diff --git a/ChangeLog b/ChangeLog
index b6534538..cbd0d639 100644
--- a/ChangeLog
+++ b/ChangeLog
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@
 - deprecate im_linreg(): easily done by combining other operators
 - deprecate im_point(): easily done by combining other operators
 - add binary complex operations, with cross_phase as the only one so far
+- added vips_bandbool(), with vips_bandand(), _bandor(), _bandeor() as
+  convenience functions
 
 14/11/12 started 7.30.6
 - capture tiff warnings earlier
diff --git a/TODO b/TODO
index a6ae64a9..a1094af9 100644
--- a/TODO
+++ b/TODO
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+- vips_invert() on complex should just invert real part
+
+- boolean.c ... operator member should be called @operation, not @boolean
+
 - add vips_band()/vips_bor()
 
 - now we've removed round-to-nearest from NN, we need something extra in the
diff --git a/libvips/arithmetic/arithmetic.c b/libvips/arithmetic/arithmetic.c
index 350d2eb7..cc253bbc 100644
--- a/libvips/arithmetic/arithmetic.c
+++ b/libvips/arithmetic/arithmetic.c
@@ -359,7 +359,7 @@ vips__bandup( const char *domain, VipsImage *in, VipsImage **out, int n )
 		return( -1 );
 	}
 	if( n > 256 || n < 1 ) {
-		im_error( domain, "%s", _( "bad bands" ) );
+		vips_error( domain, "%s", _( "bad bands" ) );
 		return( -1 );
 	}
 
diff --git a/libvips/arithmetic/boolean.c b/libvips/arithmetic/boolean.c
index 50349b02..2c512892 100644
--- a/libvips/arithmetic/boolean.c
+++ b/libvips/arithmetic/boolean.c
@@ -206,8 +206,7 @@ vips_boolean_class_init( VipsBooleanClass *class )
 	gobject_class->get_property = vips_object_get_property;
 
 	object_class->nickname = "boolean";
-	object_class->description = 
-		_( "a boolean operation on a pair of images" );
+	object_class->description = _( "boolean operation on two images" );
 	object_class->build = vips_boolean_build;
 
 	vips_arithmetic_set_format_table( aclass, vips_bandfmt_boolean );
diff --git a/libvips/conversion/Makefile.am b/libvips/conversion/Makefile.am
index fadfdcf0..043fe8b7 100644
--- a/libvips/conversion/Makefile.am
+++ b/libvips/conversion/Makefile.am
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ libconversion_la_SOURCES = \
 	black.c \
 	recomb.c \
 	bandmean.c \
+	bandbool.c \
 	bandary.h \
 	bandary.c \
 	rot.c \
diff --git a/libvips/conversion/bandbool.c b/libvips/conversion/bandbool.c
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..192bbfe4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libvips/conversion/bandbool.c
@@ -0,0 +1,346 @@
+/* bandbool.c --- bool op across image bands
+ *
+ * 7/12/12
+ * 	- from boolean.c
+ */
+
+/*
+
+    Copyright (C) 1991-2005 The National Gallery
+
+    This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
+    modify it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public
+    License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either
+    version 2.1 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
+
+    This library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+    but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+    MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU 
+    Lesser General Public License for more details.
+
+    You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public
+    License along with this library; if not, write to the Free Software
+    Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA  02111-1307  USA
+
+ */
+
+/*
+
+    These files are distributed with VIPS - http://www.vips.ecs.soton.ac.uk
+
+ */
+
+/*
+#define DEBUG
+ */
+
+#ifdef HAVE_CONFIG_H
+#include <config.h>
+#endif /*HAVE_CONFIG_H*/
+#include <vips/intl.h>
+
+#include <stdio.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
+
+#include <vips/vips.h>
+
+#include "bandary.h"
+
+typedef struct _VipsBandbool {
+	VipsBandary parent_instance;
+
+	VipsImage *in;
+
+	VipsOperationBoolean operation;
+
+} VipsBandbool;
+
+typedef VipsBandaryClass VipsBandboolClass;
+
+G_DEFINE_TYPE( VipsBandbool, vips_bandbool, VIPS_TYPE_BANDARY );
+
+static int
+vips_bandbool_build( VipsObject *object )
+{
+	VipsObjectClass *class = VIPS_OBJECT_GET_CLASS( object );
+	VipsBandary *bandary = (VipsBandary *) object;
+	VipsBandbool *bandbool = (VipsBandbool *) object;
+
+	if( bandbool->in &&
+		vips_check_noncomplex( class->nickname, bandbool->in ) )
+		return( -1 );
+
+	/* << and >> don't work over bands.
+	 */
+	if( bandbool->operation == VIPS_OPERATION_BOOLEAN_LSHIFT ||
+		bandbool->operation == VIPS_OPERATION_BOOLEAN_RSHIFT ) {
+		vips_error( class->nickname, 
+			_( "operator %s not supported across image bands" ), 
+			vips_enum_nick( VIPS_TYPE_OPERATION_BOOLEAN, 
+				bandbool->operation ) );
+		return( -1 );
+	}
+
+	if( bandbool->in &&
+		bandbool->in->Bands == 1 ) 
+		return( vips_bandary_copy( bandary ) );
+
+	bandary->out_bands = 1;
+	bandary->n = 1;
+	bandary->in = &bandbool->in;
+
+	if( VIPS_OBJECT_CLASS( vips_bandbool_parent_class )->
+		build( object ) )
+		return( -1 );
+
+	return( 0 );
+}
+
+#define SWITCH( I, F, OP ) \
+	switch( vips_image_get_format( im ) ) { \
+	case VIPS_FORMAT_UCHAR:		I( unsigned char, OP ); break; \
+	case VIPS_FORMAT_CHAR:		I( signed char, OP ); break; \
+	case VIPS_FORMAT_USHORT: 	I( unsigned short, OP ); break; \
+	case VIPS_FORMAT_SHORT: 	I( signed short, OP ); break; \
+	case VIPS_FORMAT_UINT: 		I( unsigned int, OP ); break; \
+	case VIPS_FORMAT_INT: 		I( signed int, OP ); break; \
+	case VIPS_FORMAT_FLOAT: 	F( float, OP ); break; \
+	case VIPS_FORMAT_DOUBLE: 	F( double, OP ); break;\
+ 	\
+	default: \
+		g_assert( 0 ); \
+	} 
+
+#define LOOPB( TYPE, OP ) { \
+	TYPE *p = (TYPE *) in[0]; \
+	TYPE *q = (TYPE *) out; \
+ 	\
+	for( x = 0; x < width; x++ ) { \
+		TYPE acc; \
+		\
+		acc = p[0]; \
+		for( b = 1; b < bands; b++ ) \
+			acc = acc OP p[b]; \
+		\
+		q[x] = acc; \
+		p += bands; \
+	} \
+}
+
+#define FLOOPB( TYPE, OP ) { \
+	TYPE *p = (TYPE *) in[0]; \
+	int *q = (int *) out; \
+ 	\
+	for( x = 0; x < width; x++ ) { \
+		int acc; \
+		\
+		acc = (int) p[0]; \
+		for( b = 1; b < bands; b++ ) \
+			acc = acc OP ((int) p[b]); \
+		\
+		q[x] = acc; \
+		p += bands; \
+	} \
+}
+
+static void
+vips_bandbool_buffer( VipsBandary *bandary, 
+	VipsPel *out, VipsPel **in, int width )
+{
+	VipsBandbool *bandbool = (VipsBandbool *) bandary;
+	VipsImage *im = bandary->ready[0];
+	int bands = im->Bands;
+
+	int x, b;
+
+	switch( bandbool->operation ) {
+	case VIPS_OPERATION_BOOLEAN_AND: 	
+		SWITCH( LOOPB, FLOOPB, & ); 
+		break;
+
+	case VIPS_OPERATION_BOOLEAN_OR: 	
+		SWITCH( LOOPB, FLOOPB, | ); 
+		break;
+
+	case VIPS_OPERATION_BOOLEAN_EOR: 	
+		SWITCH( LOOPB, FLOOPB, ^ ); 
+		break;
+
+	default:
+		g_assert( 0 );
+	}
+}
+
+/* Save a bit of typing.
+ */
+#define UC VIPS_FORMAT_UCHAR
+#define C VIPS_FORMAT_CHAR
+#define US VIPS_FORMAT_USHORT
+#define S VIPS_FORMAT_SHORT
+#define UI VIPS_FORMAT_UINT
+#define I VIPS_FORMAT_INT
+#define F VIPS_FORMAT_FLOAT
+#define X VIPS_FORMAT_COMPLEX
+#define D VIPS_FORMAT_DOUBLE
+#define DX VIPS_FORMAT_DPCOMPLEX
+
+/* Type conversions for boolean. 
+ */
+static const VipsBandFormat vips_bandfmt_boolean[10] = {
+/* UC  C   US  S   UI  I   F   X   D   DX */
+   UC, C,  US, S,  UI, I,  I,  I,  I,  I,
+};
+
+static void
+vips_bandbool_class_init( VipsBandboolClass *class )
+{
+	GObjectClass *gobject_class = G_OBJECT_CLASS( class );
+	VipsObjectClass *object_class = (VipsObjectClass *) class;
+	VipsBandaryClass *bandary_class = VIPS_BANDARY_CLASS( class );
+
+	gobject_class->set_property = vips_object_set_property;
+	gobject_class->get_property = vips_object_get_property;
+
+	object_class->nickname = "bandbool";
+	object_class->description = _( "boolean operation across image bands" );
+	object_class->build = vips_bandbool_build;
+
+	bandary_class->process_line = vips_bandbool_buffer;
+
+	VIPS_ARG_IMAGE( class, "in", 0, 
+		_( "Input" ), 
+		_( "Input image argument" ),
+		VIPS_ARGUMENT_REQUIRED_INPUT,
+		G_STRUCT_OFFSET( VipsBandbool, in ) );
+
+	VIPS_ARG_ENUM( class, "boolean", 200, 
+		_( "Operation" ), 
+		_( "boolean to perform" ),
+		VIPS_ARGUMENT_REQUIRED_INPUT,
+		G_STRUCT_OFFSET( VipsBandbool, operation ),
+		VIPS_TYPE_OPERATION_BOOLEAN, 
+			VIPS_OPERATION_BOOLEAN_AND ); 
+}
+
+static void
+vips_bandbool_init( VipsBandbool *bandbool )
+{
+	bandbool->operation = VIPS_OPERATION_BOOLEAN_AND;
+}
+
+static int
+vips_bandboolv( VipsImage *in, VipsImage **out, 
+	VipsOperationBoolean operation, va_list ap )
+{
+	return( vips_call_split( "bandbool", ap, in, out, operation ) );
+}
+
+/**
+ * vips_bandbool:
+ * @im: left-hand input #VipsImage
+ * @out: output #VipsImage
+ * @operation: boolean operation to perform
+ * @...: %NULL-terminated list of optional named arguments
+ *
+ * Perform various boolean operations across the bands of an image. For
+ * example, a three-band uchar image operated on with
+ * #VIPS_OPERATION_BOOLEAN_AND will produce a one-band uchar image where each
+ * pixel is the bitwise and of the band elements of the corresponding pixel in
+ * the input image. 
+ *
+ * The output image is the same format as the input image for integer
+ * types. Float types are cast to int before processing. Complex types are not
+ * supported.
+ *
+ * The output image always has one band. 
+ *
+ * See also: vips_boolean_const().
+ *
+ * Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
+ */
+int
+vips_bandbool( VipsImage *in, VipsImage **out, 
+	VipsOperationBoolean operation, ... )
+{
+	va_list ap;
+	int result;
+
+	va_start( ap, operation );
+	result = vips_bandboolv( in, out, operation, ap );
+	va_end( ap );
+
+	return( result );
+}
+
+/**
+ * vips_bandand:
+ * @in: left-hand input #VipsImage
+ * @out: output #VipsImage
+ * @...: %NULL-terminated list of optional named arguments
+ *
+ * Perform #VIPS_OPERATION_BOOLEAN_AND on an image. See
+ * vips_bandbool().
+ *
+ * Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
+ */
+int
+vips_bandand( VipsImage *in, VipsImage **out, ... )
+{
+	va_list ap;
+	int result;
+
+	va_start( ap, out );
+	result = vips_bandboolv( in, out, VIPS_OPERATION_BOOLEAN_AND, ap );
+	va_end( ap );
+
+	return( result );
+}
+
+/**
+ * vips_bandor:
+ * @in: left-hand input #VipsImage
+ * @out: output #VipsImage
+ * @...: %NULL-terminated list of optional named arguments
+ *
+ * Perform #VIPS_OPERATION_BOOLEAN_OR on an image. See
+ * vips_bandbool().
+ *
+ * Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
+ */
+int
+vips_bandor( VipsImage *in, VipsImage **out, ... )
+{
+	va_list ap;
+	int result;
+
+	va_start( ap, out );
+	result = vips_bandboolv( in, out, VIPS_OPERATION_BOOLEAN_OR, ap );
+	va_end( ap );
+
+	return( result );
+}
+
+/**
+ * vips_bandeor:
+ * @in: left-hand input #VipsImage
+ * @out: output #VipsImage
+ * @...: %NULL-terminated list of optional named arguments
+ *
+ * Perform #VIPS_OPERATION_BOOLEAN_EOR on an image. See
+ * vips_bandbool().
+ *
+ * Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
+ */
+int
+vips_bandeor( VipsImage *in, VipsImage **out, ... )
+{
+	va_list ap;
+	int result;
+
+	va_start( ap, out );
+	result = vips_bandboolv( in, out, VIPS_OPERATION_BOOLEAN_EOR, ap );
+	va_end( ap );
+
+	return( result );
+}
+
diff --git a/libvips/conversion/bandmean.c b/libvips/conversion/bandmean.c
index bd4b58b9..698c2ea5 100644
--- a/libvips/conversion/bandmean.c
+++ b/libvips/conversion/bandmean.c
@@ -161,15 +161,13 @@ vips_bandmean_build( VipsObject *object )
 	VipsBandary *bandary = (VipsBandary *) object;
 	VipsBandmean *bandmean = (VipsBandmean *) object;
 
+	if( bandmean->in &&
+		bandmean->in->Bands == 1 ) 
+		return( vips_bandary_copy( bandary ) );
+
 	bandary->out_bands = 1;
-
-	if( bandmean->in ) {
-		bandary->n = 1;
-		bandary->in = &bandmean->in;
-
-		if( bandmean->in->Bands == 1 ) 
-			return( vips_bandary_copy( bandary ) );
-	}
+	bandary->n = 1;
+	bandary->in = &bandmean->in;
 
 	if( VIPS_OBJECT_CLASS( vips_bandmean_parent_class )->build( object ) )
 		return( -1 );
diff --git a/libvips/conversion/conversion.c b/libvips/conversion/conversion.c
index b4accff8..d1d68f05 100644
--- a/libvips/conversion/conversion.c
+++ b/libvips/conversion/conversion.c
@@ -123,6 +123,7 @@ vips_conversion_operation_init( void )
 	extern GType vips_recomb_get_type( void ); 
 	extern GType vips_bandmean_get_type( void ); 
 	extern GType vips_flatten_get_type( void ); 
+	extern GType vips_bandbool_get_type( void ); 
 
 	vips_copy_get_type();
 	vips_tile_cache_get_type(); 
@@ -144,6 +145,7 @@ vips_conversion_operation_init( void )
 	vips_recomb_get_type(); 
 	vips_bandmean_get_type(); 
 	vips_flatten_get_type(); 
+	vips_bandbool_get_type(); 
 }
 
 /* The common part of most binary conversion
diff --git a/libvips/include/vips/conversion.h b/libvips/include/vips/conversion.h
index 3c63035c..91f5b36b 100644
--- a/libvips/include/vips/conversion.h
+++ b/libvips/include/vips/conversion.h
@@ -216,8 +216,20 @@ int vips_bandjoin2( VipsImage *in1, VipsImage *in2, VipsImage **out, ... )
 	__attribute__((sentinel));
 int vips_bandmean( VipsImage *in, VipsImage **out, ... )
 	__attribute__((sentinel));
+
+int vips_bandbool( VipsImage *in, VipsImage **out, 
+	VipsOperationBoolean operation, ... )
+	__attribute__((sentinel));
+int vips_bandand( VipsImage *in, VipsImage **out, ... )
+	__attribute__((sentinel));
+int vips_bandor( VipsImage *in, VipsImage **out, ... )
+	__attribute__((sentinel));
+int vips_bandeor( VipsImage *in, VipsImage **out, ... )
+	__attribute__((sentinel));
+
 int vips_recomb( VipsImage *in, VipsImage **out, VipsImage *m, ... )
 	__attribute__((sentinel));
+
 int vips_black( VipsImage **out, int width, int height, ... )
 	__attribute__((sentinel));
 int vips_rot( VipsImage *in, VipsImage **out, VipsAngle angle, ... )