diff --git a/PIL/Image.py b/PIL/Image.py
index e49b1555d9c..156925c040b 100644
--- a/PIL/Image.py
+++ b/PIL/Image.py
@@ -110,6 +110,7 @@ def __getattr__(self, id):
 import sys
 import io
 import struct
+import atexit
 
 # type stuff
 import collections
@@ -2824,3 +2825,41 @@ def radial_gradient(mode):
     :param mode: Input mode.
     """
     return Image()._new(core.radial_gradient(mode))
+
+
+# --------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Resources
+
+def _apply_env_variables(env=None):
+    if env is None:
+        env = os.environ
+
+    for var_name, setter in [
+        ('PILLOW_ALIGNMENT', core.set_alignment),
+        ('PILLOW_BLOCK_SIZE', core.set_block_size),
+        ('PILLOW_BLOCKS_MAX', core.set_blocks_max),
+    ]:
+        if var_name not in env:
+            continue
+
+        var = env[var_name].lower()
+
+        units = 1
+        for postfix, mul in [('k', 1024), ('m', 1024*1024)]:
+            if var.endswith(postfix):
+                units = mul
+                var = var[:-len(postfix)]
+
+        try:
+            var = int(var) * units
+        except ValueError:
+            warnings.warn("{0} is not int".format(var_name))
+            continue
+
+        try:
+            setter(var)
+        except ValueError as e:
+            warnings.warn("{0}: {1}".format(var_name, e))
+
+_apply_env_variables()
+atexit.register(core.clear_cache)
diff --git a/Tests/test_core_resources.py b/Tests/test_core_resources.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..30bea3e802c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Tests/test_core_resources.py
@@ -0,0 +1,180 @@
+from __future__ import division, print_function
+
+import sys
+
+from helper import unittest, PillowTestCase
+from PIL import Image
+
+
+is_pypy = hasattr(sys, 'pypy_version_info')
+
+
+class TestCoreStats(PillowTestCase):
+    def test_get_stats(self):
+        # Create at least one image
+        Image.new('RGB', (10, 10))
+
+        stats = Image.core.get_stats()
+        self.assertIn('new_count', stats)
+        self.assertIn('reused_blocks', stats)
+        self.assertIn('freed_blocks', stats)
+        self.assertIn('allocated_blocks', stats)
+        self.assertIn('reallocated_blocks', stats)
+        self.assertIn('blocks_cached', stats)
+
+    def test_reset_stats(self):
+        Image.core.reset_stats()
+
+        stats = Image.core.get_stats()
+        self.assertEqual(stats['new_count'], 0)
+        self.assertEqual(stats['reused_blocks'], 0)
+        self.assertEqual(stats['freed_blocks'], 0)
+        self.assertEqual(stats['allocated_blocks'], 0)
+        self.assertEqual(stats['reallocated_blocks'], 0)
+        self.assertEqual(stats['blocks_cached'], 0)
+
+
+class TestCoreMemory(PillowTestCase):
+    def tearDown(self):
+        # Restore default values
+        Image.core.set_alignment(1)
+        Image.core.set_block_size(1024*1024)
+        Image.core.set_blocks_max(0)
+        Image.core.clear_cache()
+
+    def test_get_alignment(self):
+        alignment = Image.core.get_alignment()
+
+        self.assertGreater(alignment, 0)
+
+    def test_set_alignment(self):
+        for i in [1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32]:
+            Image.core.set_alignment(i)
+            alignment = Image.core.get_alignment()
+            self.assertEqual(alignment, i)
+
+            # Try to construct new image
+            Image.new('RGB', (10, 10))
+
+        self.assertRaises(ValueError, Image.core.set_alignment, 0)
+        self.assertRaises(ValueError, Image.core.set_alignment, -1)
+        self.assertRaises(ValueError, Image.core.set_alignment, 3)
+
+    def test_get_block_size(self):
+        block_size = Image.core.get_block_size()
+
+        self.assertGreaterEqual(block_size, 4096)
+
+    def test_set_block_size(self):
+        for i in [4096, 2*4096, 3*4096]:
+            Image.core.set_block_size(i)
+            block_size = Image.core.get_block_size()
+            self.assertEqual(block_size, i)
+
+            # Try to construct new image
+            Image.new('RGB', (10, 10))
+
+        self.assertRaises(ValueError, Image.core.set_block_size, 0)
+        self.assertRaises(ValueError, Image.core.set_block_size, -1)
+        self.assertRaises(ValueError, Image.core.set_block_size, 4000)
+
+    def test_set_block_size_stats(self):
+        Image.core.reset_stats()
+        Image.core.set_blocks_max(0)
+        Image.core.set_block_size(4096)
+        Image.new('RGB', (256, 256))
+
+        stats = Image.core.get_stats()
+        self.assertGreaterEqual(stats['new_count'], 1)
+        self.assertGreaterEqual(stats['allocated_blocks'], 64)
+        if not is_pypy:
+            self.assertGreaterEqual(stats['freed_blocks'], 64)
+
+    def test_get_blocks_max(self):
+        blocks_max = Image.core.get_blocks_max()
+
+        self.assertGreaterEqual(blocks_max, 0)
+
+    def test_set_blocks_max(self):
+        for i in [0, 1, 10]:
+            Image.core.set_blocks_max(i)
+            blocks_max = Image.core.get_blocks_max()
+            self.assertEqual(blocks_max, i)
+
+            # Try to construct new image
+            Image.new('RGB', (10, 10))
+
+        self.assertRaises(ValueError, Image.core.set_blocks_max, -1)
+
+    @unittest.skipIf(is_pypy, "images are not collected")
+    def test_set_blocks_max_stats(self):
+        Image.core.reset_stats()
+        Image.core.set_blocks_max(128)
+        Image.core.set_block_size(4096)
+        Image.new('RGB', (256, 256))
+        Image.new('RGB', (256, 256))
+
+        stats = Image.core.get_stats()
+        self.assertGreaterEqual(stats['new_count'], 2)
+        self.assertGreaterEqual(stats['allocated_blocks'], 64)
+        self.assertGreaterEqual(stats['reused_blocks'], 64)
+        self.assertEqual(stats['freed_blocks'], 0)
+        self.assertEqual(stats['blocks_cached'], 64)
+
+    @unittest.skipIf(is_pypy, "images are not collected")
+    def test_clear_cache_stats(self):
+        Image.core.reset_stats()
+        Image.core.clear_cache()
+        Image.core.set_blocks_max(128)
+        Image.core.set_block_size(4096)
+        Image.new('RGB', (256, 256))
+        Image.new('RGB', (256, 256))
+        Image.core.clear_cache()
+
+        stats = Image.core.get_stats()
+        self.assertGreaterEqual(stats['new_count'], 2)
+        self.assertGreaterEqual(stats['allocated_blocks'], 64)
+        self.assertGreaterEqual(stats['reused_blocks'], 64)
+        self.assertGreaterEqual(stats['freed_blocks'], 64)
+        self.assertEqual(stats['blocks_cached'], 0)
+
+    def test_large_images(self):
+        Image.core.reset_stats()
+        Image.core.set_blocks_max(0)
+        Image.core.set_block_size(4096)
+        Image.new('RGB', (2048, 16))
+        Image.core.clear_cache()
+
+        stats = Image.core.get_stats()
+        self.assertGreaterEqual(stats['new_count'], 1)
+        self.assertGreaterEqual(stats['allocated_blocks'], 16)
+        self.assertGreaterEqual(stats['reused_blocks'], 0)
+        self.assertEqual(stats['blocks_cached'], 0)
+        if not is_pypy:
+            self.assertGreaterEqual(stats['freed_blocks'], 16)
+
+
+class TestEnvVars(PillowTestCase):
+    def tearDown(self):
+        # Restore default values
+        Image.core.set_alignment(1)
+        Image.core.set_block_size(1024*1024)
+        Image.core.set_blocks_max(0)
+        Image.core.clear_cache()
+
+    def test_units(self):
+        Image._apply_env_variables({'PILLOW_BLOCKS_MAX': '2K'})
+        self.assertEqual(Image.core.get_blocks_max(), 2*1024)
+        Image._apply_env_variables({'PILLOW_BLOCK_SIZE': '2m'})
+        self.assertEqual(Image.core.get_block_size(), 2*1024*1024)
+
+    def test_warnings(self):
+        self.assert_warning(
+            UserWarning, Image._apply_env_variables,
+            {'PILLOW_ALIGNMENT': '15'})
+        self.assert_warning(
+            UserWarning, Image._apply_env_variables,
+            {'PILLOW_BLOCK_SIZE': '1024'})
+        self.assert_warning(
+            UserWarning, Image._apply_env_variables,
+            {'PILLOW_BLOCKS_MAX': 'wat'})
diff --git a/Tests/test_image.py b/Tests/test_image.py
index 0c104f0aa35..1209c992003 100644
--- a/Tests/test_image.py
+++ b/Tests/test_image.py
@@ -385,6 +385,12 @@ def test_check_size(self):
         im = Image.new('L', (0, 0))
         self.assertEqual(im.size, (0, 0))
 
+        im = Image.new('L', (0, 100))
+        self.assertEqual(im.size, (0, 100))
+
+        im = Image.new('L', (100, 0))
+        self.assertEqual(im.size, (100, 0))
+
         self.assertTrue(Image.new('RGB', (1, 1)))
         # Should pass lists too
         i = Image.new('RGB', [1, 1])
diff --git a/Tests/test_image_resample.py b/Tests/test_image_resample.py
index 600a52320c0..ee5a062c652 100644
--- a/Tests/test_image_resample.py
+++ b/Tests/test_image_resample.py
@@ -305,9 +305,9 @@ def test_dirty_pixels_la(self):
 class CoreResamplePassesTest(PillowTestCase):
     @contextmanager
     def count(self, diff):
-        count = Image.core.getcount()
+        count = Image.core.get_stats()['new_count']
         yield
-        self.assertEqual(Image.core.getcount() - count, diff)
+        self.assertEqual(Image.core.get_stats()['new_count'] - count, diff)
 
     def test_horizontal(self):
         im = hopper('L')
diff --git a/_imaging.c b/_imaging.c
index d0777c73a70..acba91bfd51 100644
--- a/_imaging.c
+++ b/_imaging.c
@@ -641,15 +641,6 @@ _new_block(PyObject* self, PyObject* args)
     return PyImagingNew(ImagingNewBlock(mode, xsize, ysize));
 }
 
-static PyObject*
-_getcount(PyObject* self, PyObject* args)
-{
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, ":getcount"))
-        return NULL;
-
-    return PyInt_FromLong(ImagingNewCount);
-}
-
 static PyObject*
 _linear_gradient(PyObject* self, PyObject* args)
 {
@@ -3337,6 +3328,162 @@ static PyTypeObject PixelAccess_Type = {
 
 /* -------------------------------------------------------------------- */
 
+static PyObject*
+_get_stats(PyObject* self, PyObject* args)
+{
+    PyObject* d;
+    ImagingMemoryArena arena = &ImagingDefaultArena;
+
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, ":get_stats"))
+        return NULL;
+
+    d = PyDict_New();
+    if ( ! d)
+        return NULL;
+    PyDict_SetItemString(d, "new_count",
+                         PyInt_FromLong(arena->stats_new_count));
+    PyDict_SetItemString(d, "allocated_blocks",
+                         PyInt_FromLong(arena->stats_allocated_blocks));
+    PyDict_SetItemString(d, "reused_blocks",
+                         PyInt_FromLong(arena->stats_reused_blocks));
+    PyDict_SetItemString(d, "reallocated_blocks",
+                         PyInt_FromLong(arena->stats_reallocated_blocks));
+    PyDict_SetItemString(d, "freed_blocks",
+                         PyInt_FromLong(arena->stats_freed_blocks));
+    PyDict_SetItemString(d, "blocks_cached",
+                         PyInt_FromLong(arena->blocks_cached));
+    return d;
+}
+
+static PyObject*
+_reset_stats(PyObject* self, PyObject* args)
+{
+    ImagingMemoryArena arena = &ImagingDefaultArena;
+
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, ":reset_stats"))
+        return NULL;
+    
+    arena->stats_new_count = 0;
+    arena->stats_allocated_blocks = 0;
+    arena->stats_reused_blocks = 0;
+    arena->stats_reallocated_blocks = 0;
+    arena->stats_freed_blocks = 0;
+
+    Py_INCREF(Py_None);
+    return Py_None;
+}
+
+static PyObject*
+_get_alignment(PyObject* self, PyObject* args)
+{
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, ":get_alignment"))
+        return NULL;
+    
+    return PyInt_FromLong(ImagingDefaultArena.alignment);
+}
+
+static PyObject*
+_get_block_size(PyObject* self, PyObject* args)
+{
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, ":get_block_size"))
+        return NULL;
+    
+    return PyInt_FromLong(ImagingDefaultArena.block_size);
+}
+
+static PyObject*
+_get_blocks_max(PyObject* self, PyObject* args)
+{
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, ":get_blocks_max"))
+        return NULL;
+    
+    return PyInt_FromLong(ImagingDefaultArena.blocks_max);
+}
+
+static PyObject*
+_set_alignment(PyObject* self, PyObject* args)
+{
+    int alignment;
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "i:set_alignment", &alignment))
+        return NULL;
+    
+    if (alignment < 1 || alignment > 128) {
+        PyErr_SetString(PyExc_ValueError, "alignment should be from 1 to 128");
+        return NULL;
+    }
+    /* Is power of two */
+    if (alignment & (alignment - 1)) {
+        PyErr_SetString(PyExc_ValueError, "alignment should be power of two");
+        return NULL;
+    }
+
+    ImagingDefaultArena.alignment = alignment;
+
+    Py_INCREF(Py_None);
+    return Py_None;
+}
+
+static PyObject*
+_set_block_size(PyObject* self, PyObject* args)
+{
+    int block_size;
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "i:set_block_size", &block_size))
+        return NULL;
+    
+    if (block_size <= 0) {
+        PyErr_SetString(PyExc_ValueError,
+            "block_size should be greater than 0");
+        return NULL;
+    }
+
+    if (block_size & 0xfff) {
+        PyErr_SetString(PyExc_ValueError,
+            "block_size should be multiple of 4096");
+        return NULL;
+    }
+
+    ImagingDefaultArena.block_size = block_size;
+
+    Py_INCREF(Py_None);
+    return Py_None;
+}
+
+static PyObject*
+_set_blocks_max(PyObject* self, PyObject* args)
+{
+    int blocks_max;
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "i:set_blocks_max", &blocks_max))
+        return NULL;
+    
+    if (blocks_max < 0) {
+        PyErr_SetString(PyExc_ValueError,
+            "blocks_max should be greater than 0");
+        return NULL;
+    }
+
+    if ( ! ImagingMemorySetBlocksMax(&ImagingDefaultArena, blocks_max)) {
+        ImagingError_MemoryError();
+        return NULL;
+    }
+
+    Py_INCREF(Py_None);
+    return Py_None;
+}
+
+static PyObject*
+_clear_cache(PyObject* self, PyObject* args)
+{
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, ":clear_cache"))
+        return NULL;
+    
+    ImagingMemoryClearCache(&ImagingDefaultArena, 0);
+
+    Py_INCREF(Py_None);
+    return Py_None;
+}
+
+/* -------------------------------------------------------------------- */
+
 /* FIXME: this is something of a mess.  Should replace this with
    pluggable codecs, but not before PIL 1.2 */
 
@@ -3400,8 +3547,6 @@ static PyMethodDef functions[] = {
     {"new", (PyCFunction)_new, 1},
     {"merge", (PyCFunction)_merge, 1},
 
-    {"getcount", (PyCFunction)_getcount, 1},
-
     /* Functions */
     {"convert", (PyCFunction)_convert2, 1},
 
@@ -3491,6 +3636,17 @@ static PyMethodDef functions[] = {
     {"outline", (PyCFunction)PyOutline_Create, 1},
 #endif
 
+    /* Resource management */
+    {"get_stats", (PyCFunction)_get_stats, 1},
+    {"reset_stats", (PyCFunction)_reset_stats, 1},
+    {"get_alignment", (PyCFunction)_get_alignment, 1},
+    {"get_block_size", (PyCFunction)_get_block_size, 1},
+    {"get_blocks_max", (PyCFunction)_get_blocks_max, 1},
+    {"set_alignment", (PyCFunction)_set_alignment, 1},
+    {"set_block_size", (PyCFunction)_set_block_size, 1},
+    {"set_blocks_max", (PyCFunction)_set_blocks_max, 1},
+    {"clear_cache", (PyCFunction)_clear_cache, 1},
+
     {NULL, NULL} /* sentinel */
 };
 
diff --git a/docs/releasenotes/4.3.0.rst b/docs/releasenotes/4.3.0.rst
index 4708eeb2961..b893a623a81 100644
--- a/docs/releasenotes/4.3.0.rst
+++ b/docs/releasenotes/4.3.0.rst
@@ -52,3 +52,6 @@ identified the format of the clipboard data.
 
 The ``PIL.Image.core.copy`` and ``PIL.Image.Image.im.copy2`` methods
 have been removed.
+
+The ``PIL.Image.core.getcount`` methods have been removed, use
+``PIL.Image.core.get_stats()['new_count']`` property instead.
diff --git a/libImaging/Imaging.h b/libImaging/Imaging.h
index 60c5b484743..556f3965e15 100644
--- a/libImaging/Imaging.h
+++ b/libImaging/Imaging.h
@@ -75,6 +75,11 @@ typedef struct ImagingPaletteInstance* ImagingPalette;
 
 #define IMAGING_MODE_LENGTH 6+1 /* Band names ("1", "L", "P", "RGB", "RGBA", "CMYK", "YCbCr", "BGR;xy") */
 
+typedef struct {
+    char *ptr;
+    int size;
+} ImagingMemoryBlock;
+
 struct ImagingMemoryInstance {
 
     /* Format */
@@ -95,6 +100,7 @@ struct ImagingMemoryInstance {
     /* Internals */
     char **image;       /* Actual raster data. */
     char *block;        /* Set if data is allocated in a single block. */
+    ImagingMemoryBlock *blocks;     /* Memory blocks for pixel storage */
 
     int pixelsize;      /* Size of a pixel, in bytes (1, 2 or 4) */
     int linesize;       /* Size of a line, in bytes (xsize * pixelsize) */
@@ -152,11 +158,26 @@ struct ImagingPaletteInstance {
 
 };
 
+typedef struct ImagingMemoryArena {
+    int alignment;
+    int block_size;
+    int blocks_max;
+    int blocks_cached;
+    ImagingMemoryBlock *blocks;
+    int stats_new_count;
+    int stats_allocated_blocks;
+    int stats_reused_blocks;
+    int stats_reallocated_blocks;
+    int stats_freed_blocks;
+} *ImagingMemoryArena;
+
 
 /* Objects */
 /* ------- */
 
-extern int ImagingNewCount;
+extern struct ImagingMemoryArena ImagingDefaultArena;
+extern int ImagingMemorySetBlocksMax(ImagingMemoryArena arena, int blocks_max);
+extern void ImagingMemoryClearCache(ImagingMemoryArena arena, int new_size);
 
 extern Imaging ImagingNew(const char* mode, int xsize, int ysize);
 extern Imaging ImagingNewDirty(const char* mode, int xsize, int ysize);
diff --git a/libImaging/Storage.c b/libImaging/Storage.c
index 615c5fa2016..e3084a07993 100644
--- a/libImaging/Storage.c
+++ b/libImaging/Storage.c
@@ -173,7 +173,6 @@ ImagingNewPrologueSubtype(const char *mode, int xsize, int ysize, int size)
         im->linesize = xsize * 4;
 
     } else if (strcmp(mode, "RGBa") == 0) {
-        /* EXPERIMENTAL */
         /* 32-bit true colour images with premultiplied alpha */
         im->bands = im->pixelsize = 4;
         im->linesize = xsize * 4;
@@ -230,7 +229,7 @@ ImagingNewPrologueSubtype(const char *mode, int xsize, int ysize, int size)
         break;
     }
 
-    ImagingNewCount++;
+    ImagingDefaultArena.stats_new_count += 1;
 
     return im;
 }
@@ -265,50 +264,178 @@ ImagingDelete(Imaging im)
 /* ------------------ */
 /* Allocate image as an array of line buffers. */
 
+struct ImagingMemoryArena ImagingDefaultArena = {
+    1,                   // alignment
+    1*1024*1024,         // block_size
+    0,                   // blocks_max
+    0,                   // blocks_cached
+    NULL,                // blocks
+    0, 0, 0, 0, 0        // Stats
+};
+
+int
+ImagingMemorySetBlocksMax(ImagingMemoryArena arena, int blocks_max)
+{
+    void *p;
+    /* Free already cached blocks */
+    ImagingMemoryClearCache(arena, blocks_max);
+
+    if (blocks_max == 0 && arena->blocks != NULL) {
+        free(arena->blocks);
+        arena->blocks = NULL;
+    } else if (arena->blocks != NULL) {
+        p = realloc(arena->blocks, sizeof(*arena->blocks) * blocks_max);
+        if ( ! p) {
+            // Leave previous blocks_max value
+            return 0;
+        }
+        arena->blocks = p;
+    } else {
+        arena->blocks = calloc(sizeof(*arena->blocks), blocks_max);
+        if ( ! arena->blocks) {
+            return 0;
+        }
+    }
+    arena->blocks_max = blocks_max;
+
+    return 1;
+}
+
+void
+ImagingMemoryClearCache(ImagingMemoryArena arena, int new_size)
+{
+    while (arena->blocks_cached > new_size) {
+        arena->blocks_cached -= 1;
+        free(arena->blocks[arena->blocks_cached].ptr);
+        arena->stats_freed_blocks += 1;
+    }
+}
+
+ImagingMemoryBlock
+memory_get_block(ImagingMemoryArena arena, int requested_size, int dirty)
+{
+    ImagingMemoryBlock block = {NULL, 0};
+
+    if (arena->blocks_cached > 0) {
+        // Get block from cache
+        arena->blocks_cached -= 1;
+        block = arena->blocks[arena->blocks_cached];
+        // Reallocate if needed
+        if (block.size != requested_size){
+            block.ptr = realloc(block.ptr, requested_size);
+        }
+        if ( ! block.ptr) {
+            // Can't allocate, free prevous pointer (it is still valid)
+            free(arena->blocks[arena->blocks_cached].ptr);
+            arena->stats_freed_blocks += 1;
+            return block;
+        }
+        if ( ! dirty) {
+            memset(block.ptr, 0, requested_size);
+        }
+        arena->stats_reused_blocks += 1;
+        if (block.ptr != arena->blocks[arena->blocks_cached].ptr) {
+            arena->stats_reallocated_blocks += 1;
+        }
+    } else {
+        if (dirty) {
+            block.ptr = malloc(requested_size);
+        } else {
+            block.ptr = calloc(1, requested_size);
+        }
+        arena->stats_allocated_blocks += 1;
+    }
+    block.size = requested_size;
+    return block;
+}
+
+void
+memory_return_block(ImagingMemoryArena arena, ImagingMemoryBlock block)
+{
+    if (arena->blocks_cached < arena->blocks_max)  {
+        // Reduce block size
+        if (block.size > arena->block_size) {
+            block.size = arena->block_size;
+            block.ptr = realloc(block.ptr, arena->block_size);
+        }
+        arena->blocks[arena->blocks_cached] = block;
+        arena->blocks_cached += 1;
+    } else {
+        free(block.ptr);
+        arena->stats_freed_blocks += 1;
+    }
+}
+
+
 static void
 ImagingDestroyArray(Imaging im)
 {
-    int y;
+    int y = 0;
 
-    if (im->image)
-        for (y = 0; y < im->ysize; y++)
-            if (im->image[y])
-                free(im->image[y]);
+    if (im->blocks) {
+        while (im->blocks[y].ptr) {
+            memory_return_block(&ImagingDefaultArena,  im->blocks[y]);
+            y += 1;
+        }
+        free(im->blocks);
+    }
 }
 
 Imaging
 ImagingAllocateArray(Imaging im, int dirty)
 {
-    ImagingSectionCookie cookie;
+    int y, line_in_block, current_block;
+    ImagingMemoryArena arena = &ImagingDefaultArena;
+    ImagingMemoryBlock block = {NULL, 0};
+    int linesize, lines_per_block, blocks_count;
 
-    int y;
-    char* p;
+    /* 0-width or 0-height image. No need to do anything */
+    if ( ! im->linesize || ! im->ysize) {
+        return im;
+    }
 
-    ImagingSectionEnter(&cookie);
+    linesize = (im->linesize + arena->alignment - 1) & -arena->alignment;
+    lines_per_block = arena->block_size / linesize;
+    if (lines_per_block == 0)
+        lines_per_block = 1;
+    blocks_count = (im->ysize + lines_per_block - 1) / lines_per_block;
+    // printf("NEW size: %dx%d, ls: %d, lpb: %d, blocks: %d\n",
+    //        im->xsize, im->ysize, linesize, lines_per_block, blocks_count);
+
+    im->destroy = ImagingDestroyArray;
+    /* One extra ponter is always NULL */
+    im->blocks = calloc(sizeof(*im->blocks), blocks_count + 1);
+    if ( ! im->blocks) {
+        return (Imaging) ImagingError_MemoryError();
+    }
 
     /* Allocate image as an array of lines */
+    line_in_block = 0;
+    /* Return blocks in reverse order to reduce reallocations */
+    current_block = blocks_count - 1;
     for (y = 0; y < im->ysize; y++) {
-        /* malloc check linesize checked in prologue */
-        if (dirty) {
-            p = (char *) malloc(im->linesize);
-        } else {
-            p = (char *) calloc(1, im->linesize);
-        }
-        if (!p) {
-            ImagingDestroyArray(im);
-            break;
+        if (line_in_block == 0) {
+            int lines_remained = lines_per_block;
+            if (lines_remained > im->ysize - y) {
+                lines_remained = im->ysize - y;
+            }
+            block = memory_get_block(arena, lines_remained * linesize, dirty);
+            if ( ! block.ptr) {
+                return (Imaging) ImagingError_MemoryError();
+            }
+            im->blocks[current_block] = block;
         }
-        im->image[y] = p;
-    }
 
-    ImagingSectionLeave(&cookie);
+        im->image[y] = block.ptr + linesize * line_in_block;
 
-    if (y != im->ysize) {
-        return (Imaging) ImagingError_MemoryError();
+        line_in_block += 1;
+        if (line_in_block >= lines_per_block) {
+            /* Reset counter and start new block */
+            line_in_block = 0;
+            current_block -= 1;
+        }
     }
 
-    im->destroy = ImagingDestroyArray;
-
     return im;
 }
 
@@ -325,17 +452,13 @@ ImagingDestroyBlock(Imaging im)
 }
 
 Imaging
-ImagingAllocateBlock(Imaging im, int dirty)
+ImagingAllocateBlock(Imaging im)
 {
     Py_ssize_t y, i;
 
-    /* We shouldn't overflow, since the threshold defined
-       below says that we're only going to allocate max 4M
-       here before going to the array allocator. Check anyway.
-    */
+    /* overflow check for malloc */
     if (im->linesize &&
         im->ysize > INT_MAX / im->linesize) {
-        /* punt if we're going to overflow */
         return (Imaging) ImagingError_MemoryError();
     }
 
@@ -345,13 +468,8 @@ ImagingAllocateBlock(Imaging im, int dirty)
            platforms */
         im->block = (char *) malloc(1);
     } else {
-        if (dirty) {
-            /* malloc check ok, overflow check above */
-            im->block = (char *) malloc(im->ysize * im->linesize);
-        } else {
-            /* malloc check ok, overflow check above */
-            im->block = (char *) calloc(im->ysize, im->linesize);
-        }
+        /* malloc check ok, overflow check above */
+        im->block = (char *) calloc(im->ysize, im->linesize);
     }
 
     if ( ! im->block) {
@@ -371,11 +489,6 @@ ImagingAllocateBlock(Imaging im, int dirty)
 /* --------------------------------------------------------------------
  * Create a new, internally allocated, image.
  */
-#if defined(IMAGING_SMALL_MODEL)
-#define THRESHOLD       16384L
-#else
-#define THRESHOLD       (2048*2048*4L)
-#endif
 
 Imaging
 ImagingNewInternal(const char* mode, int xsize, int ysize, int dirty)
@@ -390,14 +503,6 @@ ImagingNewInternal(const char* mode, int xsize, int ysize, int dirty)
     if ( ! im)
         return NULL;
 
-    if (im->ysize && im->linesize <= THRESHOLD / im->ysize) {
-        if (ImagingAllocateBlock(im, dirty)) {
-            return im;
-        }
-        /* assume memory error; try allocating in array mode instead */
-        ImagingError_Clear();
-    }
-
     if (ImagingAllocateArray(im, dirty)) {
         return im;
     }
@@ -423,11 +528,15 @@ ImagingNewBlock(const char* mode, int xsize, int ysize)
 {
     Imaging im;
 
+    if (xsize < 0 || ysize < 0) {
+        return (Imaging) ImagingError_ValueError("bad image size");
+    }
+
     im = ImagingNewPrologue(mode, xsize, ysize);
     if ( ! im)
         return NULL;
 
-    if (ImagingAllocateBlock(im, 0)) {
+    if (ImagingAllocateBlock(im)) {
         return im;
     }