diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index f497ad8e2..344e354e0 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -694,16 +694,18 @@ STARTER_BACK_NAME=$(or $(wildcard $(subst starters/.thumbs,starters,$(@:-t.png=-
 		$(wildcard $(subst starters/.thumbs,starters,$(@:-t.png=-back.png))),\
 		$(wildcard $(subst starters/.thumbs,starters,$(@:-t.png=-back.jpeg))))
 
+CONVERT_OPTS:=-alpha Background -alpha Off -gamma 0.454545 +depth -resize !132x80 -background white -interlace none
+
 $(THUMB_STARTERS):
 	@echo -n "."
 	@mkdir -p starters/.thumbs
 	@if [ "x" != "x"$(STARTER_BACK_NAME) ] ; \
 	then \
 		composite $(STARTER_NAME) $(STARTER_BACK_NAME) obj/tmp.png ; \
-		convert -scale !132x80 -background white -alpha Background -alpha Off obj/tmp.png $@ ; \
+		convert $(CONVERT_OPTS) obj/tmp.png $@ ; \
 		rm obj/tmp.png ; \
 	else \
-		convert -scale !132x80 -background white -alpha Background -alpha Off $(STARTER_NAME) $@ ; \
+		convert $(CONVERT_OPTS) $(STARTER_NAME) $@ ; \
 	fi
 
 $(INSTALLED_THUMB_STARTERS): $(DATA_PREFIX)/%: %
diff --git a/docs/CHANGES.txt b/docs/CHANGES.txt
index bf18dc769..b125790a8 100644
--- a/docs/CHANGES.txt
+++ b/docs/CHANGES.txt
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ http://www.tuxpaint.org/
 
 $Id$
 
-2019.Sep.12 (0.9.24)
+2019.Sep.14 (0.9.24)
   * New tools
     ---------
     * Fill
@@ -55,6 +55,9 @@ $Id$
 
     * Updated most parts of the code that were throwing warnings in GCC.
 
+    * Build process generates thumbnails of included Starter images.
+      When installed, this greatly increases the speed of the "New" dialog.
+
   * Documentation updates
     ---------------------
     * Mended link to MinGW/MSYS instructions at John Popplewell's website.