code: public static BufferedImage stripAlphaChannel( BufferedImage image ) {
  		int numBands = image.getRaster().getNumBands();
  
  		if( numBands == 4 ) {
  			BufferedImage output = new BufferedImage(image.getWidth(),image.getHeight(),BufferedImage.TYPE_INT_RGB);
  			output.createGraphics().drawImage(image,0,0,null);
  			return output;
  		} else {
  			return image;
  		}
  	}
docs: Returns an image which doesn't have an alpha channel.  If the input image doesn't have an alpha
  channel to start then its returned as is.  Otherwise a new image is created and the RGB channels are
  copied and the new image returned.
  
  @param image Input image
  @return Image without an alpha channel