diff --git a/image.hpp b/image.hpp
index 713ea646..cfd0d7ef 100644
--- a/image.hpp
+++ b/image.hpp
@@ -49,7 +49,6 @@ namespace util { namespace image {
         buffer<T> downsample (float factor) const;
 
         //---------------------------------------------------------------------
-        constexpr size_t area (void) const;
         constexpr extent2u extent (void) const;
 
         constexpr bool is_packed (void) const;
diff --git a/image.ipp b/image.ipp
index d8e6d60b..4709a1ce 100644
--- a/image.ipp
+++ b/image.ipp
@@ -20,15 +20,6 @@
 #define __UTIL_IMAGE_IPP
 
 namespace util { namespace image {
-    //-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-    template <typename T>
-    constexpr size_t
-    buffer<T>::area (void) const
-    {
-        return w * h;
-    }
-
-
     //-------------------------------------------------------------------------
     template <typename T>
     constexpr extent2u
diff --git a/tools/noise.cpp b/tools/noise.cpp
index 0b6971de..fca20524 100644
--- a/tools/noise.cpp
+++ b/tools/noise.cpp
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ hydraulic_erode (util::image::buffer<float> &height, const unsigned ticks)
             }
 
         // evaporate water, deposit sediment
-        for (size_t i = 0; i < water.area (); ++i) {
+        for (size_t i = 0; i < water.extent ().area (); ++i) {
             water[i]  -= EVAPORATION;
             height[i] += SOLUBILITY * EVAPORATION;
         }
@@ -107,8 +107,8 @@ hydraulic_erode (util::image::buffer<float> &height, const unsigned ticks)
     }
 
     // forcibly evaporate all remaining water.
-    CHECK_EQ (water.area (), height.area ());
-    for (size_t i = 0; i < water.area (); ++i)
+    CHECK_EQ (water.extent ().area (), height.extent ().area ());
+    for (size_t i = 0; i < water.extent ().area (); ++i)
         height[i] += water[i] * SOLUBILITY;
 }
 
@@ -252,7 +252,7 @@ adjust_ocean (util::image::buffer<float> &height,
         buckets[size_t (h * 255u)]++;
 
     size_t pivot = 0;
-    for (size_t accum = 0, target = size_t (percentage * height.area ()); pivot < buckets.size (); ++pivot) {
+    for (size_t accum = 0, target = size_t (percentage * height.extent ().area ()); pivot < buckets.size (); ++pivot) {
         accum += buckets[pivot];
         if (accum > target)
             break;