diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index 8a2d866..21a9af8 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [package]
 name = "fimg"
-version = "0.4.13"
+version = "0.4.14"
 authors = ["bend-n <bend.n@outlook.com>"]
 license = "MIT"
 edition = "2021"
diff --git a/benches/affine_transformations.rs b/benches/affine_transformations.rs
index 912eff0..8ac03a4 100644
--- a/benches/affine_transformations.rs
+++ b/benches/affine_transformations.rs
@@ -3,12 +3,13 @@ use fimg::*;
 macro_rules! bench {
     (fn $name: ident() { run $fn: ident() } $($namec:ident)?) => {
         fn $name() {
+            let mut bytes = *include_bytes!("4_128x128.imgbuf");
             let mut img: Image<_, 4> =
-                Image::build(128, 128).buf(include_bytes!("4_128x128.imgbuf").to_vec());
+                Image::build(128, 128).buf(&mut bytes);
             for _ in 0..256 {
                 #[allow(unused_unsafe)]
                 unsafe {
-                    img.$fn()
+                    img.as_mut().$fn()
                 };
             }
         }
diff --git a/benches/drawing.rs b/benches/drawing.rs
index 1ad9c97..b0668d3 100644
--- a/benches/drawing.rs
+++ b/benches/drawing.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 use fimg::*;
 fn tri() {
-    let mut b = [0u8; 1000 * 1000 * 4];
-    let mut i = Image::<&mut [u8], 4>::build(1000, 1000).buf(&mut b);
-    i.tri((0., 0.), (1000., 500.), (0., 999.), [255, 255, 255, 255]);
+    let mut i: Image<_, 4> = fimg::make!(4 channels 1000 x 1000);
+    i.as_mut()
+        .tri((0., 0.), (1000., 500.), (0., 999.), [255, 255, 255, 255]);
 }
 iai::main!(tri);
diff --git a/benches/overlays.rs b/benches/overlays.rs
index 46e10f6..715a226 100644
--- a/benches/overlays.rs
+++ b/benches/overlays.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 use fimg::*;
 
 fn overlay_3on3at() {
-    let mut a: Image<_, 3> = Image::alloc(128, 128);
+    let mut a = fimg::make!(3 channels 128 x 128);
     let b: Image<&[u8], 3> = Image::build(8, 8).buf(include_bytes!("3_8x8.imgbuf"));
     for x in 0..16 {
         for y in 0..16 {
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ fn overlay_3on3at() {
 }
 
 fn overlay_4on3at() {
-    let mut a: Image<_, 3> = Image::alloc(128, 128);
+    let mut a = fimg::make!(3 channels 128 x 128);
     let b: Image<&[u8], 4> = Image::build(8, 8).buf(include_bytes!("4_8x8.imgbuf"));
     for x in 0..16 {
         for y in 0..16 {
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ fn overlay_4on3at() {
 }
 
 fn overlay_4on4at() {
-    let mut a: Image<_, 4> = Image::alloc(128, 128);
+    let mut a = fimg::make!(4 channels 128 x 128);
     let b: Image<&[u8], 4> = Image::build(8, 8).buf(include_bytes!("4_8x8.imgbuf"));
     for x in 0..16 {
         for y in 0..16 {
diff --git a/src/affine.rs b/src/affine.rs
index 2568693..b0152a5 100644
--- a/src/affine.rs
+++ b/src/affine.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,4 @@
 //! Manages the affine image transformations.
-use std::ops::DerefMut;
-
 use crate::{cloner::ImageCloner, Image};
 
 impl<const CHANNELS: usize> ImageCloner<'_, CHANNELS> {
@@ -45,7 +43,7 @@ impl<const CHANNELS: usize> ImageCloner<'_, CHANNELS> {
     }
 }
 
-impl<const CHANNELS: usize, T: DerefMut<Target = [u8]>> Image<T, CHANNELS> {
+impl<const CHANNELS: usize, T: AsMut<[u8]> + AsRef<[u8]>> Image<T, CHANNELS> {
     /// Flip an image vertically.
     pub fn flip_v(&mut self) {
         for y in 0..self.height() / 2 {
@@ -127,7 +125,7 @@ impl<const CHANNELS: usize> ImageCloner<'_, CHANNELS> {
     }
 }
 
-impl<const CHANNELS: usize, T: DerefMut<Target = [u8]>> Image<T, CHANNELS> {
+impl<const CHANNELS: usize, T: AsMut<[u8]> + AsRef<[u8]>> Image<T, CHANNELS> {
     /// Rotate an image 180 degrees clockwise.
     pub fn rot_180(&mut self) {
         self.flatten_mut().reverse();
@@ -162,7 +160,7 @@ impl<const CHANNELS: usize, T: DerefMut<Target = [u8]>> Image<T, CHANNELS> {
 /// # Safety
 ///
 /// UB if supplied image not square
-unsafe fn crev<const CHANNELS: usize, T: DerefMut<Target = [u8]>>(mut img: Image<T, CHANNELS>) {
+unsafe fn crev<const CHANNELS: usize, T: AsMut<[u8]> + AsRef<[u8]>>(mut img: Image<T, CHANNELS>) {
     debug_assert_eq!(img.width(), img.height());
     let size = img.width() as usize;
     let b = img.flatten_mut();
@@ -202,7 +200,7 @@ unsafe fn transpose_out<const CHANNELS: usize>(
 /// # Safety
 ///
 /// UB if supplied image rectangular
-unsafe fn transpose<const CHANNELS: usize, T: DerefMut<Target = [u8]>>(
+unsafe fn transpose<const CHANNELS: usize, T: AsMut<[u8]> + AsRef<[u8]>>(
     img: &mut Image<T, CHANNELS>,
 ) {
     debug_assert_eq!(img.width(), img.height());
@@ -220,7 +218,7 @@ unsafe fn transpose<const CHANNELS: usize, T: DerefMut<Target = [u8]>>(
 /// # Safety
 ///
 /// UB if image not square
-unsafe fn transpose_non_power_of_two<const CHANNELS: usize, T: DerefMut<Target = [u8]>>(
+unsafe fn transpose_non_power_of_two<const CHANNELS: usize, T: AsMut<[u8]> + AsRef<[u8]>>(
     img: &mut Image<T, CHANNELS>,
 ) {
     debug_assert_eq!(img.width(), img.height());
@@ -239,7 +237,7 @@ const TILE: usize = 4;
 /// # Safety
 ///
 /// be careful
-unsafe fn transpose_tile<const CHANNELS: usize, T: DerefMut<Target = [u8]>>(
+unsafe fn transpose_tile<const CHANNELS: usize, T: AsMut<[u8]> + AsRef<[u8]>>(
     img: &mut Image<T, CHANNELS>,
     row: usize,
     col: usize,
@@ -275,7 +273,7 @@ unsafe fn transpose_tile<const CHANNELS: usize, T: DerefMut<Target = [u8]>>(
 /// # Safety
 ///
 /// be careful
-unsafe fn transpose_diag<const CHANNELS: usize, T: DerefMut<Target = [u8]>>(
+unsafe fn transpose_diag<const CHANNELS: usize, T: AsMut<[u8]> + AsRef<[u8]>>(
     img: &mut Image<T, CHANNELS>,
     pos: usize,
     size: usize,
diff --git a/src/drawing/box.rs b/src/drawing/box.rs
index d59b01b..b4b1d3e 100644
--- a/src/drawing/box.rs
+++ b/src/drawing/box.rs
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 //! `Box<cat>`
-use std::ops::{DerefMut, Range};
+use std::ops::Range;
 
 use crate::Image;
 
-impl<T: DerefMut<Target = [u8]>, const CHANNELS: usize> Image<T, CHANNELS> {
+impl<T: AsMut<[u8]> + AsRef<[u8]>, const CHANNELS: usize> Image<T, CHANNELS> {
     /// Draw a bordered box
     /// ```
     /// # use fimg::Image;
diff --git a/src/drawing/circle.rs b/src/drawing/circle.rs
index 793dd92..5f9f105 100644
--- a/src/drawing/circle.rs
+++ b/src/drawing/circle.rs
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 //! draw 2d circles
 use crate::Image;
-use std::ops::DerefMut;
 
-impl<T: DerefMut<Target = [u8]>, const CHANNELS: usize> Image<T, CHANNELS> {
+
+impl<T: AsMut<[u8]> + AsRef<[u8]>, const CHANNELS: usize> Image<T, CHANNELS> {
     /// Draws a circle, using the [Bresenham's circle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midpoint_circle_algorithm) algorithm.
     /// ```
     /// # use fimg::Image;
diff --git a/src/drawing/line.rs b/src/drawing/line.rs
index 369e8fd..3498d95 100644
--- a/src/drawing/line.rs
+++ b/src/drawing/line.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 //! adds a `line` function to Image
 #![allow(clippy::missing_docs_in_private_items)]
 use crate::Image;
-use std::{iter::Iterator, ops::DerefMut};
+use std::iter::Iterator;
 
 /// taken from [bresenham-rs](https://github.com/mbr/bresenham-rs)
 pub struct Bresenham {
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ impl Iterator for Bresenham {
     }
 }
 
-impl<T: DerefMut<Target = [u8]>, const CHANNELS: usize> Image<T, CHANNELS> {
+impl<T: AsMut<[u8]> + AsRef<[u8]>, const CHANNELS: usize> Image<T, CHANNELS> {
     /// Draw a line from point a to point b.
     ///
     /// Points not in bounds will not be included.
diff --git a/src/drawing/poly.rs b/src/drawing/poly.rs
index 3847a56..b73f321 100644
--- a/src/drawing/poly.rs
+++ b/src/drawing/poly.rs
@@ -2,12 +2,11 @@
 use std::{
     cmp::{max, min},
     f32::consts::TAU,
-    ops::DerefMut,
 };
 
 use crate::Image;
 
-impl<T: DerefMut<Target = [u8]>, const CHANNELS: usize> Image<T, CHANNELS> {
+impl<T: AsMut<[u8]> + AsRef<[u8]>, const CHANNELS: usize> Image<T, CHANNELS> {
     /// Draws a filled polygon from a slice of points. Please close your poly. (first == last)
     ///
     /// Borrowed from [imageproc](https://docs.rs/imageproc/latest/src/imageproc/drawing/polygon.rs.html#31), modified for less allocations.
diff --git a/src/drawing/tri.rs b/src/drawing/tri.rs
index c29ad1d..b50dfe4 100644
--- a/src/drawing/tri.rs
+++ b/src/drawing/tri.rs
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 //! trongle drawing
-use std::ops::DerefMut;
+
 
 use crate::Image;
 
-impl<T: DerefMut<Target = [u8]>, const CHANNELS: usize> Image<T, CHANNELS> {
+impl<T: AsMut<[u8]> + AsRef<[u8]>, const CHANNELS: usize> Image<T, CHANNELS> {
     /// Draw a (filled) triangle
     /// ```
     /// # use fimg::*;
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index 8049973..bb08357 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ impl<const CHANNELS: usize> Image<&[u8], CHANNELS> {
     /// ```
     pub const fn make<'a, const WIDTH: u32, const HEIGHT: u32>() -> Image<&'a [u8], CHANNELS>
     where
-        [(); CHANNELS * WIDTH as usize * HEIGHT as usize]: Sized,
+        [(); CHANNELS * WIDTH as usize * HEIGHT as usize]:,
     {
         Image {
             width: NonZeroU32::new(WIDTH).expect("passed zero width to builder"),
@@ -243,7 +243,40 @@ impl<const CHANNELS: usize> Image<&[u8], CHANNELS> {
     }
 }
 
-impl<T: std::ops::Deref<Target = [u8]>, const CHANNELS: usize> Image<T, CHANNELS> {
+#[macro_export]
+/// Create a <code>[Image]<[[u8]; N], C></code> with ease. If your looking for a <code>[Image]<&'static [[u8]]></code>, try [`Image::make`].
+///
+/// ```
+/// let mut i = fimg::make!(4 channels 128 x 128);
+/// ```
+///
+/// Implementation note:
+/// This is doable with a const generic fn, but it returns a `fimg::Image<[u8; fimg::::{impl#7}::array::{constant#1}], _>` which means you cant actually type it, so its useless.
+macro_rules! make {
+    ($channels:literal channels $w:literal x $h: literal) => {
+        unsafe {
+            Image::<_, $channels>::new(
+                match ::core::num::NonZeroU32::new($w) {
+                    Some(n) => n,
+                    None => panic!("width is 0"),
+                },
+                match ::core::num::NonZeroU32::new($h) {
+                    ::core::option::Option::Some(n) => n,
+                    ::core::option::Option::None => panic!("height is 0"),
+                },
+                [0_u8; $channels * $w * $h],
+            )
+        }
+    };
+}
+
+impl<T: AsRef<[u8]>, const CHANNELS: usize> Image<T, CHANNELS> {
+    /// The size of the underlying buffer.
+    #[allow(clippy::len_without_is_empty)]
+    pub fn len(&self) -> usize {
+        self.buffer.as_ref().len()
+    }
+
     /// # Safety
     ///
     /// the output index is not guranteed to be in bounds
@@ -271,7 +304,7 @@ impl<T: std::ops::Deref<Target = [u8]>, const CHANNELS: usize> Image<T, CHANNELS
         };
         // SAFETY: 🧐 is unsound? 😖
         let index = unsafe { index.unchecked_mul(CHANNELS) };
-        debug_assert!(self.buffer.len() > index);
+        debug_assert!(self.len() > index);
         index
     }
 
@@ -284,24 +317,24 @@ impl<T: std::ops::Deref<Target = [u8]>, const CHANNELS: usize> Image<T, CHANNELS
     /// Reference this image.
     pub fn as_ref(&self) -> Image<&[u8], CHANNELS> {
         // SAFETY: we got constructed okay, parameters must be valid
-        unsafe { Image::new(self.width, self.height, &*self.buffer) }
+        unsafe { Image::new(self.width, self.height, self.buffer.as_ref()) }
     }
 
     #[inline]
     /// Returns a iterator over every pixel
     pub fn chunked(&self) -> impl DoubleEndedIterator<Item = &[u8; CHANNELS]> {
         // SAFETY: 0 sized images illegal
-        unsafe { assert_unchecked!(self.buffer.len() > CHANNELS) };
+        unsafe { assert_unchecked!(self.len() > CHANNELS) };
         // SAFETY: no half pixels!
-        unsafe { assert_unchecked!(self.buffer.len() % CHANNELS == 0) };
-        self.buffer.array_chunks::<CHANNELS>()
+        unsafe { assert_unchecked!(self.len() % CHANNELS == 0) };
+        self.buffer.as_ref().array_chunks::<CHANNELS>()
     }
 
     #[inline]
     /// Flatten the chunks of this image into a slice of slices.
     pub fn flatten(&self) -> &[[u8; CHANNELS]] {
         // SAFETY: buffer cannot have half pixels
-        unsafe { self.buffer.as_chunks_unchecked::<CHANNELS>() }
+        unsafe { self.buffer.as_ref().as_chunks_unchecked::<CHANNELS>() }
     }
 
     /// Return a pixel at (x, y).
@@ -312,13 +345,19 @@ impl<T: std::ops::Deref<Target = [u8]>, const CHANNELS: usize> Image<T, CHANNELS
     #[inline]
     pub unsafe fn pixel(&self, x: u32, y: u32) -> [u8; CHANNELS] {
         // SAFETY: x and y in bounds, slice is okay
-        let ptr = unsafe { self.buffer.get_unchecked(self.slice(x, y)).as_ptr().cast() };
+        let ptr = unsafe {
+            self.buffer
+                .as_ref()
+                .get_unchecked(self.slice(x, y))
+                .as_ptr()
+                .cast()
+        };
         // SAFETY: slice always returns a length of `CHANNELS`, so we `cast()` it for convenience.
         unsafe { *ptr }
     }
 }
 
-impl<T: std::ops::DerefMut<Target = [u8]>, const CHANNELS: usize> Image<T, CHANNELS> {
+impl<T: AsMut<[u8]> + AsRef<[u8]>, const CHANNELS: usize> Image<T, CHANNELS> {
     /// Return a mutable reference to a pixel at (x, y).
     /// # Safety
     ///
@@ -329,30 +368,30 @@ impl<T: std::ops::DerefMut<Target = [u8]>, const CHANNELS: usize> Image<T, CHANN
         // SAFETY: we have been told x, y is in bounds.
         let idx = self.slice(x, y);
         // SAFETY: slice should always return a valid index
-        unsafe { self.buffer.get_unchecked_mut(idx) }
+        unsafe { self.buffer.as_mut().get_unchecked_mut(idx) }
     }
 
     #[inline]
     /// Returns a iterator over every pixel, mutably
     pub fn chunked_mut(&mut self) -> impl Iterator<Item = &mut [u8; CHANNELS]> {
         // SAFETY: 0 sized images are not allowed
-        unsafe { assert_unchecked!(self.buffer.len() > CHANNELS) };
+        unsafe { assert_unchecked!(self.len() > CHANNELS) };
         // SAFETY: buffer cannot have half pixels
-        unsafe { assert_unchecked!(self.buffer.len() % CHANNELS == 0) };
-        self.buffer.array_chunks_mut::<CHANNELS>()
+        unsafe { assert_unchecked!(self.len() % CHANNELS == 0) };
+        self.buffer.as_mut().array_chunks_mut::<CHANNELS>()
     }
 
     /// Create a mutref to this image
     pub fn as_mut(&mut self) -> Image<&mut [u8], CHANNELS> {
         // SAFETY: construction went okay
-        unsafe { Image::new(self.width, self.height, &mut self.buffer) }
+        unsafe { Image::new(self.width, self.height, self.buffer.as_mut()) }
     }
 
     #[inline]
     /// Flatten the chunks of this image into a mutable slice of slices.
     pub fn flatten_mut(&mut self) -> &mut [[u8; CHANNELS]] {
         // SAFETY: buffer cannot have half pixels
-        unsafe { self.buffer.as_chunks_unchecked_mut::<CHANNELS>() }
+        unsafe { self.buffer.as_mut().as_chunks_unchecked_mut::<CHANNELS>() }
     }
 
     /// # Safety
@@ -363,13 +402,13 @@ impl<T: std::ops::DerefMut<Target = [u8]>, const CHANNELS: usize> Image<T, CHANN
     unsafe fn copy_within(&mut self, src: std::ops::Range<usize>, dest: usize) {
         let std::ops::Range { start, end } = src;
         debug_assert!(
-            dest <= self.buffer.len() - end - start,
+            dest <= self.buffer.as_ref().len() - end - start,
             "dest is out of bounds"
         );
         #[allow(clippy::multiple_unsafe_ops_per_block)]
         // SAFETY: the caller better be good
         unsafe {
-            let ptr = self.buffer.as_mut_ptr();
+            let ptr = self.buffer.as_mut().as_mut_ptr();
             std::ptr::copy_nonoverlapping(ptr.add(start), ptr.add(dest), end - start)
         };
     }
@@ -399,7 +438,7 @@ impl<const CHANNELS: usize> Image<&mut [u8], CHANNELS> {
 }
 
 impl<const CHANNELS: usize> Image<Vec<u8>, CHANNELS> {
-    /// Allocates a new image
+    /// Allocates a new image. If `width` and `height` are constant, try using [`make`].
     ///
     /// # Panics
     ///
@@ -417,7 +456,7 @@ impl<const CHANNELS: usize> Image<Vec<u8>, CHANNELS> {
 /// helper macro for defining the save() method.
 macro_rules! save {
     ($channels:literal == $clr:ident ($clrhuman:literal)) => {
-        impl<T: std::ops::Deref<Target = [u8]>> Image<T, $channels> {
+        impl<T: AsRef<[u8]>> Image<T, $channels> {
             #[cfg(feature = "save")]
             #[doc = "Save this "]
             #[doc = $clrhuman]
@@ -436,7 +475,7 @@ macro_rules! save {
                     (0.15000, 0.06000),
                 ));
                 let mut writer = enc.write_header().unwrap();
-                writer.write_image_data(&self.buffer).unwrap();
+                writer.write_image_data(self.buffer.as_ref()).unwrap();
             }
         }
     };
diff --git a/src/overlay.rs b/src/overlay.rs
index 7f2715c..fca17bb 100644
--- a/src/overlay.rs
+++ b/src/overlay.rs
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 use crate::cloner::ImageCloner;
 
 use super::{assert_unchecked, Image};
-use std::ops::{Deref, DerefMut};
 use std::simd::{simd_swizzle, Simd, SimdInt, SimdPartialOrd};
 
 /// Trait for layering a image ontop of another, with a offset to the second image.
@@ -100,7 +99,7 @@ unsafe fn blit(rgb: &mut [u8], rgba: &[u8]) {
     }
 }
 
-impl<T: DerefMut<Target = [u8]>, U: Deref<Target = [u8]>> Overlay<Image<U, 4>> for Image<T, 4> {
+impl<T: AsMut<[u8]> + AsRef<[u8]>, U: AsRef<[u8]>> Overlay<Image<U, 4>> for Image<T, 4> {
     #[inline]
     unsafe fn overlay(&mut self, with: &Image<U, 4>) -> &mut Self {
         debug_assert!(self.width() == with.width());
@@ -108,7 +107,8 @@ impl<T: DerefMut<Target = [u8]>, U: Deref<Target = [u8]>> Overlay<Image<U, 4>> f
         for (i, other_pixels) in with.chunked().enumerate() {
             if other_pixels[3] >= 128 {
                 // SAFETY: outside are bounds of index from slice
-                let own_pixels = unsafe { self.buffer.get_unchecked_mut(i * 4..i * 4 + 4) };
+                let own_pixels =
+                    unsafe { self.buffer.as_mut().get_unchecked_mut(i * 4..i * 4 + 4) };
                 own_pixels.copy_from_slice(other_pixels);
             }
         }
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ impl ClonerOverlay<4, 4> for ImageCloner<'_, 4> {
     }
 }
 
-impl<T: DerefMut<Target = [u8]>, U: Deref<Target = [u8]>> OverlayAt<Image<U, 4>> for Image<T, 3> {
+impl<T: AsMut<[u8]> + AsRef<[u8]>, U: AsRef<[u8]>> OverlayAt<Image<U, 4>> for Image<T, 3> {
     #[inline]
     unsafe fn overlay_at(&mut self, with: &Image<U, 4>, x: u32, y: u32) -> &mut Self {
         // SAFETY: caller upholds this
@@ -142,9 +142,9 @@ impl<T: DerefMut<Target = [u8]>, U: Deref<Target = [u8]>> OverlayAt<Image<U, 4>>
                     + with.width() as usize)
                     * 3;
             // SAFETY: index is in bounds
-            let rgb = unsafe { self.buffer.get_unchecked_mut(o_x) };
+            let rgb = unsafe { self.buffer.as_mut().get_unchecked_mut(o_x) };
             // SAFETY: bounds are outside index
-            let rgba = unsafe { with.buffer.get_unchecked(i_x) };
+            let rgba = unsafe { with.buffer.as_ref().get_unchecked(i_x) };
             // SAFETY: arguments are 🟢
             unsafe { blit(rgb, rgba) }
         }
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ impl ClonerOverlayAt<4, 3> for ImageCloner<'_, 3> {
     }
 }
 
-impl<T: DerefMut<Target = [u8]>, U: Deref<Target = [u8]>> OverlayAt<Image<U, 3>> for Image<T, 3> {
+impl<T: AsMut<[u8]> + AsRef<[u8]>, U: AsRef<[u8]>> OverlayAt<Image<U, 3>> for Image<T, 3> {
     /// Overlay a RGB image(with) => self at coordinates x, y.
     /// As this is a `RGBxRGB` operation, blending is unnecessary,
     /// and this is simply a copy.
@@ -182,12 +182,12 @@ impl<T: DerefMut<Target = [u8]>, U: Deref<Target = [u8]>> OverlayAt<Image<U, 3>>
                         ..((j + y as usize) * self.width() as usize + x as usize + ($n as usize))
                             * 3;
                     // <= because ".." range
-                    debug_assert!(o_x.end <= self.buffer().len());
-                    debug_assert!(i_x.end <= with.buffer().len());
+                    debug_assert!(o_x.end <= self.buffer().as_ref().len());
+                    debug_assert!(i_x.end <= with.buffer().as_ref().len());
                     // SAFETY: bounds are ✅
-                    let a = unsafe { self.buffer.get_unchecked_mut(o_x) };
+                    let a = unsafe { self.buffer.as_mut().get_unchecked_mut(o_x) };
                     // SAFETY: we are in ⬜!
-                    let b = unsafe { with.buffer.get_unchecked(i_x) };
+                    let b = unsafe { with.buffer.as_ref().get_unchecked(i_x) };
                     a.copy_from_slice(b);
                 }
             }};
@@ -202,19 +202,20 @@ impl<T: DerefMut<Target = [u8]>, U: Deref<Target = [u8]>> OverlayAt<Image<U, 3>>
     }
 }
 
-impl<T: DerefMut<Target = [u8]>, U: Deref<Target = [u8]>> Overlay<Image<U, 4>> for Image<T, 3> {
+impl<T: AsMut<[u8]> + AsRef<[u8]>, U: AsRef<[u8]>> Overlay<Image<U, 4>> for Image<T, 3> {
     #[inline]
     unsafe fn overlay(&mut self, with: &Image<U, 4>) -> &mut Self {
         debug_assert!(self.width() == with.width());
         debug_assert!(self.height() == with.height());
         for (i, chunk) in with
             .buffer
+            .as_ref()
             .chunks_exact(with.width() as usize * 4)
             .enumerate()
         {
             // SAFETY: all the bounds are good
             let rgb = unsafe {
-                self.buffer.get_unchecked_mut(
+                self.buffer.as_mut().get_unchecked_mut(
                     i * with.width() as usize * 3..(i + 1) * with.width() as usize * 3,
                 )
             };
@@ -236,7 +237,7 @@ impl ClonerOverlay<4, 3> for ImageCloner<'_, 3> {
     }
 }
 
-impl<T: DerefMut<Target = [u8]>, U: Deref<Target = [u8]>> OverlayAt<Image<U, 4>> for Image<T, 4> {
+impl<T: AsMut<[u8]> + AsRef<[u8]>, U: AsRef<[u8]>> OverlayAt<Image<U, 4>> for Image<T, 4> {
     #[inline]
     unsafe fn overlay_at(&mut self, with: &Image<U, 4>, x: u32, y: u32) -> &mut Self {
         for j in 0..with.height() {