diff --git a/docs/changelog.md b/docs/changelog.md
index 62089916..569d4d16 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.md
+++ b/docs/changelog.md
@@ -7,6 +7,13 @@
 * Bundle pre-compiled libvips and its dependencies for 64-bit Linux and Windows.
   [#42](https://github.com/lovell/sharp/issues/42)
 
+* Take advantage of libvips v8.1.0+ features.
+  [#152](https://github.com/lovell/sharp/issues/152)
+
+* Pre-extract rotatation should not swap width/height.
+  [#296](https://github.com/lovell/sharp/issues/296)
+  [@asilvas](https://github.com/asilvas)
+
 ### v0.11 - "*knife*"
 
 #### v0.11.4 - 5<sup>th</sup> November 2015
diff --git a/index.js b/index.js
index 0062a9f8..2cd67d73 100755
--- a/index.js
+++ b/index.js
@@ -375,11 +375,7 @@ Sharp.prototype.gamma = function(gamma) {
   Enhance output image contrast by stretching its luminance to cover the full dynamic range
 */
 Sharp.prototype.normalize = function(normalize) {
-  if (process.platform !== 'win32') {
-    this.options.normalize = (typeof normalize === 'boolean') ? normalize : true;
-  } else {
-    console.error('normalize unavailable on win32 platform');
-  }
+  this.options.normalize = (typeof normalize === 'boolean') ? normalize : true;
   return this;
 };
 Sharp.prototype.normalise = Sharp.prototype.normalize;
@@ -425,14 +421,10 @@ Sharp.prototype.compressionLevel = function(compressionLevel) {
 };
 
 /*
-  Disable the use of adaptive row filtering for PNG output - requires libvips 7.42.0+
+  Disable the use of adaptive row filtering for PNG output
 */
 Sharp.prototype.withoutAdaptiveFiltering = function(withoutAdaptiveFiltering) {
-  if (semver.gte(libvipsVersion, '7.42.0')) {
-    this.options.withoutAdaptiveFiltering = (typeof withoutAdaptiveFiltering === 'boolean') ? withoutAdaptiveFiltering : true;
-  } else {
-    console.error('withoutAdaptiveFiltering requires libvips 7.41.0+');
-  }
+  this.options.withoutAdaptiveFiltering = (typeof withoutAdaptiveFiltering === 'boolean') ? withoutAdaptiveFiltering : true;
   return this;
 };
 
@@ -445,41 +437,29 @@ Sharp.prototype.withoutChromaSubsampling = function(withoutChromaSubsampling) {
 };
 
 /*
-  Apply trellis quantisation to JPEG output - requires libvips 8.0.0+ compiled against mozjpeg 3.0+
+  Apply trellis quantisation to JPEG output - requires mozjpeg 3.0+
 */
 Sharp.prototype.trellisQuantisation = function(trellisQuantisation) {
-  if (semver.gte(libvipsVersion, '8.0.0')) {
-    this.options.trellisQuantisation = (typeof trellisQuantisation === 'boolean') ? trellisQuantisation : true;
-  } else {
-    console.error('trellisQuantisation requires libvips 8.0.0+');
-  }
+  this.options.trellisQuantisation = (typeof trellisQuantisation === 'boolean') ? trellisQuantisation : true;
   return this;
 };
 Sharp.prototype.trellisQuantization = Sharp.prototype.trellisQuantisation;
 
 /*
-  Apply overshoot deringing to JPEG output - requires libvips 8.0.0+ compiled against mozjpeg 3.0+
+  Apply overshoot deringing to JPEG output - requires mozjpeg 3.0+
 */
 Sharp.prototype.overshootDeringing = function(overshootDeringing) {
-  if (semver.gte(libvipsVersion, '8.0.0')) {
-    this.options.overshootDeringing = (typeof overshootDeringing === 'boolean') ? overshootDeringing : true;
-  } else {
-    console.error('overshootDeringing requires libvips 8.0.0+');
-  }
+  this.options.overshootDeringing = (typeof overshootDeringing === 'boolean') ? overshootDeringing : true;
   return this;
 };
 
 /*
-  Optimise scans in progressive JPEG output - requires libvips 8.0.0+ compiled against mozjpeg 3.0+
+  Optimise scans in progressive JPEG output - requires mozjpeg 3.0+
 */
 Sharp.prototype.optimiseScans = function(optimiseScans) {
-  if (semver.gte(libvipsVersion, '8.0.0')) {
-    this.options.optimiseScans = (typeof optimiseScans === 'boolean') ? optimiseScans : true;
-    if (this.options.optimiseScans) {
-      this.progressive();
-    }
-  } else {
-    console.error('optimiseScans requires libvips 8.0.0+');
+  this.options.optimiseScans = (typeof optimiseScans === 'boolean') ? optimiseScans : true;
+  if (this.options.optimiseScans) {
+    this.progressive();
   }
   return this;
 };
diff --git a/src/operations.cc b/src/operations.cc
index 88d6979a..2e3c4f46 100755
--- a/src/operations.cc
+++ b/src/operations.cc
@@ -121,73 +121,10 @@ namespace sharp {
     return vips_bandjoin2(outRGBPremultiplied, outAlpha, out, NULL);
   }
 
-  /*
-   * Premultiply alpha channel of `image`.
-   */
-  int Premultiply(VipsObject *context, VipsImage *image, VipsImage **out) {
-#if (VIPS_MAJOR_VERSION >= 9 || (VIPS_MAJOR_VERSION >= 8 && VIPS_MINOR_VERSION >= 1))
-    return vips_premultiply(image, out, NULL);
-#else
-    VipsImage *imageRGB;
-    if (vips_extract_band(image, &imageRGB, 0, "n", image->Bands - 1, NULL))
-      return -1;
-    vips_object_local(context, imageRGB);
-
-    VipsImage *imageAlpha;
-    if (vips_extract_band(image, &imageAlpha, image->Bands - 1, "n", 1, NULL))
-      return -1;
-    vips_object_local(context, imageAlpha);
-
-    VipsImage *imageAlphaNormalized;
-    if (vips_linear1(imageAlpha, &imageAlphaNormalized, 1.0 / 255.0, 0.0, NULL))
-      return -1;
-    vips_object_local(context, imageAlphaNormalized);
-
-    VipsImage *imageRGBPremultiplied;
-    if (vips_multiply(imageRGB, imageAlphaNormalized, &imageRGBPremultiplied, NULL))
-      return -1;
-    vips_object_local(context, imageRGBPremultiplied);
-
-    return vips_bandjoin2(imageRGBPremultiplied, imageAlpha, out, NULL);
-#endif
-  }
-
-  /*
-   * Unpremultiply alpha channel of `image`.
-   */
-  int Unpremultiply(VipsObject *context, VipsImage *image, VipsImage **out) {
-#if (VIPS_MAJOR_VERSION >= 9 || (VIPS_MAJOR_VERSION >= 8 && VIPS_MINOR_VERSION >= 1))
-    return vips_unpremultiply(image, out, NULL);
-#else
-    VipsImage *imageRGBPremultipliedTransformed;
-    if (vips_extract_band(image, &imageRGBPremultipliedTransformed, 0, "n", image->Bands - 1, NULL))
-      return -1;
-    vips_object_local(context, imageRGBPremultipliedTransformed);
-
-    VipsImage *imageAlphaTransformed;
-    if (vips_extract_band(image, &imageAlphaTransformed, image->Bands - 1, "n", 1, NULL))
-      return -1;
-    vips_object_local(context, imageAlphaTransformed);
-
-    VipsImage *imageAlphaNormalizedTransformed;
-    if (vips_linear1(imageAlphaTransformed, &imageAlphaNormalizedTransformed, 1.0 / 255.0, 0.0, NULL))
-      return -1;
-    vips_object_local(context, imageAlphaNormalizedTransformed);
-
-    VipsImage *imageRGBUnpremultipliedTransformed;
-    if (vips_divide(imageRGBPremultipliedTransformed, imageAlphaNormalizedTransformed, &imageRGBUnpremultipliedTransformed, NULL))
-      return -1;
-    vips_object_local(context, imageRGBUnpremultipliedTransformed);
-
-    return vips_bandjoin2(imageRGBUnpremultipliedTransformed, imageAlphaTransformed, out, NULL);
-#endif
-  }
-
   /*
    * Stretch luminance to cover full dynamic range.
    */
   int Normalize(VipsObject *context, VipsImage *image, VipsImage **out) {
-#ifndef _WIN32
     // Get original colourspace
     VipsInterpretation typeBeforeNormalize = image->Type;
     if (typeBeforeNormalize == VIPS_INTERPRETATION_RGB) {
@@ -262,11 +199,6 @@ namespace sharp {
       // Cannot normalise zero-range image
       *out = image;
     }
-#else
-    // The normalize operation is currently unsupported on Windows
-    // See https://github.com/lovell/sharp/issues/152
-    *out = image;
-#endif
     return 0;
   }
 
diff --git a/src/operations.h b/src/operations.h
index bcd98d69..ca70346c 100755
--- a/src/operations.h
+++ b/src/operations.h
@@ -9,16 +9,6 @@ namespace sharp {
    */
   int Composite(VipsObject *context, VipsImage *src, VipsImage *dst, VipsImage **out);
 
-  /*
-   * Premultiply alpha channel of `image`.
-   */
-  int Premultiply(VipsObject *context, VipsImage *image, VipsImage **out);
-
-  /*
-   * Unpremultiply alpha channel of `image`.
-   */
-  int Unpremultiply(VipsObject *context, VipsImage *image, VipsImage **out);
-
   /*
    * Stretch luminance to cover full dynamic range.
    */
diff --git a/src/pipeline.cc b/src/pipeline.cc
index 26a493eb..538c8802 100755
--- a/src/pipeline.cc
+++ b/src/pipeline.cc
@@ -37,8 +37,6 @@ using Nan::Null;
 using Nan::Equals;
 
 using sharp::Composite;
-using sharp::Premultiply;
-using sharp::Unpremultiply;
 using sharp::Normalize;
 using sharp::Blur;
 using sharp::Sharpen;
@@ -522,7 +520,7 @@ class PipelineWorker : public AsyncWorker {
     // See: http://entropymine.com/imageworsener/resizealpha/
     if (shouldPremultiplyAlpha) {
       VipsImage *imagePremultiplied;
-      if (Premultiply(hook, image, &imagePremultiplied)) {
+      if (vips_premultiply(image, &imagePremultiplied, NULL)) {
         (baton->err).append("Failed to premultiply alpha channel.");
         return Error();
       }
@@ -761,7 +759,7 @@ class PipelineWorker : public AsyncWorker {
 
       // Premultiply overlay
       VipsImage *overlayImagePremultiplied;
-      if (Premultiply(hook, overlayImageRGB, &overlayImagePremultiplied)) {
+      if (vips_premultiply(overlayImageRGB, &overlayImagePremultiplied, NULL)) {
         (baton->err).append("Failed to premultiply alpha channel of overlay image.");
         return Error();
       }
@@ -779,11 +777,10 @@ class PipelineWorker : public AsyncWorker {
     // Reverse premultiplication after all transformations:
     if (shouldPremultiplyAlpha) {
       VipsImage *imageUnpremultiplied;
-      if (Unpremultiply(hook, image, &imageUnpremultiplied)) {
+      if (vips_unpremultiply(image, &imageUnpremultiplied, NULL)) {
         (baton->err).append("Failed to unpremultiply alpha channel.");
         return Error();
       }
-
       vips_object_local(hook, imageUnpremultiplied);
       image = imageUnpremultiplied;
     }
@@ -832,34 +829,19 @@ class PipelineWorker : public AsyncWorker {
       SetExifOrientation(image, baton->withMetadataOrientation);
     }
 
-#if !(VIPS_MAJOR_VERSION >= 8 || (VIPS_MAJOR_VERSION >= 7 && VIPS_MINOR_VERSION >= 40 && VIPS_MINOR_VERSION >= 5))
-    // Generate image tile cache when interlace output is required - no longer required as of libvips 7.40.5+
-    if (baton->progressive) {
-      VipsImage *cached;
-      if (vips_tilecache(image, &cached, "threaded", TRUE, "persistent", TRUE, "max_tiles", -1, NULL)) {
-        return Error();
-      }
-      vips_object_local(hook, cached);
-      image = cached;
-    }
-#endif
-
     // Output
     if (baton->output == "__jpeg" || (baton->output == "__input" && inputImageType == ImageType::JPEG)) {
       // Write JPEG to buffer
       if (vips_jpegsave_buffer(image, &baton->bufferOut, &baton->bufferOutLength, "strip", !baton->withMetadata,
         "Q", baton->quality, "optimize_coding", TRUE, "no_subsample", baton->withoutChromaSubsampling,
-#if (VIPS_MAJOR_VERSION >= 8)
         "trellis_quant", baton->trellisQuantisation,
         "overshoot_deringing", baton->overshootDeringing,
         "optimize_scans", baton->optimiseScans,
-#endif
         "interlace", baton->progressive, NULL)) {
         return Error();
       }
       baton->outputFormat = "jpeg";
     } else if (baton->output == "__png" || (baton->output == "__input" && inputImageType == ImageType::PNG)) {
-#if (VIPS_MAJOR_VERSION >= 8 || (VIPS_MAJOR_VERSION >= 7 && VIPS_MINOR_VERSION >= 42))
       // Select PNG row filter
       int filter = baton->withoutAdaptiveFiltering ? VIPS_FOREIGN_PNG_FILTER_NONE : VIPS_FOREIGN_PNG_FILTER_ALL;
       // Write PNG to buffer
@@ -867,13 +849,6 @@ class PipelineWorker : public AsyncWorker {
         "compression", baton->compressionLevel, "interlace", baton->progressive, "filter", filter, NULL)) {
         return Error();
       }
-#else
-      // Write PNG to buffer
-      if (vips_pngsave_buffer(image, &baton->bufferOut, &baton->bufferOutLength, "strip", !baton->withMetadata,
-        "compression", baton->compressionLevel, "interlace", baton->progressive, NULL)) {
-        return Error();
-      }
-#endif
       baton->outputFormat = "png";
     } else if (baton->output == "__webp" || (baton->output == "__input" && inputImageType == ImageType::WEBP)) {
       // Write WEBP to buffer
@@ -882,7 +857,6 @@ class PipelineWorker : public AsyncWorker {
         return Error();
       }
       baton->outputFormat = "webp";
-#if (VIPS_MAJOR_VERSION >= 8 || (VIPS_MAJOR_VERSION >= 7 && VIPS_MINOR_VERSION >= 42))
     } else if (baton->output == "__raw") {
       // Write raw, uncompressed image data to buffer
       if (baton->greyscale || image->Type == VIPS_INTERPRETATION_B_W) {
@@ -910,7 +884,6 @@ class PipelineWorker : public AsyncWorker {
         return Error();
       }
       baton->outputFormat = "raw";
-#endif
     } else {
       bool outputJpeg = IsJpeg(baton->output);
       bool outputPng = IsPng(baton->output);
@@ -922,17 +895,14 @@ class PipelineWorker : public AsyncWorker {
         // Write JPEG to file
         if (vips_jpegsave(image, baton->output.c_str(), "strip", !baton->withMetadata,
           "Q", baton->quality, "optimize_coding", TRUE, "no_subsample", baton->withoutChromaSubsampling,
-#if (VIPS_MAJOR_VERSION >= 8)
           "trellis_quant", baton->trellisQuantisation,
           "overshoot_deringing", baton->overshootDeringing,
           "optimize_scans", baton->optimiseScans,
-#endif
           "interlace", baton->progressive, NULL)) {
           return Error();
         }
         baton->outputFormat = "jpeg";
       } else if (outputPng || (matchInput && inputImageType == ImageType::PNG)) {
-#if (VIPS_MAJOR_VERSION >= 8 || (VIPS_MAJOR_VERSION >= 7 && VIPS_MINOR_VERSION >= 42))
         // Select PNG row filter
         int filter = baton->withoutAdaptiveFiltering ? VIPS_FOREIGN_PNG_FILTER_NONE : VIPS_FOREIGN_PNG_FILTER_ALL;
         // Write PNG to file
@@ -940,13 +910,6 @@ class PipelineWorker : public AsyncWorker {
           "compression", baton->compressionLevel, "interlace", baton->progressive, "filter", filter, NULL)) {
           return Error();
         }
-#else
-        // Write PNG to file
-        if (vips_pngsave(image, baton->output.c_str(), "strip", !baton->withMetadata,
-          "compression", baton->compressionLevel, "interlace", baton->progressive, NULL)) {
-          return Error();
-        }
-#endif
         baton->outputFormat = "png";
       } else if (outputWebp || (matchInput && inputImageType == ImageType::WEBP)) {
         // Write WEBP to file
diff --git a/src/utilities.cc b/src/utilities.cc
index 4f384f45..cd7f42c9 100755
--- a/src/utilities.cc
+++ b/src/utilities.cc
@@ -157,7 +157,6 @@ NAN_METHOD(format) {
   between two images of the same dimensions and number of channels.
 */
 NAN_METHOD(_maxColourDistance) {
-  using sharp::Premultiply;
   using sharp::DetermineImageType;
   using sharp::ImageType;
   using sharp::InitImage;
@@ -212,7 +211,7 @@ NAN_METHOD(_maxColourDistance) {
   // Premultiply and remove alpha
   if (HasAlpha(image1)) {
     VipsImage *imagePremultiplied1;
-    if (Premultiply(hook, image1, &imagePremultiplied1)) {
+    if (vips_premultiply(image1, &imagePremultiplied1, NULL)) {
       g_object_unref(hook);
       return ThrowError(vips_error_buffer());
     }
@@ -227,7 +226,7 @@ NAN_METHOD(_maxColourDistance) {
   }
   if (HasAlpha(image2)) {
     VipsImage *imagePremultiplied2;
-    if (Premultiply(hook, image2, &imagePremultiplied2)) {
+    if (vips_premultiply(image2, &imagePremultiplied2, NULL)) {
       g_object_unref(hook);
       return ThrowError(vips_error_buffer());
     }