diff --git a/TODO b/TODO
index 15abcec7..a9e9243e 100644
--- a/TODO
+++ b/TODO
@@ -4,27 +4,12 @@
 
   heh fix
 
-- use vips_object_set_from_string() for vips_foreign_load_options() and
-  friends
-
-
-
-- use this for dzsave_buffer 
-
-
-
-- clean up foreign.c, there seems to be some cruft
 
 - vips_filename_suffix_match() is used by
   vips_foreign_load_new_from_foreign_sub(), but it splits on ':' ... argh!
 
   deprecate this thing and stop ':' split
 
-  vips_foreign_find_save() should split on [], there's something to find the
-  start of the rightmost [] pair, use that
-
-  see also vips_foreign_find_save_buffer()
-
 
   
 
diff --git a/libvips/arithmetic/hough_line.c b/libvips/arithmetic/hough_line.c
index 6fac6e2f..eaa5b8bd 100644
--- a/libvips/arithmetic/hough_line.c
+++ b/libvips/arithmetic/hough_line.c
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@
 #include <vips/intl.h>
 
 #include <string.h>
+#include <math.h>
 
 #include <vips/vips.h>
 
diff --git a/libvips/foreign/foreign.c b/libvips/foreign/foreign.c
index 6d3b03b6..a8b23b7d 100644
--- a/libvips/foreign/foreign.c
+++ b/libvips/foreign/foreign.c
@@ -466,6 +466,8 @@ vips_foreign_load_summary_class( VipsObjectClass *object_class, VipsBuf *buf )
 	if( !G_TYPE_IS_ABSTRACT( G_TYPE_FROM_CLASS( class ) ) ) {
 		if( class->is_a )
 			vips_buf_appends( buf, ", is_a" );
+		if( class->is_a_buffer )
+			vips_buf_appends( buf, ", is_a_buffer" );
 		if( class->get_flags )
 			vips_buf_appends( buf, ", get_flags" );
 		if( class->get_flags_filename )
@@ -484,7 +486,7 @@ vips_foreign_load_summary_class( VipsObjectClass *object_class, VipsBuf *buf )
 /* Can this VipsForeign open this file?
  */
 static void *
-vips_foreign_load_new_from_foreign_sub( VipsForeignLoadClass *load_class, 
+vips_foreign_find_load_sub( VipsForeignLoadClass *load_class, 
 	const char *filename )
 {
 	VipsForeignClass *class = VIPS_FOREIGN_CLASS( load_class );
@@ -504,35 +506,74 @@ vips_foreign_load_new_from_foreign_sub( VipsForeignLoadClass *load_class,
  * vips_foreign_find_load:
  * @filename: file to find a loader for
  *
- * Searches for an operation you could use to load @filename. 
+ * Searches for an operation you could use to load @filename. Any trailing
+ * options on @filename are stripped and ignored. 
  *
  * See also: vips_foreign_load().
  *
  * Returns: the name of an operation on success, %NULL on error
  */
 const char *
-vips_foreign_find_load( const char *filename )
+vips_foreign_find_load( const char *name )
 {
+	char filename[VIPS_PATH_MAX];
+	char option_string[VIPS_PATH_MAX];
 	VipsForeignLoadClass *load_class;
 
+	vips__filename_split8( name, filename, option_string );
+
 	if( !vips_existsf( "%s", filename ) ) {
 		vips_error( "VipsForeignLoad", 
-			_( "file \"%s\" not found" ), filename );
+			_( "file \"%s\" not found" ), name );
 		return( NULL );
 	}
 
 	if( !(load_class = (VipsForeignLoadClass *) vips_foreign_map( 
 		"VipsForeignLoad",
-		(VipsSListMap2Fn) vips_foreign_load_new_from_foreign_sub, 
+		(VipsSListMap2Fn) vips_foreign_find_load_sub, 
 		(void *) filename, NULL )) ) {
 		vips_error( "VipsForeignLoad", 
-			_( "\"%s\" is not a known file format" ), filename );
+			_( "\"%s\" is not a known file format" ), name );
 		return( NULL );
 	}
 
 	return( G_OBJECT_CLASS_NAME( load_class ) );
 }
 
+/**
+ * vips_foreign_load:
+ * @filename: file to load
+ * @out: output image
+ * @...: %NULL-terminated list of optional named arguments
+ *
+ * Loads @filename into @out using the loader recommended by
+ * vips_foreign_find_load().
+ *
+ * See also: vips_foreign_save(), vips_foreign_load_options().
+ *
+ * Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
+ */
+int
+vips_foreign_load( const char *name, VipsImage **out, ... )
+{
+	char filename[VIPS_PATH_MAX];
+	char option_string[VIPS_PATH_MAX];
+	const char *operation_name;
+	va_list ap;
+	int result;
+
+	vips__filename_split8( name, filename, option_string );
+	if( !(operation_name = vips_foreign_find_load( filename )) )
+		return( -1 );
+
+	va_start( ap, out );
+	result = vips_call_split_option_string( operation_name, option_string, 
+		ap, filename, out );
+	va_end( ap );
+
+	return( result );
+}
+
 /* Can this VipsForeign open this buffer?
  */
 static void *
@@ -547,10 +588,11 @@ vips_foreign_find_load_buffer_sub( VipsForeignLoadClass *load_class,
 }
 
 /**
- * vips_foreign_find_load:
- * @filename: file to find a loader for
+ * vips_foreign_find_load_buffer:
+ * @buf: start of memory buffer
+ * @len: length of memory buffer
  *
- * Searches for an operation you could use to load @filename. 
+ * Searches for an operation you could use to load a memory buffer.
  *
  * See also: vips_foreign_load_buffer().
  *
@@ -574,37 +616,45 @@ vips_foreign_find_load_buffer( void *buf, size_t len )
 }
 
 /**
- * vips_foreign_find_load_options:
- * @filename: file to find a loader for
+ * vips_foreign_load_buffer:
+ * @buf: start of memory buffer
+ * @len: length of memory buffer
+ * @option_string: set of extra options as a string
+ * @out: output image
+ * @...: %NULL-terminated list of optional named arguments
  *
- * Searches for an operation you could use to load @filename. 
+ * Loads @buf, @len into @out using the loader recommended by
+ * vips_foreign_find_load_buffer(). @option_string can be used to give an
+ * extra set of load options. 
  *
- * Arguments to the loader may be embedded in the filename using the usual
- * syntax.
- *
- * See also: vips_foreign_load().
+ * See also: vips_foreign_save(), vips_foreign_load_options().
  *
  * Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
  */
-const char *
-vips_foreign_find_load_options( const char *filename )
+int
+vips_foreign_load_buffer( void *buf, size_t len, const char *option_string, 
+	VipsImage **out, ... )
 {
-	VipsObjectClass *oclass = g_type_class_ref( VIPS_TYPE_FOREIGN_LOAD );
-	VipsObject *object;
-	const char *type_name;
+	const char *operation_name;
+	VipsArea *area;
+	va_list ap;
+	int result;
 
-	/* This will use vips_foreign_load_new_from_string() to pick a loader,
-	 * then set options from the tail of the filename. This is rather slow
-	 * :-( 
+	if( !(operation_name = vips_foreign_find_load_buffer( buf, len )) )
+		return( -1 );
+
+	/* We don't take a copy of the data or free it.
 	 */
-	if( !(object = vips_object_new_from_string( oclass, filename )) )
-		return( NULL );
+	area = vips_area_new_blob( NULL, buf, len );
 
-	type_name = G_OBJECT_TYPE_NAME( object );
+	va_start( ap, out );
+	result = vips_call_split_option_string( operation_name, 
+		option_string, ap, area, out );
+	va_end( ap );
 
-	g_object_unref( object );
+	vips_area_unref( area );
 
-	return( type_name );
+	return( result );
 }
 
 /**
@@ -694,7 +744,8 @@ vips_get_disc_threshold( void )
 		 */
 		threshold = 100 * 1024 * 1024;
 
-		if( (env = g_getenv( "IM_DISC_THRESHOLD" )) ) 
+		if( (env = g_getenv( "VIPS_DISC_THRESHOLD" )) || 
+			(env = g_getenv( "IM_DISC_THRESHOLD" )) ) 
 			threshold = vips__parse_size( env );
 
 		if( vips__disc_threshold ) 
@@ -1039,135 +1090,6 @@ vips_foreign_save_summary_class( VipsObjectClass *object_class, VipsBuf *buf )
 		vips_enum_nick( VIPS_TYPE_SAVEABLE, class->saveable ) );
 }
 
-/* Can we write this filename with this file? 
- */
-static void *
-vips_foreign_find_save_sub( VipsForeignSaveClass *save_class, 
-	const char *filename )
-{
-	VipsForeignClass *class = VIPS_FOREIGN_CLASS( save_class );
-
-	if( class->suffs &&
-		vips_filename_suffix_match( filename, class->suffs ) )
-		return( save_class );
-
-	return( NULL );
-}
-
-/**
- * vips_foreign_find_save:
- * @filename: name to find a saver for
- *
- * Searches for an operation you could use to write to @filename.
- *
- * @filename may not contain embedded options. See
- * vips_foreign_find_save_options() if your filename may have options in.
- *
- * See also: vips_foreign_save().
- *
- * Returns: the name of an operation on success, %NULL on error
- */
-const char *
-vips_foreign_find_save( const char *filename )
-{
-	VipsForeignSaveClass *save_class;
-
-	if( !(save_class = (VipsForeignSaveClass *) vips_foreign_map( 
-		"VipsForeignSave",
-		(VipsSListMap2Fn) vips_foreign_find_save_sub, 
-		(void *) filename, NULL )) ) {
-		vips_error( "VipsForeignSave",
-			_( "\"%s\" is not a known file format" ), filename );
-
-		return( NULL );
-	}
-
-	return( G_OBJECT_CLASS_NAME( save_class ) );
-}
-
-/* Can we write this buffer with this file type?
- */
-static void *
-vips_foreign_find_save_buffer_sub( VipsForeignSaveClass *save_class, 
-	const char *suffix )
-{
-	VipsObjectClass *object_class = VIPS_OBJECT_CLASS( save_class );
-	VipsForeignClass *class = VIPS_FOREIGN_CLASS( save_class );
-
-	if( class->suffs &&
-		vips_ispostfix( object_class->nickname, "_buffer" ) &&
-		vips_filename_suffix_match( suffix, class->suffs ) )
-		return( save_class );
-
-	return( NULL );
-}
-
-/**
- * vips_foreign_find_save_buffer:
- * @suffix: name to find a saver for
- *
- * Searches for an operation you could use to write to a buffer in @suffix
- * format. 
- *
- * @filename may not contain embedded options. See
- * vips_foreign_find_save_options() if your filename may have options in.
- *
- * See also: vips_foreign_save_buffer().
- *
- * Returns: the name of an operation on success, %NULL on error
- */
-const char *
-vips_foreign_find_save_buffer( const char *suffix )
-{
-	VipsForeignSaveClass *save_class;
-
-	if( !(save_class = (VipsForeignSaveClass *) vips_foreign_map( 
-		"VipsForeignSave",
-		(VipsSListMap2Fn) vips_foreign_find_save_buffer_sub, 
-		(void *) suffix, NULL )) ) {
-		vips_error( "VipsForeignSave",
-			_( "\"%s\" is not a known file format" ), suffix );
-
-		return( NULL );
-	}
-
-	return( G_OBJECT_CLASS_NAME( save_class ) );
-}
-
-/**
- * vips_foreign_find_save_options:
- * @filename: name to find a saver for
- *
- * Searches for an operation you could use to write to @filename.
- *
- * @filename may contain embedded options. See
- * vips_foreign_find_save() if your filename does not have options in.
- *
- * See also: vips_foreign_write().
- *
- * Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
- */
-const char *
-vips_foreign_find_save_options( const char *filename )
-{
-	VipsObjectClass *oclass = g_type_class_ref( VIPS_TYPE_FOREIGN_SAVE );
-	VipsObject *object;
-	const char *type_name;
-
-	/* This will use vips_foreign_save_new_from_string() to pick a saver,
-	 * then set options from the tail of the filename. This is rather slow
-	 * :-( 
-	 */
-	if( !(object = vips_object_new_from_string( oclass, filename )) )
-		return( NULL );
-
-	type_name = G_OBJECT_TYPE_NAME( object );
-
-	g_object_unref( object );
-
-	return( type_name );
-}
-
 static VipsObject *
 vips_foreign_save_new_from_string( const char *string )
 {
@@ -1533,72 +1455,52 @@ vips_foreign_save_init( VipsForeignSave *object )
 {
 }
 
-/**
- * vips_foreign_load:
- * @filename: file to load
- * @out: output image
- * @...: %NULL-terminated list of optional named arguments
- *
- * Loads @filename into @out using the loader recommended by
- * vips_foreign_find_load().
- *
- * See also: vips_foreign_save(), vips_foreign_load_options().
- *
- * Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
+/* Can we write this filename with this file? 
  */
-int
-vips_foreign_load( const char *filename, VipsImage **out, ... )
+static void *
+vips_foreign_find_save_sub( VipsForeignSaveClass *save_class, 
+	const char *filename )
 {
-	const char *operation;
-	va_list ap;
-	int result;
+	VipsForeignClass *class = VIPS_FOREIGN_CLASS( save_class );
 
-	if( !(operation = vips_foreign_find_load( filename )) )
-		return( -1 );
+	if( class->suffs &&
+		vips_filename_suffix_match( filename, class->suffs ) )
+		return( save_class );
 
-	va_start( ap, out );
-	result = vips_call_split( operation, ap, filename, out );
-	va_end( ap );
-
-	return( result );
+	return( NULL );
 }
 
 /**
- * vips_foreign_load_buffer:
- * @buf: start of memory buffer
- * @len: length of memory buffer
- * @out: output image
- * @...: %NULL-terminated list of optional named arguments
+ * vips_foreign_find_save:
+ * @filename: name to find a saver for
  *
- * Loads @buf, @len into @out using the loader recommended by
- * vips_foreign_find_load_buffer().
+ * Searches for an operation you could use to write to @filename.
+ * Any trailing options on @filename are stripped and ignored. 
  *
- * See also: vips_foreign_save(), vips_foreign_load_options().
+ * See also: vips_foreign_save().
  *
- * Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
+ * Returns: the name of an operation on success, %NULL on error
  */
-int
-vips_foreign_load_buffer( void *buf, size_t len, VipsImage **out, ... )
+const char *
+vips_foreign_find_save( const char *name )
 {
-	const char *operation;
-	VipsArea *area;
-	va_list ap;
-	int result;
+	char filename[VIPS_PATH_MAX];
+	char option_string[VIPS_PATH_MAX];
+	VipsForeignSaveClass *save_class;
 
-	if( !(operation = vips_foreign_find_load_buffer( buf, len )) )
-		return( -1 );
+	vips__filename_split8( name, filename, option_string );
 
-	/* We don't take a copy of the data or free it.
-	 */
-	area = vips_area_new_blob( NULL, buf, len );
+	if( !(save_class = (VipsForeignSaveClass *) vips_foreign_map( 
+		"VipsForeignSave",
+		(VipsSListMap2Fn) vips_foreign_find_save_sub, 
+		(void *) filename, NULL )) ) {
+		vips_error( "VipsForeignSave",
+			_( "\"%s\" is not a known file format" ), name );
 
-	va_start( ap, out );
-	result = vips_call_split( operation, ap, area, out );
-	va_end( ap );
+		return( NULL );
+	}
 
-	vips_area_unref( area );
-
-	return( result );
+	return( G_OBJECT_CLASS_NAME( save_class ) );
 }
 
 /**
@@ -1616,22 +1518,77 @@ vips_foreign_load_buffer( void *buf, size_t len, VipsImage **out, ... )
  * Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
  */
 int
-vips_foreign_save( VipsImage *in, const char *filename, ... )
+vips_foreign_save( VipsImage *in, const char *name, ... )
 {
-	const char *operation;
+	char filename[VIPS_PATH_MAX];
+	char option_string[VIPS_PATH_MAX];
+	const char *operation_name;
 	va_list ap;
 	int result;
 
-	if( !(operation = vips_foreign_find_save( filename )) )
+	vips__filename_split8( name, filename, option_string );
+
+	if( !(operation_name = vips_foreign_find_save( filename )) )
 		return( -1 );
 
-	va_start( ap, filename );
-	result = vips_call_split( operation, ap, in, filename );
+	va_start( ap, name );
+	result = vips_call_split_option_string( operation_name, option_string, 
+		ap, in, filename );
 	va_end( ap );
 
 	return( result );
 }
 
+/* Can we write this buffer with this file type?
+ */
+static void *
+vips_foreign_find_save_buffer_sub( VipsForeignSaveClass *save_class, 
+	const char *suffix )
+{
+	VipsObjectClass *object_class = VIPS_OBJECT_CLASS( save_class );
+	VipsForeignClass *class = VIPS_FOREIGN_CLASS( save_class );
+
+	if( class->suffs &&
+		vips_ispostfix( object_class->nickname, "_buffer" ) &&
+		vips_filename_suffix_match( suffix, class->suffs ) )
+		return( save_class );
+
+	return( NULL );
+}
+
+/**
+ * vips_foreign_find_save_buffer:
+ * @suffix: name to find a saver for
+ *
+ * Searches for an operation you could use to write to a buffer in @suffix
+ * format. 
+ *
+ * See also: vips_foreign_save_buffer().
+ *
+ * Returns: the name of an operation on success, %NULL on error
+ */
+const char *
+vips_foreign_find_save_buffer( const char *name )
+{
+	char suffix[VIPS_PATH_MAX];
+	char option_string[VIPS_PATH_MAX];
+	VipsForeignSaveClass *save_class;
+
+	vips__filename_split8( name, suffix, option_string );
+
+	if( !(save_class = (VipsForeignSaveClass *) vips_foreign_map( 
+		"VipsForeignSave",
+		(VipsSListMap2Fn) vips_foreign_find_save_buffer_sub, 
+		(void *) suffix, NULL )) ) {
+		vips_error( "VipsForeignSave",
+			_( "\"%s\" is not a known file format" ), name );
+
+		return( NULL );
+	}
+
+	return( G_OBJECT_CLASS_NAME( save_class ) );
+}
+
 /**
  * vips_foreign_save_buffer:
  * @in: image to write
@@ -1651,66 +1608,26 @@ vips_foreign_save( VipsImage *in, const char *filename, ... )
  */
 int
 vips_foreign_save_buffer( VipsImage *in, 
-	const char *suffix, void **buf, size_t *len, 
+	const char *name, void **buf, size_t *len, 
 	... )
 {
-	char str[VIPS_PATH_MAX];
-	char *p;
+	char suffix[VIPS_PATH_MAX];
+	char option_string[VIPS_PATH_MAX];
 	const char *operation_name;
-	VipsOperation *operation;
 	VipsArea *area;
 	va_list ap;
 	int result;
 
-	/* Take any [options] off the suffix.
-	 */
-	vips_strncpy( str, suffix, VIPS_PATH_MAX );
-	if( (p = (char *) vips__find_rightmost_brackets( str )) )
-		*p = '\0';
+	vips__filename_split8( name, suffix, option_string );
 
-	if( !(operation_name = vips_foreign_find_save_buffer( str )) )
+	if( !(operation_name = vips_foreign_find_save_buffer( suffix )) )
 		return( -1 );
 
-	if( !(operation = vips_operation_new( operation_name )) )
-		return( -1 );
-
-	g_object_set( operation, "in", in, NULL );
-
-	/* Now set any operation args from the options list.
-	 */
-	if( (p = (char *) vips__find_rightmost_brackets( suffix )) &&
-		vips_object_set_from_string( VIPS_OBJECT( operation ), p ) ) {
-		vips_object_unref_outputs( VIPS_OBJECT( operation ) );
-		g_object_unref( operation ); 
-		return( -1 ); 
-	}
-
-	/* Set any from varargs.
-	 */
 	va_start( ap, len );
-	result = vips_object_set_valist( VIPS_OBJECT( operation ), ap );
+	result = vips_call_split_option_string( operation_name, option_string, 
+		ap, in, &area );
 	va_end( ap );
 
-	if( result ) {
-		vips_object_unref_outputs( VIPS_OBJECT( operation ) );
-		g_object_unref( operation ); 
-		return( -1 ); 
-	}
-
-	if( vips_cache_operation_buildp( &operation ) ) {
-		vips_object_unref_outputs( VIPS_OBJECT( operation ) );
-		g_object_unref( operation ); 
-		return( -1 );
-	}
-
-	g_object_get( operation, "buffer", &area, NULL );
-
-	/* Getting @buffer will have upped its count so it'll be safe.
-	 * We can junk all other outputs,
-	 */
-	vips_object_unref_outputs( VIPS_OBJECT( operation ) );
-	g_object_unref( operation ); 
-
 	if( area ) { 
 		if( buf ) {
 			*buf = area->data;
@@ -1722,124 +1639,7 @@ vips_foreign_save_buffer( VipsImage *in,
 		vips_area_unref( area );
 	}
 
-	return( 0 );
-}
-
-/**
- * vips_foreign_load_options:
- * @filename: file to load
- * @out: output image
- * @...: %NULL-terminated list of optional named arguments
- *
- * Loads @filename into @out using the loader recommended by
- * vips_foreign_find_load().
- *
- * Arguments to the loader may be embedded in the filename using the usual
- * syntax. They may also be given as a set of NULL-terminated optional
- * arguments.
- *
- * See also: vips_foreign_load().
- *
- * Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
- */
-int
-vips_foreign_load_options( const char *filename, VipsImage **out, ... )
-{
-	VipsObjectClass *oclass = g_type_class_ref( VIPS_TYPE_FOREIGN_LOAD );
-
-	VipsObject *object;
-	va_list ap;
-	int result;
-
-	/* This will use vips_foreign_load_new_from_string() to pick a loader,
-	 * then set options from the remains of the string.
-	 */
-	if( !(object = vips_object_new_from_string( oclass, filename )) )
-		return( -1 );
-
-	/* Also set options from args.
-	 */
-	va_start( ap, out );
-	result = vips_object_set_valist( object, ap );
-	va_end( ap );
-	if( result )
-		return( -1 );
-
-	if( vips_cache_operation_buildp( (VipsOperation **) &object ) ) {
-		/* The build may have made some output objects before
-		 * failing.
-		 */
-		vips_object_unref_outputs( object );
-		g_object_unref( object );
-		return( -1 );
-	}
-
-	g_object_get( object, "out", out, NULL );
-
-	/* Getting @out will have upped its count so it'll be safe.
-	 * We can junk all other outputs,
-	 */
-	vips_object_unref_outputs( object );
-
-	/* @out holds a ref to new_object, we can drop ours.
-	 */
-	g_object_unref( object );
-
-	return( 0 );
-}
-
-/**
- * vips_foreign_save_options:
- * @in: image to write
- * @filename: file to write to
- * @...: %NULL-terminated list of optional named arguments
- *
- * Saves @in to @filename using the saver recommended by
- * vips_foreign_find_save(). 
- *
- * Arguments to the saver may be embedded in the filename using the usual
- * syntax. They may also be given as a set of NULL-terminated optional
- * arguments.
- *
- * See also: vips_foreign_save().
- *
- * Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
- */
-int
-vips_foreign_save_options( VipsImage *in, const char *filename, ... )
-{
-	VipsObjectClass *oclass = g_type_class_ref( VIPS_TYPE_FOREIGN_SAVE );
-
-	VipsObject *object;
-	va_list ap;
-	int result;
-
-	/* This will use vips_foreign_save_new_from_string() to pick a saver,
-	 * then set options from the tail of the filename.
-	 */
-	if( !(object = vips_object_new_from_string( oclass, filename )) )
-		return( -1 );
-
-	g_object_set( object, "in", in, NULL );
-
-	/* Also set options from args.
-	 */
-	va_start( ap, filename );
-	result = vips_object_set_valist( object, ap );
-	va_end( ap );
-	if( result )
-		return( -1 );
-
-	/* ... and running _build() should save it.
-	 */
-	if( vips_cache_operation_buildp( (VipsOperation **) &object ) ) {
-		g_object_unref( object );
-		return( -1 );
-	}
-
-	g_object_unref( object );
-
-	return( 0 );
+	return( result );
 }
 
 /* Called from iofuncs to init all operations in this dir. Use a plugin system
diff --git a/libvips/include/vips/foreign.h b/libvips/include/vips/foreign.h
index 489c93a7..118396ee 100644
--- a/libvips/include/vips/foreign.h
+++ b/libvips/include/vips/foreign.h
@@ -215,7 +215,6 @@ GType vips_foreign_load_get_type( void );
 
 const char *vips_foreign_find_load( const char *filename );
 const char *vips_foreign_find_load_buffer( void *buf, size_t len );
-const char *vips_foreign_find_load_options( const char *filename );
 
 VipsForeignFlags vips_foreign_flags( const char *loader, const char *filename );
 gboolean vips_foreign_is_a( const char *loader, const char *filename );
@@ -309,7 +308,6 @@ GType vips_foreign_save_get_type( void );
 
 const char *vips_foreign_find_save( const char *filename );
 const char * vips_foreign_find_save_buffer( const char *suffix );
-const char *vips_foreign_find_save_options( const char *filename );
 
 /* Read/write an image convenience functions.
  */
@@ -318,12 +316,8 @@ int vips_foreign_load( const char *filename, VipsImage **out, ... )
 int vips_foreign_save( VipsImage *in, const char *filename, ... )
 	__attribute__((sentinel));
 
-int vips_foreign_load_options( const char *filename, VipsImage **out, ... )
-	__attribute__((sentinel));
-int vips_foreign_save_options( VipsImage *in, const char *filename, ... )
-	__attribute__((sentinel));
-
-int vips_foreign_load_buffer( void *buf, size_t len, VipsImage **out, ... )
+int vips_foreign_load_buffer( void *buf, size_t len, const char *option_string, 
+	VipsImage **out, ... )
 	__attribute__((sentinel));
 int vips_foreign_save_buffer( VipsImage *in, 
 	const char *suffix, void **buf, size_t *len, ... )
diff --git a/libvips/include/vips/operation.h b/libvips/include/vips/operation.h
index e9697e61..0afb9a9d 100644
--- a/libvips/include/vips/operation.h
+++ b/libvips/include/vips/operation.h
@@ -104,6 +104,8 @@ VipsOperation *vips_operation_new( const char *name );
 int vips_call( const char *operation_name, ... )
 	__attribute__((sentinel));
 int vips_call_split( const char *operation_name, va_list optional, ... );
+int vips_call_split_option_string( const char *operation_name, 
+	const char *option_string, va_list optional, ... );
 
 void vips_call_options( GOptionGroup *group, VipsOperation *operation );
 int vips_call_argv( VipsOperation *operation, int argc, char **argv );
diff --git a/libvips/include/vips/util.h b/libvips/include/vips/util.h
index 152bcb2c..4bd3f069 100644
--- a/libvips/include/vips/util.h
+++ b/libvips/include/vips/util.h
@@ -257,6 +257,8 @@ const char *vips__token_must( const char *buffer, VipsToken *token,
 const char *vips__token_need( const char *buffer, VipsToken need_token, 
 	char *string, int size );
 const char *vips__find_rightmost_brackets( const char *p );
+void vips__filename_split8( const char *name, 
+	char *filename, char *option_string );
 
 int vips_ispoweroftwo( int p );
 int vips_amiMSBfirst( void );
diff --git a/libvips/iofuncs/error.c b/libvips/iofuncs/error.c
index ac35d22f..6ce54362 100644
--- a/libvips/iofuncs/error.c
+++ b/libvips/iofuncs/error.c
@@ -431,7 +431,7 @@ vips_info( const char *domain, const char *fmt, ... )
  * @ap: arguments to the format string
  *
  * Sends a formatted warning message to stderr. If you define the
- * environment variable IM_WARNING, these message are surpressed.
+ * environment variable VIPS_WARNING, these message are surpressed.
  *
  * Warning messages are used to report things like overflow counts.
  *
@@ -440,7 +440,8 @@ vips_info( const char *domain, const char *fmt, ... )
 void 
 vips_vwarn( const char *domain, const char *fmt, va_list ap )
 {	
-	if( !g_getenv( "IM_WARNING" ) ) {
+	if( !g_getenv( "IM_WARNING" ) &&
+		!g_getenv( "VIPS_WARNING" ) ) {
 		g_mutex_lock( vips__global_lock );
 		(void) fprintf( stderr, _( "%s: " ), _( "vips warning" ) );
 		if( domain )
diff --git a/libvips/iofuncs/image.c b/libvips/iofuncs/image.c
index d274d83e..5a70ddc5 100644
--- a/libvips/iofuncs/image.c
+++ b/libvips/iofuncs/image.c
@@ -670,7 +670,7 @@ vips_image_rewind( VipsObject *object )
 static void
 vips_image_save_cb( VipsImage *image, int *result )
 {
-	if( vips_foreign_save_options( image, image->filename, NULL ) )
+	if( vips_foreign_save( image, image->filename, NULL ) )
 		*result = -1;
 }
 
@@ -737,6 +737,7 @@ static void
 vips_image_add_progress( VipsImage *image )
 {
 	if( vips__progress || 
+		g_getenv( "VIPS_PROGRESS" ) ||
 		g_getenv( "IM_PROGRESS" ) ) {
 
 		/* Keep the %complete we displayed last time here.
@@ -825,14 +826,13 @@ vips_image_build( VipsObject *object )
 			VipsImage *t;
 
 			if( mode[1] == 's' ) {
-				if( vips_foreign_load_options( filename, &t, 
+				if( vips_foreign_load( filename, &t, 
 					"access", VIPS_ACCESS_SEQUENTIAL,
 					NULL ) )
 					return( -1 );
 			}
 			else {
-				if( vips_foreign_load_options( filename, &t, 
-					NULL ) )
+				if( vips_foreign_load( filename, &t, NULL ) )
 					return( -1 );
 			}
 
@@ -855,7 +855,7 @@ vips_image_build( VipsObject *object )
 		 */
 		g_assert( g_type_from_name( "VipsForeignSaveVips" ) );
 
-		if( !(file_op = vips_foreign_find_save_options( filename )) )
+		if( !(file_op = vips_foreign_find_save( filename )) )
 			return( -1 );
 
 		/* If this is the vips saver, just save directly ourselves.
@@ -1579,7 +1579,7 @@ vips_image_new( void )
  *	 location for the temporary file.
  *
  *	 The disc threshold can be set with the "--vips-disc-threshold"
- *	 command-line argument, or the IM_DISC_THRESHOLD environment variable.
+ *	 command-line argument, or the VIPS_DISC_THRESHOLD environment variable.
  *	 The value is a simple integer, but can take a unit postfix of "k", 
  *	 "m" or "g" to indicate kilobytes, megabytes or gigabytes.
  *
diff --git a/libvips/iofuncs/init.c b/libvips/iofuncs/init.c
index c0f80d15..9325f90d 100644
--- a/libvips/iofuncs/init.c
+++ b/libvips/iofuncs/init.c
@@ -246,7 +246,8 @@ vips__init( const char *argv0 )
 
 	/* Default info setting from env.
 	 */
-	if( g_getenv( "IM_INFO" ) ) 
+	if( g_getenv( "VIPS_INFO" ) || 
+		g_getenv( "IM_INFO" ) ) 
 		vips__info = 1;
 
 	/* Register base vips types.
diff --git a/libvips/iofuncs/object.c b/libvips/iofuncs/object.c
index 70cf40eb..5808da98 100644
--- a/libvips/iofuncs/object.c
+++ b/libvips/iofuncs/object.c
@@ -1672,8 +1672,7 @@ vips_object_set_argument_from_string( VipsObject *object,
 			return( -1 );
 		}
 
-		/* Read the filename. vips_foreign_load_options()
-		 * handles embedded options.
+		/* Read the filename. 
 		 */
 		if( flags & VIPS_OPERATION_SEQUENTIAL_UNBUFFERED ) 
 			access = VIPS_ACCESS_SEQUENTIAL_UNBUFFERED;
@@ -1682,7 +1681,7 @@ vips_object_set_argument_from_string( VipsObject *object,
 		else
 			access = VIPS_ACCESS_RANDOM; 
 
-		if( vips_foreign_load_options( value, &out, 
+		if( vips_foreign_load( value, &out, 
 			"access", access,
 			NULL ) )
 			return( -1 );
@@ -1906,10 +1905,9 @@ vips_object_get_argument_to_string( VipsObject *object,
 		VipsImage *in;
 
 		/* Pull out the image and write it.
-		 * vips_foreign_save_options() handles embedded options.
 		 */
 		g_object_get( object, name, &in, NULL );
-		if( vips_foreign_save_options( in, arg, NULL ) ) {
+		if( vips_foreign_save( in, arg, NULL ) ) {
 			g_object_unref( in );
 			return( -1 );
 		}
@@ -2090,10 +2088,18 @@ vips_object_set_args( VipsObject *object, const char *p )
 		string, VIPS_PATH_MAX )) )
 		return( -1 );
 
-	do {
-		if( !(p = vips__token_need( p, VIPS_TOKEN_STRING,
-			string, VIPS_PATH_MAX )) )
+	if( !(p = vips__token_must( p, &token, string, VIPS_PATH_MAX )) )
+		return( -1 );
+
+	for(;;) {
+		if( token == VIPS_TOKEN_RIGHT )
+			break;
+		if( token != VIPS_TOKEN_STRING ) {
+			vips_error( class->nickname,
+				_( "expected string or ), saw %s" ), 
+				vips_enum_nick( VIPS_TYPE_TOKEN, token ) );
 			return( -1 );
+		}
 
 		/* We have to look for a '=', ')' or a ',' to see if string is
 		 * a param name or a value.
@@ -2136,14 +2142,19 @@ vips_object_set_args( VipsObject *object, const char *p )
 			return( -1 );
 		}
 
-		/* Now must be a , or a ).
+		/* Now must be a , or a ). 
 		 */
-		if( token != VIPS_TOKEN_RIGHT && token != VIPS_TOKEN_COMMA ) {
+		if( token == VIPS_TOKEN_COMMA ) {
+			if( !(p = vips__token_must( p, &token, 
+				string, VIPS_PATH_MAX )) )
+				return( -1 );
+		}
+		else if( token != VIPS_TOKEN_RIGHT ) {
 			vips_error( class->nickname,
 				"%s", _( "not , or ) after parameter" ) );
 			return( -1 );
 		}
-	} while( token != VIPS_TOKEN_RIGHT );
+	}
 
 	if( (p = vips__token_get( p, &token, string, VIPS_PATH_MAX )) ) {
 		vips_error( class->nickname,
diff --git a/libvips/iofuncs/operation.c b/libvips/iofuncs/operation.c
index 932c9036..de2d2215 100644
--- a/libvips/iofuncs/operation.c
+++ b/libvips/iofuncs/operation.c
@@ -647,6 +647,50 @@ vips_call_required_optional( VipsOperation **operation,
 	return( result );
 }
 
+static int
+vips_call_by_name( const char *operation_name, 
+	const char *option_string, va_list required, va_list optional )
+{
+	VipsOperation *operation;
+	int result;
+
+	VIPS_DEBUG_MSG( "vips_call_by_name: starting for %s ...\n", 
+		operation_name );
+
+	if( !(operation = vips_operation_new( operation_name )) )
+		return( -1 );
+
+	/* Set str options before vargs options, so the user can't override
+	 * thnigs we set deliberately.
+	 */
+	if( option_string &&
+		vips_object_set_from_string( VIPS_OBJECT( operation ), 
+			option_string ) ) {
+		vips_object_unref_outputs( VIPS_OBJECT( operation ) );
+		g_object_unref( operation ); 
+
+		return( -1 ); 
+	}
+
+	result = vips_call_required_optional( &operation, required, optional );
+
+	/* Build failed: junk args and back out.
+	 */
+	if( result ) {
+		vips_object_unref_outputs( VIPS_OBJECT( operation ) );
+		g_object_unref( operation );
+
+		return( -1 );
+	}
+
+	/* The operation we have built should now have been reffed by one of 
+	 * its arguments or have finished its work. Either way, we can unref.
+	 */
+	g_object_unref( operation );
+
+	return( result );
+}
+
 int
 vips_call( const char *operation_name, ... )
 {
@@ -655,16 +699,9 @@ vips_call( const char *operation_name, ... )
 	va_list required;
 	va_list optional;
 
-	VIPS_DEBUG_MSG( "vips_call: starting for %s ...\n", operation_name );
-
 	if( !(operation = vips_operation_new( operation_name ) ) )
 		return( -1 );
 
-#ifdef VIPS_DEBUG
-	VIPS_DEBUG_MSG( "where:\n" );
-	vips_object_print_dump( VIPS_OBJECT( operation ) );
-#endif /*VIPS_DEBUG*/
-
 	/* We have to break the va_list into separate required and optional 
 	 * components.
 	 *
@@ -690,58 +727,43 @@ vips_call( const char *operation_name, ... )
 		}
 	} VIPS_ARGUMENT_FOR_ALL_END
 
-	result = vips_call_required_optional( &operation, required, optional );
+	/* We just needed this operation for the arg loop.
+	 */
+	g_object_unref( operation ); 
+
+	result = vips_call_by_name( operation_name, NULL, required, optional ); 
 
 	va_end( required );
 	va_end( optional );
 
-	/* Failed: junk args and back out.
-	 */
-	if( result ) {
-		vips_object_unref_outputs( VIPS_OBJECT( operation ) );
-		g_object_unref( operation );
-
-		return( -1 );
-	}
-
-	/* The operation we have built should now have been reffed by one of 
-	 * its arguments or have finished its work. Either way, we can unref.
-	 */
-	g_object_unref( operation );
-
 	return( result );
 }
 
 int
 vips_call_split( const char *operation_name, va_list optional, ... ) 
 {
-	VipsOperation *operation;
 	int result;
 	va_list required;
 
-	VIPS_DEBUG_MSG( "vips_call_split: starting for %s ...\n", 
-		operation_name );
-
-	if( !(operation = vips_operation_new( operation_name )) )
-		return( -1 );
-
 	va_start( required, optional );
-	result = vips_call_required_optional( &operation, required, optional );
+	result = vips_call_by_name( operation_name, NULL, 
+		required, optional );
 	va_end( required );
 
-	/* Build failed: junk args and back out.
-	 */
-	if( result ) {
-		vips_object_unref_outputs( VIPS_OBJECT( operation ) );
-		g_object_unref( operation );
+	return( result );
+}
 
-		return( -1 );
-	}
+int
+vips_call_split_option_string( const char *operation_name, 
+	const char *option_string, va_list optional, ... ) 
+{
+	int result;
+	va_list required;
 
-	/* The operation we have built should now have been reffed by one of 
-	 * its arguments or have finished its work. Either way, we can unref.
-	 */
-	g_object_unref( operation );
+	va_start( required, optional );
+	result = vips_call_by_name( operation_name, option_string, 
+		required, optional );
+	va_end( required );
 
 	return( result );
 }
diff --git a/libvips/iofuncs/threadpool.c b/libvips/iofuncs/threadpool.c
index 4dadc89a..4d3ae6a3 100644
--- a/libvips/iofuncs/threadpool.c
+++ b/libvips/iofuncs/threadpool.c
@@ -82,14 +82,10 @@
  */
 
 /* Maximum number of concurrent threads we allow. No reason for the limit,
- * it's just there to stop mad values for IM_CONCURRENCY killing the system.
+ * it's just there to stop mad values for VIPS_CONCURRENCY killing the system.
  */
 #define MAX_THREADS (1024)
 
-/* Name of environment variable we get concurrency level from.
- */
-#define IM_CONCURRENCY "IM_CONCURRENCY"
-
 /* Default tile geometry ... can be set by init_world.
  */
 int vips__tile_width = VIPS__TILE_WIDTH;
@@ -218,7 +214,7 @@ vips_g_thread_new( const char *domain, GThreadFunc func, gpointer data )
  * #VipsThreadPool. 
  *
  * The special value 0 means "default". In this case, the number of threads is
- * set by the environmnt variable IM_CONCURRENCY, or if that is not set, the
+ * set by the environmnt variable VIPS_CONCURRENCY, or if that is not set, the
  * number of threads availble on the hist machine. 
  *
  * See also: vips_concurrency_get().
@@ -305,9 +301,9 @@ get_num_processors( void )
  * "--vips-concurrency" to set this value.
  *
  * If vips_concurrency_set() has not been called and no command-line argument
- * was used, vips uses the value of the environment variable IM_CONCURRENCY,
+ * was used, vips uses the value of the environment variable VIPS_CONCURRENCY,
  *
- * If IM_CONCURRENCY has not been set, vips find the number of hardware
+ * If VIPS_CONCURRENCY has not been set, vips find the number of hardware
  * threads that the host machine can run in parallel and uses that value. 
  *
  * The final value is clipped to the range 1 - 1024.
@@ -327,7 +323,8 @@ vips_concurrency_get( void )
 	 */
 	if( vips__concurrency > 0 )
 		nthr = vips__concurrency;
-	else if( (str = g_getenv( IM_CONCURRENCY )) && 
+	else if( ((str = g_getenv( "VIPS_CONCURRENCY" )) ||
+		(str = g_getenv( "IM_CONCURRENCY" ))) && 
 		(x = atoi( str )) > 0 )
 		nthr = x;
 	else 
diff --git a/libvips/iofuncs/util.c b/libvips/iofuncs/util.c
index 59ebc04d..c8840010 100644
--- a/libvips/iofuncs/util.c
+++ b/libvips/iofuncs/util.c
@@ -1428,6 +1428,24 @@ vips__find_rightmost_brackets( const char *p )
 	return( start[i] );
 }
 
+/* Split a vips8-style filename + options.
+ *
+ * filename and options must be VIPS_PATH_MAX in length. 
+ */
+void
+vips__filename_split8( const char *name, char *filename, char *option_string )
+{
+	char *p;
+
+	vips_strncpy( filename, name, VIPS_PATH_MAX );
+	if( (p = (char *) vips__find_rightmost_brackets( filename )) ) {
+		vips_strncpy( option_string, p, VIPS_PATH_MAX );
+		*p = '\0';
+	}
+	else
+		vips_strncpy( option_string, "", VIPS_PATH_MAX );
+}
+
 /* True if an int is a power of two ... 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, etc. Do with just
  * integer arithmetic for portability. A previous Nicos version using doubles
  * and log/log failed on x86 with rounding problems. Return 0 for not
diff --git a/libvips/iofuncs/vector.c b/libvips/iofuncs/vector.c
index 6c772e65..565973f1 100644
--- a/libvips/iofuncs/vector.c
+++ b/libvips/iofuncs/vector.c
@@ -77,7 +77,8 @@ vips_vector_init( void )
 	/* Look for the environment variable IM_NOVECTOR and use that to turn
 	 * off as well.
 	 */
-	if( g_getenv( "IM_NOVECTOR" ) ) 
+	if( g_getenv( "VIPS_NOVECTOR" ) || 
+		g_getenv( "IM_NOVECTOR" ) ) 
 		vips__vector_enabled = FALSE;
 #endif /*HAVE_ORC*/
 }
diff --git a/libvips/morphology/hitmiss.c b/libvips/morphology/hitmiss.c
index 093b5ea4..fdbe4584 100644
--- a/libvips/morphology/hitmiss.c
+++ b/libvips/morphology/hitmiss.c
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@
  */
 
 /*
+#define DEBUG_VERBOSE
 #define DEBUG
  */
 
@@ -208,8 +209,14 @@ pass_compile_section( Pass *pass, Morph *morph, gboolean first_pass )
 			ASM3( "orb", "sum", "sum", "value" );
 		}
 		else {
-			if( !mask->coeff[i] ) 
-				ASM3( "andnb", "sum", "sum", "value" );
+			if( !mask->coeff[i] ) {
+				/* You'd think we could use andnb, but it
+				 * fails on some machines with some orc
+				 * versions :( 
+				 */
+				ASM3( "xorb", "value", "value", one );
+				ASM3( "andb", "sum", "sum", "value" );
+			}
 			else
 				ASM3( "andb", "sum", "sum", "value" );
 		}
@@ -454,10 +461,10 @@ dilate_gen( REGION *or, void *vseq, void *a, void *b )
 	if( im_prepare( ir, &s ) )
 		return( -1 );
 
-#ifdef DEBUG
+#ifdef DEBUG_VERBOSE
 	printf( "dilate_gen: preparing %dx%d@%dx%d pixels\n", 
 		s.width, s.height, s.left, s.top );
-#endif /*DEBUG*/
+#endif /*DEBUG_VERBOSE*/
 
 	/* Scan mask, building offsets we check when processing. Only do this
 	 * if the bpl has changed since the previous im_prepare().
@@ -566,10 +573,10 @@ erode_gen( REGION *or, void *vseq, void *a, void *b )
 	if( im_prepare( ir, &s ) )
 		return( -1 );
 
-#ifdef DEBUG
+#ifdef DEBUG_VERBOSE
 	printf( "erode_gen: preparing %dx%d@%dx%d pixels\n", 
 		s.width, s.height, s.left, s.top );
-#endif /*DEBUG*/
+#endif /*DEBUG_VERBOSE*/
 
 	/* Scan mask, building offsets we check when processing. Only do this
 	 * if the bpl has changed since the previous im_prepare().
@@ -665,10 +672,10 @@ morph_vector_gen( REGION *or, void *vseq, void *a, void *b )
 	if( im_prepare( ir, &s ) )
 		return( -1 );
 
-#ifdef DEBUG
+#ifdef DEBUG_VERBOSE
 	printf( "morph_vector_gen: preparing %dx%d@%dx%d pixels\n", 
 		s.width, s.height, s.left, s.top );
-#endif /*DEBUG*/
+#endif /*DEBUG_VERBOSE*/
 
 	for( j = 0; j < morph->n_pass; j++ ) 
 		vips_executor_set_program( &executor[j],