diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Layer.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Layer.js
index 452edb504d..52312d0ab8 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Layer.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Layer.js
@@ -464,7 +464,8 @@ OpenLayers.Layer.prototype = {
         this.opacity = opacity;
         for(var i=0; i<this.div.childNodes.length; ++i) {
             var element = this.div.childNodes[i];
-            OpenLayers.Util.setOpacity(element, opacity);
+            OpenLayers.Util.modifyDOMElement(element, null, null, null, 
+                                             null, null, null, opacity);
         }
     },
 
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/Image.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/Image.js
index 6f78ff7256..39b2029048 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/Image.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/Image.js
@@ -109,7 +109,10 @@ OpenLayers.Tile.Image.prototype =
         }
         this.layer.div.appendChild(this.imgDiv);
         if(this.layer.opacity != null) {
-            OpenLayers.Util.setOpacity(this.imgDiv, this.layer.opacity);
+            
+            OpenLayers.Util.modifyDOMElement(this.imgDiv, null, null, null,
+                                             null, null, null, 
+                                             this.layer.opacity);
         }
     },
 
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Util.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Util.js
index 88c73b42ab..df2442ccc1 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Util.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Util.js
@@ -134,6 +134,9 @@ OpenLayers.Util.createImage = function(id, px, sz, imgURL, position, border,
 };
 
 /**
+ * @deprecated -- Use OpenLayers.Util.modifyDOMElement() or 
+ *                    OpenLayers.Util.modifyAlphaImageDiv()
+ * 
  * Set the opacity of a DOM Element
  * Note that for this function to work in IE, elements must "have layout"
  * according to:
@@ -143,8 +146,8 @@ OpenLayers.Util.createImage = function(id, px, sz, imgURL, position, border,
  * @param {Float} opacity Opacity value (0.0 - 1.0)
  */
 OpenLayers.Util.setOpacity = function(element, opacity) {
-    element.style.opacity = opacity;
-    element.style.filter = 'alpha(opacity=' + (opacity * 100) + ')';
+    OpenLayers.Util.modifyDOMElement(element, null, null, null,
+                                     null, null, null, opacity);
 }
 
 OpenLayers.Util.onImageLoad = function() {