diff --git a/pandatool/src/egg-palettize/omitReason.cxx b/pandatool/src/egg-palettize/omitReason.cxx
index 04dd96f621..fce2420a4c 100644
--- a/pandatool/src/egg-palettize/omitReason.cxx
+++ b/pandatool/src/egg-palettize/omitReason.cxx
@@ -23,8 +23,8 @@ operator << (ostream &out, OmitReason omit) {
   case OR_solitary:
     return out << "solitary";
 
-  case OR_repeats:
-    return out << "repeats";
+  case OR_coverage:
+    return out << "coverage";
 
   case OR_unknown:
     return out << "unknown";
diff --git a/pandatool/src/egg-palettize/omitReason.h b/pandatool/src/egg-palettize/omitReason.h
index d70e7dca98..a0e14629c9 100644
--- a/pandatool/src/egg-palettize/omitReason.h
+++ b/pandatool/src/egg-palettize/omitReason.h
@@ -30,9 +30,9 @@ enum OmitReason {
   // It should be placed, but it's the only one on the palette image
   // so far, so there's no point.
 
-  OR_repeats,
+  OR_coverage,
   // The texture repeats.  Specifically, the UV's for the texture
-  // exceed the maximum rectangle allowed by repeat_threshold.
+  // exceed the maximum rectangle allowed by coverage_threshold.
 
   OR_unknown,
   // The texture file cannot be read, so its size can't be determined.
diff --git a/pandatool/src/egg-palettize/paletteGroup.cxx b/pandatool/src/egg-palettize/paletteGroup.cxx
index 87cff46926..297890bc30 100644
--- a/pandatool/src/egg-palettize/paletteGroup.cxx
+++ b/pandatool/src/egg-palettize/paletteGroup.cxx
@@ -287,10 +287,8 @@ write_image_info(ostream &out, int indent_level) const {
 	<< placement->get_texture()->get_name()
 	<< " unplaced because ";
       switch (placement->get_omit_reason()) {
-      case OR_repeats:
-	out << "repeats (" 
-	    << floor(placement->get_uv_area() * 10000.0 + 0.5) / 100.0
-	    << "%)";
+      case OR_coverage:
+	out << "coverage (" << placement->get_uv_area() << ")";
 	break;
 
       case OR_size:
diff --git a/pandatool/src/egg-palettize/palettizer.cxx b/pandatool/src/egg-palettize/palettizer.cxx
index 2d85e48d0d..bdc49611a3 100644
--- a/pandatool/src/egg-palettize/palettizer.cxx
+++ b/pandatool/src/egg-palettize/palettizer.cxx
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ Palettizer() {
 
   _map_dirname = "%g";
   _margin = 2;
-  _repeat_threshold = 250.0;
+  _coverage_threshold = 2.5;
   _aggressively_clean_mapdir = true;
   _force_power_2 = true;
   _color_type = PNMFileTypeRegistry::get_ptr()->get_type_from_extension("rgb");
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ report_pi() const {
     << FilenameUnifier::make_user_filename(_rel_dirname) << "\n"
     << "  palettize size: " << _pal_x_size << " by " << _pal_y_size << "\n"
     << "  margin: " << _margin << "\n"
-    << "  repeat threshold: " << _repeat_threshold << "%\n"
+    << "  coverage threshold: " << _coverage_threshold << "\n"
     << "  force textures to power of 2: " << yesno(_force_power_2) << "\n"
     << "  aggressively clean the map directory: "
     << yesno(_aggressively_clean_mapdir) << "\n"
@@ -608,7 +608,7 @@ write_datagram(BamWriter *writer, Datagram &datagram) {
   datagram.add_int32(_pal_x_size);
   datagram.add_int32(_pal_y_size);
   datagram.add_int32(_margin);
-  datagram.add_float64(_repeat_threshold);
+  datagram.add_float64(_coverage_threshold);
   datagram.add_bool(_force_power_2);
   datagram.add_bool(_aggressively_clean_mapdir);
   datagram.add_bool(_round_uvs);
@@ -726,7 +726,7 @@ fillin(DatagramIterator &scan, BamReader *manager) {
   _pal_x_size = scan.get_int32();
   _pal_y_size = scan.get_int32();
   _margin = scan.get_int32();
-  _repeat_threshold = scan.get_float64();
+  _coverage_threshold = scan.get_float64();
   _force_power_2 = scan.get_bool();
   _aggressively_clean_mapdir = scan.get_bool();
   _round_uvs = scan.get_bool();
diff --git a/pandatool/src/egg-palettize/palettizer.h b/pandatool/src/egg-palettize/palettizer.h
index 0f4c9cbcff..d5945fa063 100644
--- a/pandatool/src/egg-palettize/palettizer.h
+++ b/pandatool/src/egg-palettize/palettizer.h
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ public:
   Filename _rel_dirname;
   int _pal_x_size, _pal_y_size;
   int _margin;
-  double _repeat_threshold;
+  double _coverage_threshold;
   bool _force_power_2;
   bool _aggressively_clean_mapdir;
   bool _round_uvs;
diff --git a/pandatool/src/egg-palettize/textureImage.cxx b/pandatool/src/egg-palettize/textureImage.cxx
index 80db846736..f0e46c982b 100644
--- a/pandatool/src/egg-palettize/textureImage.cxx
+++ b/pandatool/src/egg-palettize/textureImage.cxx
@@ -338,27 +338,27 @@ get_omit() const {
 }
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-//     Function: TextureImage::get_repeat_threshold
+//     Function: TextureImage::get_coverage_threshold
 //       Access: Public
-//  Description: Returns the suitable repeat threshold for this
+//  Description: Returns the appropriate coverage threshold for this
 //               texture.  This is either the
-//               Palettizer::_repeat_threshold parameter, given
+//               Palettizer::_coverage_threshold parameter, given
 //               globally via -r, or a particular value for this
-//               texture as supplied by the "repeat" keyword in the
+//               texture as supplied by the "coverage" keyword in the
 //               .txa file.
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 double TextureImage::
-get_repeat_threshold() const {
-  return _request._repeat_threshold;
+get_coverage_threshold() const {
+  return _request._coverage_threshold;
 }
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 //     Function: TextureImage::get_margin
 //       Access: Public
-//  Description: Returns the suitable repeat threshold for this
-//               texture.  This is either the Palettizer::_margin
-//               parameter, or a particular value for this texture as
-//               supplied by the "margin" keyword in the .txa file.
+//  Description: Returns the appropriate margin for this texture.
+//               This is either the Palettizer::_margin parameter, or
+//               a particular value for this texture as supplied by
+//               the "margin" keyword in the .txa file.
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 int TextureImage::
 get_margin() const {
diff --git a/pandatool/src/egg-palettize/textureImage.h b/pandatool/src/egg-palettize/textureImage.h
index 2101198cde..0f9508d95b 100644
--- a/pandatool/src/egg-palettize/textureImage.h
+++ b/pandatool/src/egg-palettize/textureImage.h
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ public:
   void determine_placement_size();
 
   bool get_omit() const;
-  double get_repeat_threshold() const;
+  double get_coverage_threshold() const;
   int get_margin() const;
   bool is_surprise() const;
 
diff --git a/pandatool/src/egg-palettize/texturePlacement.cxx b/pandatool/src/egg-palettize/texturePlacement.cxx
index 22000c639c..73304873bf 100644
--- a/pandatool/src/egg-palettize/texturePlacement.cxx
+++ b/pandatool/src/egg-palettize/texturePlacement.cxx
@@ -290,10 +290,10 @@ determine_size() {
     force_replace();
     _omit_reason = OR_omitted;
 
-  } else if (get_uv_area() > _texture->get_repeat_threshold() / 100.0) {
+  } else if (get_uv_area() > _texture->get_coverage_threshold()) {
     // If the texture repeats too many times, we can't place it.
     force_replace();
-    _omit_reason = OR_repeats;
+    _omit_reason = OR_coverage;
 
   } else if ((_position._x_size > pal->_pal_x_size || 
 	      _position._y_size > pal->_pal_y_size) ||
@@ -308,11 +308,11 @@ determine_size() {
 
   } else if (_omit_reason == OR_omitted ||
 	     _omit_reason == OR_size ||
-	     _omit_reason == OR_repeats ||
+	     _omit_reason == OR_coverage ||
 	     _omit_reason == OR_unknown) {
     // On the other hand, if the texture was previously omitted
-    // explicitly, or because of its size or repeat count, now it
-    // seems to fit.
+    // explicitly, or because of its size or coverage, now it seems to
+    // fit.
     force_replace();
     _omit_reason = OR_working;
 
@@ -679,9 +679,8 @@ write_placed(ostream &out, int indent_level) {
     out << " at "
 	<< get_placed_x() << " " << get_placed_y() << " to "
 	<< get_placed_x() + get_placed_x_size() << " "
-	<< get_placed_y() + get_placed_y_size() << " (used "
-	<< floor(get_placed_uv_area() * 10000.0 + 0.5) / 100.0
-	<< "%)\n";
+	<< get_placed_y() + get_placed_y_size() << " (coverage "
+	<< get_placed_uv_area() << ")\n";
   } else {
     out << " not yet placed.\n";
   }
diff --git a/pandatool/src/egg-palettize/textureReference.cxx b/pandatool/src/egg-palettize/textureReference.cxx
index 9aaebe15ad..910c3238cf 100644
--- a/pandatool/src/egg-palettize/textureReference.cxx
+++ b/pandatool/src/egg-palettize/textureReference.cxx
@@ -351,7 +351,7 @@ write(ostream &out, int indent_level) const {
     TexCoordd box = _max_uv - _min_uv;
     double area = box[0] * box[1];
 
-    out << " used " << floor(area * 10000.0 + 0.5) / 100.0 << "%";
+    out << " coverage " << area;
   }
 
   if (_properties._format != EggTexture::F_unspecified) {
diff --git a/pandatool/src/egg-palettize/textureRequest.cxx b/pandatool/src/egg-palettize/textureRequest.cxx
index 59858c6222..16cbb0739d 100644
--- a/pandatool/src/egg-palettize/textureRequest.cxx
+++ b/pandatool/src/egg-palettize/textureRequest.cxx
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ TextureRequest() {
   _magfilter = EggTexture::FT_unspecified;
   _omit = false;
   _margin = 0;
-  _repeat_threshold = 0.0;
+  _coverage_threshold = 0.0;
 }
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
@@ -35,5 +35,5 @@ TextureRequest() {
 void TextureRequest::
 pre_txa_file() {
   _margin = pal->_margin;
-  _repeat_threshold = pal->_repeat_threshold;
+  _coverage_threshold = pal->_coverage_threshold;
 }
diff --git a/pandatool/src/egg-palettize/textureRequest.h b/pandatool/src/egg-palettize/textureRequest.h
index 02684b4e37..759f8517af 100644
--- a/pandatool/src/egg-palettize/textureRequest.h
+++ b/pandatool/src/egg-palettize/textureRequest.h
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ public:
   EggTexture::FilterType _magfilter;
   bool _omit;
   int _margin;
-  double _repeat_threshold;
+  double _coverage_threshold;
 };
 
 #endif
diff --git a/pandatool/src/egg-palettize/txaFile.cxx b/pandatool/src/egg-palettize/txaFile.cxx
index b55d47e0b5..93caa24946 100644
--- a/pandatool/src/egg-palettize/txaFile.cxx
+++ b/pandatool/src/egg-palettize/txaFile.cxx
@@ -65,8 +65,8 @@ read(Filename filename) {
       } else if (words[0] == ":margin") {
 	okflag = parse_margin_line(words);
 
-      } else if (words[0] == ":repeat") {
-	okflag = parse_repeat_line(words);
+      } else if (words[0] == ":coverage") {
+	okflag = parse_coverage_line(words);
 
       } else if (words[0] == ":imagetype") {
 	okflag = parse_imagetype_line(words);
@@ -279,30 +279,28 @@ parse_margin_line(const vector_string &words) {
 }
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-//     Function: TxaFile::parse_repeat_line
+//     Function: TxaFile::parse_coverage_line
 //       Access: Private
 //  Description: Handles the line in a .txa file that begins with the
-//               keyword ":repeat" and indicates the default repeat
-//               threshold.
+//               keyword ":coverage" and indicates the default
+//               coverage threshold.
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 bool TxaFile::
-parse_repeat_line(const vector_string &words) {
+parse_coverage_line(const vector_string &words) {
   if (words.size() != 2) {
-    nout << "Exactly one parameter required for :repeat, the "
-	 << "percentage for the default repeat threshold.\n";
+    nout << "Exactly one parameter required for :coverage, the "
+	 << "value for the default coverage threshold.\n";
     return false;
   }
 
-  string tail;
-  pal->_repeat_threshold = string_to_double(words[1], tail);
-  if (!(tail.empty() || tail == "%")) {
-    // This is an invalid number.
-    nout << "Invalid repeat threshold: " << words[1] << "\n";
+
+  if (!string_to_double(words[1], pal->_coverage_threshold)) {
+    nout << "Invalid coverage threshold: " << words[1] << "\n";
     return false;
   }
 
-  if (pal->_repeat_threshold <= 0.0) {
-    nout << "Invalid repeat threshold: " << pal->_repeat_threshold << "\n";
+  if (pal->_coverage_threshold <= 0.0) {
+    nout << "Invalid coverage threshold: " << pal->_coverage_threshold << "\n";
     return false;
   }
 
diff --git a/pandatool/src/egg-palettize/txaFile.h b/pandatool/src/egg-palettize/txaFile.h
index e9da116fc9..f588ba7754 100644
--- a/pandatool/src/egg-palettize/txaFile.h
+++ b/pandatool/src/egg-palettize/txaFile.h
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ private:
   bool parse_group_line(const vector_string &words);
   bool parse_palette_line(const vector_string &words);
   bool parse_margin_line(const vector_string &words);
-  bool parse_repeat_line(const vector_string &words);
+  bool parse_coverage_line(const vector_string &words);
   bool parse_imagetype_line(const vector_string &words);
   bool parse_round_line(const vector_string &words);
   bool parse_remap_line(const vector_string &words);
diff --git a/pandatool/src/egg-palettize/txaLine.cxx b/pandatool/src/egg-palettize/txaLine.cxx
index cd2e0a2bc2..fdb52ce7ef 100644
--- a/pandatool/src/egg-palettize/txaLine.cxx
+++ b/pandatool/src/egg-palettize/txaLine.cxx
@@ -29,8 +29,8 @@ TxaLine() {
   _format = EggTexture::F_unspecified;
   _got_margin = false;
   _margin = 0;
-  _got_repeat_threshold = false;
-  _repeat_threshold = 0.0;
+  _got_coverage_threshold = false;
+  _coverage_threshold = 0.0;
   _color_type = (PNMFileType *)NULL;
   _alpha_type = (PNMFileType *)NULL;
 }
@@ -94,11 +94,11 @@ parse(const string &line) {
       if (word[word.length() - 1] == '%') {
 	// It's a scale percentage!
 	_size_type = ST_scale;
-	const char *nptr = word.c_str();
-	char *endptr;
-	_scale = strtod(nptr, &endptr);
-	if (*endptr != '%') {
-	  nout << "Invalid scale factor: " << word << "\n";
+
+	string tail;
+	_scale = string_to_double(word, tail);
+	if (!(tail == "%")) {
+	  // This is an invalid number.
 	  return false;
 	}
 	++wi;
@@ -108,12 +108,12 @@ parse(const string &line) {
 	vector<int> numbers;
 	while (wi != words.end() && isdigit((*wi)[0])) {
 	  const string &word = *wi;
-	  const char *nptr = word.c_str();
-	  char *endptr;
-	  numbers.push_back(strtol(nptr, &endptr, 0));
-	  if (*endptr != '\0') {
+	  int num;
+	  if (!string_to_int(word, num)) {
 	    nout << "Invalid size: " << word << "\n";
+	    return false;
 	  }
+	  numbers.push_back(num);
 	  ++wi;
 	}
 	if (numbers.size() < 2) {
@@ -163,10 +163,7 @@ parse(const string &line) {
 	} 
 	  
 	const string &arg = (*wi);
-	const char *nptr = arg.c_str();
-	char *endptr;
-	_margin = strtol(nptr, &endptr, 10);
-	if (*endptr != '\0') {
+	if (!string_to_int(arg, _margin)) {
 	  nout << "Not an integer: " << arg << "\n";
 	  return false;
 	}
@@ -176,26 +173,23 @@ parse(const string &line) {
 	}
 	_got_margin = true;
 
-      } else if (word == "repeat") {
+      } else if (word == "coverage") {
 	++wi;
 	if (wi == words.end()) {
-	  nout << "Argument required for 'repeat'.\n";
+	  nout << "Argument required for 'coverage'.\n";
 	  return false;
 	}
 	 
 	const string &arg = (*wi);
-	const char *nptr = arg.c_str();
-	char *endptr;
-	_repeat_threshold = strtod(nptr, &endptr);
-	if (*endptr != '\0' && *endptr != '%') {
+	if (!string_to_double(arg, _coverage_threshold)) {
 	  nout << "Not a number: " << arg << "\n";
 	  return false;
 	}
-	if (_repeat_threshold < 0.0) {
-	  nout << "Invalid repeat threshold: " << _repeat_threshold << "\n";
+	if (_coverage_threshold <= 0.0) {
+	  nout << "Invalid coverage threshold: " << _coverage_threshold << "\n";
 	  return false;
 	}
-	_got_repeat_threshold = true;
+	_got_coverage_threshold = true;
 
       } else {
 	// Maybe it's a format name.
@@ -346,8 +340,8 @@ match_texture(TextureImage *texture) const {
     request._margin = _margin;
   }
 
-  if (_got_repeat_threshold) {
-    request._repeat_threshold = _repeat_threshold;
+  if (_got_coverage_threshold) {
+    request._coverage_threshold = _coverage_threshold;
   }
   
   if (_color_type != (PNMFileType *)NULL) {
@@ -441,8 +435,8 @@ output(ostream &out) const {
     out << " margin " << _margin;
   }
 
-  if (_got_repeat_threshold) {
-    out << " repeat " << _repeat_threshold;
+  if (_got_coverage_threshold) {
+    out << " coverage " << _coverage_threshold;
   }
 
   Keywords::const_iterator ki;
diff --git a/pandatool/src/egg-palettize/txaLine.h b/pandatool/src/egg-palettize/txaLine.h
index d82cf581b1..7bc1ce7dbe 100644
--- a/pandatool/src/egg-palettize/txaLine.h
+++ b/pandatool/src/egg-palettize/txaLine.h
@@ -58,8 +58,8 @@ private:
 
   bool _got_margin;
   int _margin;
-  bool _got_repeat_threshold;
-  double _repeat_threshold;
+  bool _got_coverage_threshold;
+  double _coverage_threshold;
 
   enum Keyword {
     KW_omit,