throw();
-
         SharedImage (const SharedImage&);
         SharedImage& operator= (const SharedImage&);
     };
diff --git a/src/gui/graphics/imaging/juce_ImageCache.cpp b/src/gui/graphics/imaging/juce_ImageCache.cpp
index 774a8c432d..03c1387896 100644
--- a/src/gui/graphics/imaging/juce_ImageCache.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/graphics/imaging/juce_ImageCache.cpp
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ public:
                 return item->image;
         }
 
-        return Image();
+        return Image::null;
     }
 
     void addImageToCache (const Image& image, const int64 hashCode)
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ const Image ImageCache::getFromHashCode (const int64 hashCode)
     if (Pimpl::getInstanceWithoutCreating() != 0)
         return Pimpl::getInstanceWithoutCreating()->getFromHashCode (hashCode);
 
-    return Image();
+    return Image::null;
 }
 
 void ImageCache::addImageToCache (const Image& image, const int64 hashCode)
diff --git a/src/gui/graphics/imaging/juce_ImageConvolutionKernel.cpp b/src/gui/graphics/imaging/juce_ImageConvolutionKernel.cpp
index 78b8995c62..0d1bf6866c 100644
--- a/src/gui/graphics/imaging/juce_ImageConvolutionKernel.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/graphics/imaging/juce_ImageConvolutionKernel.cpp
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ void ImageConvolutionKernel::applyToImage (Image& destImage,
     const Image::BitmapData destData (destImage, area.getX(), area.getY(), area.getWidth(), area.getHeight(), true);
     uint8* line = destData.data;
 
-    const Image::BitmapData srcData (sourceImage, 0, 0, sourceImage.getWidth(), sourceImage.getHeight());
+    const Image::BitmapData srcData (sourceImage, false);
 
     if (destData.pixelStride == 4)
     {
diff --git a/src/gui/graphics/imaging/juce_ImageFileFormat.cpp b/src/gui/graphics/imaging/juce_ImageFileFormat.cpp
index 627773cdcd..36078f7340 100644
--- a/src/gui/graphics/imaging/juce_ImageFileFormat.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/graphics/imaging/juce_ImageFileFormat.cpp
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ const Image ImageFileFormat::loadFrom (InputStream& input)
     if (format != 0)
         return format->decodeImage (input);
 
-    return Image();
+    return Image::null;
 }
 
 const Image ImageFileFormat::loadFrom (const File& file)
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ const Image ImageFileFormat::loadFrom (const File& file)
         return loadFrom (b);
     }
 
-    return Image();
+    return Image::null;
 }
 
 const Image ImageFileFormat::loadFrom (const void* rawData, const int numBytes)
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ const Image ImageFileFormat::loadFrom (const void* rawData, const int numBytes)
         return loadFrom (stream);
     }
 
-    return Image();
+    return Image::null;
 }
 
 END_JUCE_NAMESPACE
diff --git a/src/native/linux/juce_linux_Windowing.cpp b/src/native/linux/juce_linux_Windowing.cpp
index 81f3a08b92..2be3db0194 100644
--- a/src/native/linux/juce_linux_Windowing.cpp
+++ b/src/native/linux/juce_linux_Windowing.cpp
@@ -622,7 +622,7 @@ public:
             const uint32 bShiftL = jmax (0, getShiftNeeded (bMask));
             const uint32 bShiftR = jmax (0, -getShiftNeeded (bMask));
 
-            const Image::BitmapData srcData (Image (this), 0, 0, width, height);
+            const Image::BitmapData srcData (Image (this), false);
 
             for (int y = sy; y < sy + dh; ++y)
             {
@@ -1819,7 +1819,7 @@ private:
             else if (Time::getApproximateMillisecondCounter() > lastTimeImageUsed + 3000)
             {
                 stopTimer();
-                image = Image();
+                image = Image::null;
             }
         }
 
@@ -3137,7 +3137,7 @@ void MouseCursor::showInAllWindows() const
 //==============================================================================
 const Image juce_createIconForFile (const File& file)
 {
-    return Image();
+    return Image::null;
 }
 
 Image::SharedImage* Image::SharedImage::createNativeImage (PixelFormat format, int width, int height, bool clearImage)
diff --git a/src/native/mac/juce_iphone_UIViewComponentPeer.mm b/src/native/mac/juce_iphone_UIViewComponentPeer.mm
index 688bda4d88..aea352fd73 100644
--- a/src/native/mac/juce_iphone_UIViewComponentPeer.mm
+++ b/src/native/mac/juce_iphone_UIViewComponentPeer.mm
@@ -878,7 +878,7 @@ ComponentPeer* Component::createNewPeer (int styleFlags, void* windowToAttachTo)
 //==============================================================================
 const Image juce_createIconForFile (const File& file)
 {
-    return Image();
+    return Image::null;
 }
 
 //==============================================================================
diff --git a/src/native/mac/juce_mac_CoreGraphicsContext.mm b/src/native/mac/juce_mac_CoreGraphicsContext.mm
index 6afeb45f79..ddd43c90fc 100644
--- a/src/native/mac/juce_mac_CoreGraphicsContext.mm
+++ b/src/native/mac/juce_mac_CoreGraphicsContext.mm
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ public:
         }
         else
         {
-            const Image::BitmapData srcData (juceImage, 0, 0, juceImage.getWidth(), juceImage.getHeight());
+            const Image::BitmapData srcData (juceImage, false);
 
             CGDataProviderRef provider = CGDataProviderCreateWithData (0, srcData.data, srcData.lineStride * srcData.height, 0);
 
@@ -234,7 +234,7 @@ public:
         lastClipRectIsValid = false;
     }
 
-    void clipToImageAlpha (const Image& sourceImage, const Rectangle<int>& srcClip, const AffineTransform& transform)
+    void clipToImageAlpha (const Image& sourceImage, const AffineTransform& transform)
     {
         if (! transform.isSingularity())
         {
@@ -245,19 +245,11 @@ public:
 
             CGImageRef image = CoreGraphicsImage::createImage (singleChannelImage, true, greyColourSpace);
 
-            if (srcClip != sourceImage.getBounds())
-            {
-                CGImageRef fullImage = image;
-                image = CGImageCreateWithImageInRect (fullImage, CGRectMake (srcClip.getX(), srcClip.getY(),
-                                                                             srcClip.getWidth(), srcClip.getHeight()));
-                CGImageRelease (fullImage);
-            }
-
             flip();
-            AffineTransform t (AffineTransform::scale (1.0f, -1.0f).translated (0, srcClip.getHeight()).followedBy (transform));
+            AffineTransform t (AffineTransform::scale (1.0f, -1.0f).translated (0, sourceImage.getHeight()).followedBy (transform));
             applyTransform (t);
 
-            CGRect r = CGRectMake (0, 0, srcClip.getWidth(), srcClip.getHeight());
+            CGRect r = CGRectMake (0, 0, sourceImage.getWidth(), sourceImage.getHeight());
             CGContextClipToMask (context, r, image);
 
             applyTransform (t.inverted());
@@ -383,7 +375,7 @@ public:
             {
                 CGContextSaveGState (context);
                 CGContextClipToRect (context, cgRect);
-                drawImage (state->fillType.image, state->fillType.image.getBounds(), state->fillType.transform, true);
+                drawImage (state->fillType.image, state->fillType.transform, true);
                 CGContextRestoreGState (context);
             }
         }
@@ -416,33 +408,24 @@ public:
             if (state->fillType.isGradient())
                 drawGradient();
             else
-                drawImage (state->fillType.image, state->fillType.image.getBounds(), state->fillType.transform, true);
+                drawImage (state->fillType.image, state->fillType.transform, true);
         }
 
         CGContextRestoreGState (context);
     }
 
-    void drawImage (const Image& sourceImage, const Rectangle<int>& srcClip,
-                    const AffineTransform& transform, const bool fillEntireClipAsTiles)
+    void drawImage (const Image& sourceImage, const AffineTransform& transform, const bool fillEntireClipAsTiles)
     {
-        jassert (sourceImage.getBounds().contains (srcClip));
-
-        CGImageRef fullImage = CoreGraphicsImage::createImage (sourceImage, false, rgbColourSpace);
-        CGImageRef image = fullImage;
-
-        if (srcClip != sourceImage.getBounds())
-        {
-            image = CGImageCreateWithImageInRect (fullImage, CGRectMake (srcClip.getX(), srcClip.getY(),
-                                                                         srcClip.getWidth(), srcClip.getHeight()));
-            CGImageRelease (fullImage);
-        }
+        const int iw = sourceImage.getWidth();
+        const int ih = sourceImage.getHeight();
+        CGImageRef image = CoreGraphicsImage::createImage (sourceImage, false, rgbColourSpace);
 
         CGContextSaveGState (context);
         CGContextSetAlpha (context, state->fillType.getOpacity());
 
         flip();
-        applyTransform (AffineTransform::scale (1.0f, -1.0f).translated (0, srcClip.getHeight()).followedBy (transform));
-        CGRect imageRect = CGRectMake (0, 0, srcClip.getWidth(), srcClip.getHeight());
+        applyTransform (AffineTransform::scale (1.0f, -1.0f).translated (0, ih).followedBy (transform));
+        CGRect imageRect = CGRectMake (0, 0, iw, ih);
 
         if (fillEntireClipAsTiles)
         {
@@ -459,8 +442,6 @@ public:
             {
                 // Fallback to manually doing a tiled fill on 10.4
                 CGRect clip = CGRectIntegral (CGContextGetClipBoundingBox (context));
-                const int iw = srcClip.getWidth();
-                const int ih = srcClip.getHeight();
 
                 int x = 0, y = 0;
                 while (x > clip.origin.x)   x -= iw;
diff --git a/src/native/windows/juce_win32_Windowing.cpp b/src/native/windows/juce_win32_Windowing.cpp
index ec940ae75e..aee0478b0a 100644
--- a/src/native/windows/juce_win32_Windowing.cpp
+++ b/src/native/windows/juce_win32_Windowing.cpp
@@ -877,7 +877,7 @@ private:
         void timerCallback()
         {
             stopTimer();
-            image = Image();
+            image = Image::null;
         }
 
     private:
@@ -2356,7 +2356,7 @@ static const Image createImageFromHBITMAP (HBITMAP bitmap)
             SelectObject (dc, bitmap);
 
             im = Image (Image::ARGB, bm.bmWidth, bm.bmHeight, true);
-            Image::BitmapData imageData (im, 0, 0, bm.bmWidth, bm.bmHeight, true);
+            Image::BitmapData imageData (im, true);
 
             for (int y = bm.bmHeight; --y >= 0;)
             {
@@ -2403,7 +2403,7 @@ static const Image createImageFromHICON (HICON icon)
         }
     }
 
-    return Image();
+    return Image::null;
 }
 
 static HICON createHICONFromImage (const Image& image, const BOOL isIcon, int hotspotX, int hotspotY)