diff --git a/PIL/BdfFontFile.py b/PIL/BdfFontFile.py
index 47b5f05c8..33c237e0c 100644
--- a/PIL/BdfFontFile.py
+++ b/PIL/BdfFontFile.py
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@
 import Image
 import FontFile
 
-import string
 
 # --------------------------------------------------------------------
 # parse X Bitmap Distribution Format (BDF)
@@ -50,7 +49,7 @@ def bdf_char(f):
             return None
         if s[:9] == "STARTCHAR":
             break
-    id = string.strip(s[9:])
+    id = s[9:].strip()
 
     # load symbol properties
     props = {}
@@ -58,7 +57,7 @@ def bdf_char(f):
         s = f.readline()
         if not s or s[:6] == "BITMAP":
             break
-        i = string.find(s, " ")
+        i = s.find(" ")
         props[s[:i]] = s[i+1:-1]
 
     # load bitmap
@@ -68,10 +67,10 @@ def bdf_char(f):
         if not s or s[:7] == "ENDCHAR":
             break
         bitmap.append(s[:-1])
-    bitmap = string.join(bitmap, "")
+    bitmap = "".join(bitmap)
 
-    [x, y, l, d] = map(int, string.split(props["BBX"]))
-    [dx, dy] = map(int, string.split(props["DWIDTH"]))
+    [x, y, l, d] = map(int, props["BBX"].split())
+    [dx, dy] = map(int, props["DWIDTH"].split())
 
     bbox = (dx, dy), (l, -d-y, x+l, -d), (0, 0, x, y)
 
@@ -103,21 +102,21 @@ class BdfFontFile(FontFile.FontFile):
             s = fp.readline()
             if not s or s[:13] == "ENDPROPERTIES":
                 break
-            i = string.find(s, " ")
+            i = s.find(" ")
             props[s[:i]] = s[i+1:-1]
             if s[:i] in ["COMMENT", "COPYRIGHT"]:
-                if string.find(s, "LogicalFontDescription") < 0:
+                if s.find("LogicalFontDescription") < 0:
                     comments.append(s[i+1:-1])
 
-        font = string.split(props["FONT"], "-")
+        font = props["FONT"].split("-")
 
-        font[4] = bdf_slant[string.upper(font[4])]
-        font[11] = bdf_spacing[string.upper(font[11])]
+        font[4] = bdf_slant[font[4].upper()]
+        font[11] = bdf_spacing[font[11].upper()]
 
         ascent = int(props["FONT_ASCENT"])
         descent = int(props["FONT_DESCENT"])
 
-        fontname = string.join(font[1:], ";")
+        fontname = ";".join(font[1:])
 
         # print "#", fontname
         # for i in comments:
diff --git a/PIL/BmpImagePlugin.py b/PIL/BmpImagePlugin.py
index 09c0a2141..c2c3f6d49 100644
--- a/PIL/BmpImagePlugin.py
+++ b/PIL/BmpImagePlugin.py
@@ -27,7 +27,6 @@
 __version__ = "0.7"
 
 
-import string
 import Image, ImageFile, ImagePalette
 
 
@@ -146,7 +145,7 @@ class BmpImageFile(ImageFile.ImageFile):
             else:
                 self.mode = "P"
                 self.palette = ImagePalette.raw(
-                    "BGR", string.join(palette, "")
+                    "BGR", "".join(palette)
                     )
 
         if not offset:
diff --git a/PIL/EpsImagePlugin.py b/PIL/EpsImagePlugin.py
index 837447bca..f304a1fe2 100644
--- a/PIL/EpsImagePlugin.py
+++ b/PIL/EpsImagePlugin.py
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 
 __version__ = "0.5"
 
-import re, string
+import re
 import Image, ImageFile
 
 #
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ def Ghostscript(tile, size, fp):
                "-sOutputFile=%s" % file,# output file
                "- >/dev/null 2>/dev/null"]
 
-    command = string.join(command)
+    command = " ".join(command)
 
     # push data through ghostscript
     try:
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ class EpsImageFile(ImageFile.ImageFile):
                         # Note: The DSC spec says that BoundingBox
                         # fields should be integers, but some drivers
                         # put floating point values there anyway.
-                        box = map(int, map(float, string.split(v)))
+                        box = map(int, map(float, v.split()))
                         self.size = box[2] - box[0], box[3] - box[1]
                         self.tile = [("eps", (0,0) + self.size, offset,
                                       (length, box))]
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ class EpsImageFile(ImageFile.ImageFile):
             if s[:11] == "%ImageData:":
 
                 [x, y, bi, mo, z3, z4, en, id] =\
-                    string.split(s[11:], maxsplit=7)
+                    s[11:].split(maxsplit=7)
 
                 x = int(x); y = int(y)
 
diff --git a/PIL/FliImagePlugin.py b/PIL/FliImagePlugin.py
index dac8c435d..94c99bcc6 100644
--- a/PIL/FliImagePlugin.py
+++ b/PIL/FliImagePlugin.py
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@
 __version__ = "0.2"
 
 import Image, ImageFile, ImagePalette
-import string
 
 
 def i16(c):
@@ -84,7 +83,7 @@ class FliImageFile(ImageFile.ImageFile):
                 self._palette(palette, 0)
 
         palette = map(lambda (r,g,b): chr(r)+chr(g)+chr(b), palette)
-        self.palette = ImagePalette.raw("RGB", string.join(palette, ""))
+        self.palette = ImagePalette.raw("RGB", "".join(palette))
 
         # set things up to decode first frame
         self.frame = -1
diff --git a/PIL/GimpGradientFile.py b/PIL/GimpGradientFile.py
index 1a850dc53..9a9f9c421 100644
--- a/PIL/GimpGradientFile.py
+++ b/PIL/GimpGradientFile.py
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@
 #
 
 from math import pi, log, sin, sqrt
-import string
 
 # --------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Stuff to translate curve segments to palette values (derived from
@@ -87,7 +86,7 @@ class GradientFile:
             # add to palette
             palette.append(r + g + b + a)
 
-        return string.join(palette, ""), "RGBA"
+        return "".join(palette), "RGBA"
 
 ##
 # File handler for GIMP's gradient format.
@@ -105,7 +104,7 @@ class GimpGradientFile(GradientFile):
 
         for i in range(count):
 
-            s = string.split(fp.readline())
+            s = fp.readline().split()
             w = map(float, s[:11])
 
             x0, x1  = w[0], w[2]
diff --git a/PIL/GimpPaletteFile.py b/PIL/GimpPaletteFile.py
index aba85b71f..b39ca7891 100644
--- a/PIL/GimpPaletteFile.py
+++ b/PIL/GimpPaletteFile.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 # See the README file for information on usage and redistribution.
 #
 
-import re, string
+import re
 
 ##
 # File handler for GIMP's palette format.
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ class GimpPaletteFile:
             if len(s) > 100:
                 raise SyntaxError, "bad palette file"
 
-            v = tuple(map(int, string.split(s)[:3]))
+            v = tuple(map(int, s.split()[:3]))
             if len(v) != 3:
                 raise ValueError, "bad palette entry"
 
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ class GimpPaletteFile:
 
             i = i + 1
 
-        self.palette = string.join(self.palette, "")
+        self.palette = "".join(self.palette)
 
 
     def getpalette(self):
diff --git a/PIL/IcnsImagePlugin.py b/PIL/IcnsImagePlugin.py
index 4d68fa232..fdfe51110 100644
--- a/PIL/IcnsImagePlugin.py
+++ b/PIL/IcnsImagePlugin.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 #
 
 import Image, ImageFile
-import string, struct
+import struct
 
 HEADERSIZE = 8
 
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ def read_32(fobj, (start, length), size):
                     "Error reading channel [%r left]" % bytesleft
                     )
             band = Image.frombuffer(
-                "L", size, string.join(data, ""), "raw", "L", 0, 1
+                "L", size, "".join(data), "raw", "L", 0, 1
                 )
             im.im.putband(band.im, band_ix)
     return {"RGB": im}
diff --git a/PIL/ImImagePlugin.py b/PIL/ImImagePlugin.py
index a76dcf04e..788a26229 100644
--- a/PIL/ImImagePlugin.py
+++ b/PIL/ImImagePlugin.py
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
 
 __version__ = "0.7"
 
-import re, string
+import re
 import Image, ImageFile, ImagePalette
 
 
@@ -158,8 +158,8 @@ class ImImageFile(ImageFile.ImageFile):
 
                 # Convert value as appropriate
                 if k in [FRAMES, SCALE, SIZE]:
-                    v = string.replace(v, "*", ",")
-                    v = tuple(map(number, string.split(v, ",")))
+                    v = v.replace("*", ",")
+                    v = tuple(map(number, v.split(",")))
                     if len(v) == 1:
                         v = v[0]
                 elif k == MODE and OPEN.has_key(v):
diff --git a/PIL/Image.py b/PIL/Image.py
index aa87fb472..8038e6481 100644
--- a/PIL/Image.py
+++ b/PIL/Image.py
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ except ImportError, v:
 import ImageMode
 import ImagePalette
 
-import os, string, sys
+import os, sys
 
 # type stuff
 from types import IntType, StringType, TupleType
@@ -544,7 +544,7 @@ class Image:
         if s < 0:
             raise RuntimeError("encoder error %d in tostring" % s)
 
-        return string.join(data, "")
+        return "".join(data)
 
     ##
     # Returns the image converted to an X11 bitmap.  This method
@@ -561,9 +561,9 @@ class Image:
         if self.mode != "1":
             raise ValueError("not a bitmap")
         data = self.tostring("xbm")
-        return string.join(["#define %s_width %d\n" % (name, self.size[0]),
+        return "".join(["#define %s_width %d\n" % (name, self.size[0]),
                 "#define %s_height %d\n"% (name, self.size[1]),
-                "static char %s_bits[] = {\n" % name, data, "};"], "")
+                "static char %s_bits[] = {\n" % name, data, "};"])
 
     ##
     # Loads this image with pixel data from a string.
@@ -1233,7 +1233,7 @@ class Image:
             palette = ImagePalette.raw(data.rawmode, data.palette)
         else:
             if not isStringType(data):
-                data = string.join(map(chr, data), "")
+                data = "".join(map(chr, data))
             palette = ImagePalette.raw(rawmode, data)
         self.mode = "P"
         self.palette = palette
@@ -1408,7 +1408,7 @@ class Image:
 
         preinit()
 
-        ext = string.lower(os.path.splitext(filename)[1])
+        ext = os.path.splitext(filename)[1].lower()
 
         if not format:
             try:
@@ -1421,10 +1421,10 @@ class Image:
                     raise KeyError(ext) # unknown extension
 
         try:
-            save_handler = SAVE[string.upper(format)]
+            save_handler = SAVE[format.upper()]
         except KeyError:
             init()
-            save_handler = SAVE[string.upper(format)] # unknown format
+            save_handler = SAVE[format.upper()] # unknown format
 
         if isStringType(fp):
             import __builtin__
@@ -2093,7 +2093,7 @@ def merge(mode, bands):
 #    reject images having another format.
 
 def register_open(id, factory, accept=None):
-    id = string.upper(id)
+    id = id.upper()
     ID.append(id)
     OPEN[id] = factory, accept
 
@@ -2105,7 +2105,7 @@ def register_open(id, factory, accept=None):
 # @param mimetype The image MIME type for this format.
 
 def register_mime(id, mimetype):
-    MIME[string.upper(id)] = mimetype
+    MIME[id.upper()] = mimetype
 
 ##
 # Registers an image save function.  This function should not be
@@ -2115,7 +2115,7 @@ def register_mime(id, mimetype):
 # @param driver A function to save images in this format.
 
 def register_save(id, driver):
-    SAVE[string.upper(id)] = driver
+    SAVE[id.upper()] = driver
 
 ##
 # Registers an image extension.  This function should not be
@@ -2125,7 +2125,7 @@ def register_save(id, driver):
 # @param extension An extension used for this format.
 
 def register_extension(id, extension):
-    EXTENSION[string.lower(extension)] = string.upper(id)
+    EXTENSION[extension.lower()] = id.upper()
 
 
 # --------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/PIL/ImageCms.py b/PIL/ImageCms.py
index b8a6dca71..d5f7b975c 100644
--- a/PIL/ImageCms.py
+++ b/PIL/ImageCms.py
@@ -770,7 +770,6 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
     # create a cheap manual from the __doc__ strings for the functions above
 
     import ImageCms
-    import string
     print __doc__
 
     for f in dir(pyCMS):
@@ -779,7 +778,7 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
 
         try:
             exec ("doc = ImageCms.%s.__doc__" %(f))
-            if string.find(doc, "pyCMS") >= 0:
+            if "pyCMS" in doc:
                 # so we don't get the __doc__ string for imported modules
                 print doc
         except AttributeError:
diff --git a/PIL/ImageColor.py b/PIL/ImageColor.py
index c3cca46db..8d3354a3c 100644
--- a/PIL/ImageColor.py
+++ b/PIL/ImageColor.py
@@ -18,15 +18,8 @@
 #
 
 import Image
-import re, string
+import re
 
-try:
-    x = int("a", 16)
-except TypeError:
-    # python 1.5.2 doesn't support int(x,b)
-    str2int = string.atoi
-else:
-    str2int = int
 
 ##
 # Convert color string to RGB tuple.
@@ -43,7 +36,7 @@ def getrgb(color):
     except KeyError:
         try:
             # fall back on case-insensitive lookup
-            rgb = colormap[string.lower(color)]
+            rgb = colormap[color.lower()]
         except KeyError:
             rgb = None
     # found color in cache
@@ -56,30 +49,30 @@ def getrgb(color):
     m = re.match("#\w\w\w$", color)
     if m:
         return (
-            str2int(color[1]*2, 16),
-            str2int(color[2]*2, 16),
-            str2int(color[3]*2, 16)
+            int(color[1]*2, 16),
+            int(color[2]*2, 16),
+            int(color[3]*2, 16)
             )
     m = re.match("#\w\w\w\w\w\w$", color)
     if m:
         return (
-            str2int(color[1:3], 16),
-            str2int(color[3:5], 16),
-            str2int(color[5:7], 16)
+            int(color[1:3], 16),
+            int(color[3:5], 16),
+            int(color[5:7], 16)
             )
     m = re.match("rgb\(\s*(\d+)\s*,\s*(\d+)\s*,\s*(\d+)\s*\)$", color)
     if m:
         return (
-            str2int(m.group(1)),
-            str2int(m.group(2)),
-            str2int(m.group(3))
+            int(m.group(1)),
+            int(m.group(2)),
+            int(m.group(3))
             )
     m = re.match("rgb\(\s*(\d+)%\s*,\s*(\d+)%\s*,\s*(\d+)%\s*\)$", color)
     if m:
         return (
-            int((str2int(m.group(1)) * 255) / 100.0 + 0.5),
-            int((str2int(m.group(2)) * 255) / 100.0 + 0.5),
-            int((str2int(m.group(3)) * 255) / 100.0 + 0.5)
+            int((int(m.group(1)) * 255) / 100.0 + 0.5),
+            int((int(m.group(2)) * 255) / 100.0 + 0.5),
+            int((int(m.group(3)) * 255) / 100.0 + 0.5)
             )
     m = re.match("hsl\(\s*(\d+)\s*,\s*(\d+)%\s*,\s*(\d+)%\s*\)$", color)
     if m:
diff --git a/PIL/ImageFile.py b/PIL/ImageFile.py
index 8a97c1b5b..e093f6f56 100644
--- a/PIL/ImageFile.py
+++ b/PIL/ImageFile.py
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
 #
 
 import Image
-import traceback, string, os
+import traceback, os
 
 MAXBLOCK = 65536
 
@@ -525,4 +525,4 @@ def _safe_read(fp, size):
             break
         data.append(block)
         size = size - len(block)
-    return string.join(data, "")
+    return "".join(data)
diff --git a/PIL/ImageFont.py b/PIL/ImageFont.py
index 3ea2f2f8e..5531c8b47 100644
--- a/PIL/ImageFont.py
+++ b/PIL/ImageFont.py
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
 #
 
 import Image
-import os, string, sys
+import os, sys
 
 class _imagingft_not_installed:
     # module placeholder
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ class ImageFont:
         # read PILfont header
         if file.readline() != "PILfont\n":
             raise SyntaxError("Not a PILfont file")
-        d = string.split(file.readline(), ";")
+        d = file.readline().split(";")
         self.info = [] # FIXME: should be a dictionary
         while True:
             s = file.readline()
diff --git a/PIL/JpegImagePlugin.py b/PIL/JpegImagePlugin.py
index 933abf3c2..3c4d5bd4e 100644
--- a/PIL/JpegImagePlugin.py
+++ b/PIL/JpegImagePlugin.py
@@ -35,7 +35,6 @@
 __version__ = "0.6"
 
 import array, struct
-import string
 import Image, ImageFile
 
 def i16(c,o=0):
@@ -154,7 +153,7 @@ def SOF(self, marker):
             profile = []
             for p in self.icclist:
                 profile.append(p[14:])
-            icc_profile = string.join(profile, "")
+            icc_profile = "".join(profile)
         else:
             icc_profile = None # wrong number of fragments
         self.info["icc_profile"] = icc_profile
diff --git a/PIL/OleFileIO.py b/PIL/OleFileIO.py
index 36e598a9b..1792c9558 100644
--- a/PIL/OleFileIO.py
+++ b/PIL/OleFileIO.py
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@
 # See the README file for information on usage and redistribution.
 #
 
-import string, StringIO
+import StringIO
 
 
 def i16(c, o = 0):
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ class _OleStream(StringIO.StringIO):
             data.append(fp.read(sectorsize))
             sect = fat[sect]
 
-        data = string.join(data, "")
+        data = "".join(data)
 
         # print len(data), size
 
diff --git a/PIL/PSDraw.py b/PIL/PSDraw.py
index 7309e17b3..bc423fc8c 100644
--- a/PIL/PSDraw.py
+++ b/PIL/PSDraw.py
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@
 #
 
 import EpsImagePlugin
-import string
 
 ##
 # Simple Postscript graphics interface.
@@ -71,8 +70,8 @@ class PSDraw:
         self.fp.write("%d %d M %d %d 0 Vr\n" % box)
 
     def text(self, xy, text):
-        text = string.joinfields(string.splitfields(text, "("), "\\(")
-        text = string.joinfields(string.splitfields(text, ")"), "\\)")
+        text = "\\(".join(text.split("("))
+        text = "\\)".join(text.split(")"))
         xy = xy + (text,)
         self.fp.write("%d %d M (%s) S\n" % xy)
 
diff --git a/PIL/PaletteFile.py b/PIL/PaletteFile.py
index 3bbd91327..99098e8e9 100644
--- a/PIL/PaletteFile.py
+++ b/PIL/PaletteFile.py
@@ -13,8 +13,6 @@
 # See the README file for information on usage and redistribution.
 #
 
-import string
-
 ##
 # File handler for Teragon-style palette files.
 
@@ -37,7 +35,7 @@ class PaletteFile:
             if len(s) > 100:
                 raise SyntaxError, "bad palette file"
 
-            v = map(int, string.split(s))
+            v = map(int, s.split())
             try:
                 [i, r, g, b] = v
             except ValueError:
@@ -47,7 +45,7 @@ class PaletteFile:
             if 0 <= i <= 255:
                 self.palette[i] = chr(r) + chr(g) + chr(b)
 
-        self.palette = string.join(self.palette, "")
+        self.palette = "".join(self.palette)
 
 
     def getpalette(self):
diff --git a/PIL/PcfFontFile.py b/PIL/PcfFontFile.py
index bec39e3a0..92e96eb53 100644
--- a/PIL/PcfFontFile.py
+++ b/PIL/PcfFontFile.py
@@ -19,8 +19,6 @@
 import Image
 import FontFile
 
-import string
-
 # --------------------------------------------------------------------
 # declarations
 
@@ -55,7 +53,7 @@ def b32(c):
     return ord(c[3]) + (ord(c[2])<<8) + (ord(c[1])<<16) + (ord(c[0])<<24)
 
 def sz(s, o):
-    return s[o:string.index(s, "\0", o)]
+    return s[o:s.index("\0", o)]
 
 ##
 # Font file plugin for the X11 PCF format.
diff --git a/PIL/PngImagePlugin.py b/PIL/PngImagePlugin.py
index 0ee8589a5..4e58c2bf7 100644
--- a/PIL/PngImagePlugin.py
+++ b/PIL/PngImagePlugin.py
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@
 
 __version__ = "0.9"
 
-import re, string
+import re
 
 import Image, ImageFile, ImagePalette, zlib
 
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ class PngStream(ChunkStream):
         # Null separator        1 byte (null character)
         # Compression method    1 byte (0)
         # Compressed profile    n bytes (zlib with deflate compression)
-        i = string.find(s, chr(0))
+        i = s.find(chr(0))
         if Image.DEBUG:
             print "iCCP profile name", s[:i]
             print "Compression method", ord(s[i])
@@ -243,7 +243,7 @@ class PngStream(ChunkStream):
         # transparency
         s = ImageFile._safe_read(self.fp, len)
         if self.im_mode == "P":
-            i = string.find(s, chr(0))
+            i = s.find(chr(0))
             if i >= 0:
                 self.im_info["transparency"] = i
         elif self.im_mode == "L":
@@ -277,7 +277,7 @@ class PngStream(ChunkStream):
         # text
         s = ImageFile._safe_read(self.fp, len)
         try:
-            k, v = string.split(s, "\0", 1)
+            k, v = s.split("\0", 1)
         except ValueError:
             k = s; v = "" # fallback for broken tEXt tags
         if k:
@@ -288,7 +288,7 @@ class PngStream(ChunkStream):
 
         # compressed text
         s = ImageFile._safe_read(self.fp, len)
-        k, v = string.split(s, "\0", 1)
+        k, v = s.split("\0", 1)
         comp_method = ord(v[0])
         if comp_method != 0:
             raise SyntaxError("Unknown compression method %s in zTXt chunk" % comp_method)
@@ -443,7 +443,7 @@ _OUTMODES = {
 def putchunk(fp, cid, *data):
     "Write a PNG chunk (including CRC field)"
 
-    data = string.join(data, "")
+    data = "".join(data)
 
     fp.write(o32(len(data)) + cid)
     fp.write(data)
@@ -593,7 +593,7 @@ def getchunks(im, **params):
             self.data.append(chunk)
 
     def append(fp, cid, *data):
-        data = string.join(data, "")
+        data = "".join(data)
         hi, lo = Image.core.crc32(data, Image.core.crc32(cid))
         crc = o16(hi) + o16(lo)
         fp.append((cid, data, crc))
diff --git a/PIL/TarIO.py b/PIL/TarIO.py
index d5de729cd..332b30716 100644
--- a/PIL/TarIO.py
+++ b/PIL/TarIO.py
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@
 #
 
 import ContainerIO
-import string
 
 ##
 # A file object that provides read access to a given member of a TAR
@@ -40,13 +39,13 @@ class TarIO(ContainerIO.ContainerIO):
                 raise IOError, "unexpected end of tar file"
 
             name = s[:100]
-            i = string.find(name, chr(0))
+            i = name.find(chr(0))
             if i == 0:
                 raise IOError, "cannot find subfile"
             if i > 0:
                 name = name[:i]
 
-            size = string.atoi(s[124:136], 8)
+            size = int(s[124:136], 8)
 
             if file == name:
                 break
diff --git a/PIL/TiffImagePlugin.py b/PIL/TiffImagePlugin.py
index 8a0fde9cd..a7f78627d 100644
--- a/PIL/TiffImagePlugin.py
+++ b/PIL/TiffImagePlugin.py
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ __version__ = "1.3.5"
 import Image, ImageFile
 import ImagePalette
 
-import array, string, sys
+import array, sys
 
 II = "II" # little-endian (intel-style)
 MM = "MM" # big-endian (motorola-style)
@@ -422,14 +422,14 @@ class ImageFileDirectory:
 
             if typ == 1:
                 # byte data
-                data = value = string.join(map(chr, value), "")
+                data = value = "".join(map(chr, value))
             elif typ == 7:
                 # untyped data
-                data = value = string.join(value, "")
+                data = value = "".join(value)
             elif type(value[0]) is type(""):
                 # string data
                 typ = 2
-                data = value = string.join(value, "\0") + "\0"
+                data = value = "\0".join(value) + "\0"
             else:
                 # integer data
                 if tag == STRIPOFFSETS:
@@ -444,9 +444,9 @@ class ImageFileDirectory:
                         if v >= 65536:
                             typ = 4
                 if typ == 3:
-                    data = string.join(map(o16, value), "")
+                    data = "".join(map(o16, value))
                 else:
-                    data = string.join(map(o32, value), "")
+                    data = "".join(map(o32, value))
 
             if Image.DEBUG:
                 import TiffTags
@@ -705,7 +705,7 @@ class TiffImageFile(ImageFile.ImageFile):
 
         if self.mode == "P":
             palette = map(lambda a: chr(a / 256), self.tag[COLORMAP])
-            self.palette = ImagePalette.raw("RGB;L", string.join(palette, ""))
+            self.palette = ImagePalette.raw("RGB;L", "".join(palette))
 #
 # --------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Write TIFF files
diff --git a/PIL/XVThumbImagePlugin.py b/PIL/XVThumbImagePlugin.py
index ab1fb5d7a..91e30e9b8 100644
--- a/PIL/XVThumbImagePlugin.py
+++ b/PIL/XVThumbImagePlugin.py
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@
 
 __version__ = "0.1"
 
-import string
 import Image, ImageFile, ImagePalette
 
 # standard color palette for thumbnails (RGB332)
@@ -56,7 +55,7 @@ class XVThumbImageFile(ImageFile.ImageFile):
                 break
 
         # parse header line (already read)
-        s = string.split(s.strip())
+        s = s.strip().split()
 
         self.mode = "P"
         self.size = int(s[0]), int(s[1])
diff --git a/PIL/XbmImagePlugin.py b/PIL/XbmImagePlugin.py
index a8cf1026d..ef7e05eba 100644
--- a/PIL/XbmImagePlugin.py
+++ b/PIL/XbmImagePlugin.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
 
 __version__ = "0.6"
 
-import re, string
+import re
 import Image, ImageFile
 
 # XBM header
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ xbm_head = re.compile(
 )
 
 def _accept(prefix):
-    return string.lstrip(prefix)[:7] == "#define"
+    return prefix.lstrip()[:7] == "#define"
 
 ##
 # Image plugin for X11 bitmaps.
diff --git a/PIL/XpmImagePlugin.py b/PIL/XpmImagePlugin.py
index a3f40f02c..36cb2ada6 100644
--- a/PIL/XpmImagePlugin.py
+++ b/PIL/XpmImagePlugin.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
 __version__ = "0.2"
 
 
-import re, string
+import re
 import Image, ImageFile, ImagePalette
 
 # XPM header
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ class XpmImageFile(ImageFile.ImageFile):
                 s = s[:-1]
 
             c = ord(s[1])
-            s = string.split(s[2:-2])
+            s = s[2:-2].split()
 
             for i in range(0, len(s), 2):
 
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ class XpmImageFile(ImageFile.ImageFile):
                         self.info["transparency"] = c
                     elif rgb[0] == "#":
                         # FIXME: handle colour names (see ImagePalette.py)
-                        rgb = string.atoi(rgb[1:], 16)
+                        rgb = int(rgb[1:], 16)
                         palette[c] = chr((rgb >> 16) & 255) +\
                                      chr((rgb >> 8) & 255) +\
                                      chr(rgb & 255)
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ class XpmImageFile(ImageFile.ImageFile):
                 raise ValueError, "cannot read this XPM file"
 
         self.mode = "P"
-        self.palette = ImagePalette.raw("RGB", string.join(palette, ""))
+        self.palette = ImagePalette.raw("RGB", "".join(palette))
 
         self.tile = [("raw", (0, 0)+self.size, self.fp.tell(), ("P", 0, 1))]
 
@@ -113,11 +113,11 @@ class XpmImageFile(ImageFile.ImageFile):
         s = [None] * ysize
 
         for i in range(ysize):
-            s[i] = string.ljust(self.fp.readline()[1:xsize+1], xsize)
+            s[i] = self.fp.readline()[1:xsize+1].ljust(xsize)
 
         self.fp = None
 
-        return string.join(s, "")
+        return "".join(s)
 
 #
 # Registry
diff --git a/Sane/sane.py b/Sane/sane.py
index 27be5a259..bc212e470 100644
--- a/Sane/sane.py
+++ b/Sane/sane.py
@@ -46,7 +46,6 @@ class Option:
     """
 
     def __init__(self, args, scanDev):
-        import string
         self.scanDev = scanDev # needed to get current value of this option
         self.index, self.name = args[0], args[1]
         self.title, self.desc = args[2], args[3]
@@ -57,7 +56,7 @@ class Option:
             if x=='-': return '_'
             else: return x
         if type(self.name)!=type(''): self.py_name=str(self.name)
-        else: self.py_name=string.join(map(f, self.name), '')
+        else: self.py_name=''.join(map(f, self.name))
 
     def is_active(self):
         return _sane.OPTION_IS_ACTIVE(self.cap)
diff --git a/Scripts/explode.py b/Scripts/explode.py
index a336f0699..6081f751a 100644
--- a/Scripts/explode.py
+++ b/Scripts/explode.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 #
 
 from PIL import Image
-import os, string, sys
+import os, sys
 
 class Interval:
 
@@ -18,18 +18,18 @@ class Interval:
 
         self.hilo = []
 
-        for s in string.split(interval, ","):
-            if not string.strip(s):
+        for s in interval.split(","):
+            if not s.strip():
                 continue
             try:
-                v = string.atoi(s)
+                v = int(s)
                 if v < 0:
                     lo, hi = 0, -v
                 else:
                     lo = hi = v
             except ValueError:
-                i = string.find(s, "-")
-                lo, hi = string.atoi(s[:i]), string.atoi(s[i+1:])
+                i = s.find("-")
+                lo, hi = int(s[:i]), int(s[i+1:])
 
             self.hilo.append((hi, lo))
 
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ if not sys.argv[2:]:
 infile = sys.argv[1]
 outfile = sys.argv[2]
 
-frames = Interval(string.join(sys.argv[3:], ","))
+frames = Interval(",".join(sys.argv[3:]))
 
 try:
     # check if outfile contains a placeholder
diff --git a/Scripts/gifmaker.py b/Scripts/gifmaker.py
index 95524eacc..e3b6701cf 100644
--- a/Scripts/gifmaker.py
+++ b/Scripts/gifmaker.py
@@ -40,7 +40,6 @@
 #
 
 from PIL import Image, ImageChops
-import string
 
 from PIL.GifImagePlugin import getheader, getdata
 
diff --git a/Scripts/pildriver.py b/Scripts/pildriver.py
index 5dd575a3f..19c83dbc7 100644
--- a/Scripts/pildriver.py
+++ b/Scripts/pildriver.py
@@ -49,7 +49,6 @@ of its upper-left-hand corner and displays the cropped portion.
 #
 
 from PIL import Image
-import string
 
 class PILDriver:
 
@@ -206,7 +205,7 @@ class PILDriver:
         Process the top image with the given filter.
         """
         import ImageFilter
-        filter = eval("ImageFilter." + string.upper(self.do_pop()))
+        filter = eval("ImageFilter." + self.do_pop().upper())
         image = self.do_pop()
         self.push(image.filter(filter))
 
@@ -314,7 +313,7 @@ class PILDriver:
 
         Transpose the top image.
         """
-        transpose = string.upper(self.do_pop())
+        transpose = self.do_pop().upper()
         image = self.do_pop()
         self.push(image.transpose(transpose))
 
@@ -515,7 +514,7 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
             except EOFError:
                 print "\nPILDriver says goodbye."
                 break
-            driver.execute(string.split(line))
+            driver.execute(line.split())
             print driver.stack
 
 # The following sets edit modes for GNU EMACS