diff --git a/src/buffer.rs b/src/buffer.rs
index 98330a8e76..b1a8d308e9 100644
--- a/src/buffer.rs
+++ b/src/buffer.rs
@@ -42,8 +42,13 @@ pub trait Pixel: Copy + Clone {
         Self::COLOR_MODEL
     }
 
+    /// ColorType for this pixel format
+    const COLOR_TYPE: ColorType;
     /// Returns the ColorType for this pixel format
-    fn color_type() -> ColorType;
+    #[deprecated(note="please use COLOR_TYPE associated constant")]
+    fn color_type() -> ColorType {
+        Self::COLOR_TYPE
+    }
 
     /// Returns the channels of this pixel as a 4 tuple. If the pixel
     /// has less than 4 channels the remainder is filled with the maximum value
@@ -650,7 +655,7 @@ where
         FlatSamples {
             samples: self.data,
             layout,
-            color_hint: Some(P::color_type()),
+            color_hint: Some(P::COLOR_TYPE),
         }
     }
 
@@ -664,7 +669,7 @@ where
         FlatSamples {
             samples: self.data.as_ref(),
             layout,
-            color_hint: Some(P::color_type()),
+            color_hint: Some(P::COLOR_TYPE),
         }
     }
 }
@@ -758,7 +763,7 @@ where
             self.as_bytes(),
             self.width(),
             self.height(),
-            <P as Pixel>::color_type(),
+            <P as Pixel>::COLOR_TYPE,
         )
     }
 }
@@ -784,7 +789,7 @@ where
             self.as_bytes(),
             self.width(),
             self.height(),
-            <P as Pixel>::color_type(),
+            <P as Pixel>::COLOR_TYPE,
             format,
         )
     }
diff --git a/src/color.rs b/src/color.rs
index dfe2030762..d1e678a6a1 100644
--- a/src/color.rs
+++ b/src/color.rs
@@ -181,12 +181,8 @@ impl<T: Primitive + 'static> Pixel for $ident<T> {
 
     const COLOR_MODEL: &'static str = $interpretation;
 
-    fn color_type() -> ColorType {
-        match std::mem::size_of::<T>() {
-            1 => $color_type_u8,
-            _ => $color_type_u16,
-        }
-    }
+    const COLOR_TYPE: ColorType =
+        [$color_type_u8, $color_type_u16][(std::mem::size_of::<T>() > 1) as usize];
 
     #[inline(always)]
     fn channels(&self) -> &[T] {
diff --git a/src/flat.rs b/src/flat.rs
index 994e5de0d3..316c2564d8 100644
--- a/src/flat.rs
+++ b/src/flat.rs
@@ -560,7 +560,7 @@ impl<Buffer> FlatSamples<Buffer> {
         where P: Pixel, Buffer: AsRef<[P::Subpixel]>,
     {
         if self.layout.channels != P::CHANNEL_COUNT {
-            return Err(Error::WrongColor(P::color_type()))
+            return Err(Error::WrongColor(P::COLOR_TYPE))
         }
 
         let as_ref = self.samples.as_ref();
@@ -597,7 +597,7 @@ impl<Buffer> FlatSamples<Buffer> {
         where P: Pixel, Buffer: AsMut<[P::Subpixel]>,
     {
         if self.layout.channels != P::CHANNEL_COUNT {
-            return Err(Error::WrongColor(P::color_type()))
+            return Err(Error::WrongColor(P::COLOR_TYPE))
         }
 
         let as_mut = self.samples.as_mut();
@@ -634,7 +634,7 @@ impl<Buffer> FlatSamples<Buffer> {
         }
 
         if self.layout.channels != P::CHANNEL_COUNT {
-            return Err(Error::WrongColor(P::color_type()))
+            return Err(Error::WrongColor(P::COLOR_TYPE))
         }
 
         let as_mut = self.samples.as_mut();
@@ -718,7 +718,7 @@ impl<Buffer> FlatSamples<Buffer> {
         }
 
         if self.layout.channels != P::CHANNEL_COUNT {
-            return Err((Error::WrongColor(P::color_type()), self))
+            return Err((Error::WrongColor(P::COLOR_TYPE), self))
         }
 
         if !self.fits(self.samples.deref().len()) {