diff --git a/igneous/task_creation/image.py b/igneous/task_creation/image.py
index f0659d3..9e06473 100644
--- a/igneous/task_creation/image.py
+++ b/igneous/task_creation/image.py
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@
 )
 
 from igneous.shards import image_shard_shape_from_spec
-from igneous.types import ShapeType
+from igneous.types import ShapeType, DownsampleMethods
 
 from .common import (
   operator_contact, FinelyDividedTaskIterator, 
@@ -210,6 +210,7 @@ def create_downsampling_tasks(
   bounds_mip:int = 0,
   memory_target:int = MEMORY_TARGET,
   encoding_level:Optional[int] = None,
+  method:int = DownsampleMethods.AUTO,
 ):
   """
   Creates a set of unsharded downsampling tasks and inserts them into the queue.
@@ -307,6 +308,7 @@ def task(self, shape, offset):
         compress=compress,
         factor=factor,
         max_mips=num_mips,
+        method=method,
       )
 
     def on_finish(self):
@@ -329,6 +331,7 @@ def on_finish(self):
           'dest_path': dest_path,
           'compress': compress,
           'factor': (tuple(factor) if factor else None),
+          'method': method,
         },
         'by': operator_contact(),
         'date': strftime('%Y-%m-%d %H:%M %Z'),
@@ -605,6 +608,7 @@ def create_image_shard_downsample_tasks(
   agglomerate=False, timestamp=None,
   factor=(2,2,1), bounds=None, bounds_mip=0,
   encoding_level:Optional[int] = None,
+  method=DownsampleMethods.AUTO,
 ):
   """
   Downsamples an existing image layer that may be
@@ -652,6 +656,7 @@ def task(self, shape, offset):
         agglomerate=bool(agglomerate),
         timestamp=timestamp,
         factor=tuple(factor),
+        method=method,
       )
 
     def on_finish(self):
@@ -666,6 +671,7 @@ def on_finish(self):
           "mip": mip,
           "agglomerate": agglomerate,
           "timestamp": timestamp,
+          "method": method,
         },
         "by": operator_contact(),
         "date": strftime("%Y-%m-%d %H:%M %Z"),
@@ -806,6 +812,7 @@ def create_transfer_tasks(
   truncate_scales:bool = True,
   cutout:bool = False,
   stop_layer:Optional[int] = None,
+  downsample_method:int = DownsampleMethods.AUTO,
 ) -> Iterator:
   """
   Transfer data to a new data layer. You can use this operation
@@ -970,6 +977,7 @@ def task(self, shape, offset):
         factor=factor,
         sparse=sparse,
         stop_layer=stop_layer,
+        downsample_method=int(downsample_method),
       )
 
     def on_finish(self):
@@ -998,6 +1006,7 @@ def on_finish(self):
           'sparse': bool(sparse),
           'encoding_level': encoding_level,
           'stop_layer': stop_layer,
+          'downsample_method': int(downsample_method),
         },
         'by': operator_contact(),
         'date': strftime('%Y-%m-%d %H:%M %Z'),
diff --git a/igneous/tasks/image/image.py b/igneous/tasks/image/image.py
index 40389b4..ae5964a 100755
--- a/igneous/tasks/image/image.py
+++ b/igneous/tasks/image/image.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 from collections.abc import Sequence
 
+from functools import partial
 import json
 import math
 import os
@@ -25,18 +26,39 @@
 
 import igneous.shards
 from igneous import downsample_scales
-from igneous.types import ShapeType
+from igneous.types import ShapeType, DownsampleMethods
 
 from .obsolete import (
   HyperSquareConsensusTask, WatershedRemapTask,
   MaskAffinitymapTask, InferenceTask
 )
 
+def downsample_method_to_fn(method, sparse, vol):
+  if method == DownsampleMethods.AUTO:
+    if vol.layer_type == 'image':
+      method = DownsampleMethods.AVERAGE_POOLING
+    elif vol.layer_type == 'segmentation':
+      method = DownsampleMethods.MODE_POOLING
+    else:
+      method = DownsampleMethods.STRIDING
+
+  if method == DownsampleMethods.MIN_POOLING:
+    return tinybrain.downsample_with_min_pooling
+  elif method == DownsampleMethods.MAX_POOLING:
+    return tinybrain.downsample_with_max_pooling
+  elif method == DownsampleMethods.AVERAGE_POOLING:
+    return partial(tinybrain.downsample_with_averaging, sparse=sparse)
+  elif method == DownsampleMethods.MODE_POOLING:
+    return partial(tinybrain.downsample_segmentation, sparse=sparse)
+  else:
+    return tinybrain.downsample_with_striding
+
 def downsample_and_upload(
-    image, bounds, vol, ds_shape,
-    mip=0, axis='z', skip_first=False,
-    sparse=False, factor=None, max_mips=None
-  ):
+  image, bounds, vol, ds_shape,
+  mip=0, axis='z', skip_first=False,
+  sparse=False, factor=None, max_mips=None,
+  method=DownsampleMethods.AUTO,
+):
     ds_shape = min2(vol.volume_size, ds_shape[:3])
     underlying_mip = (mip + 1) if (mip + 1) in vol.available_mips else mip
     chunk_size = vol.meta.chunk_size(underlying_mip).astype(np.float32)
@@ -63,19 +85,10 @@ def downsample_and_upload(
     num_mips = len(factors)
 
     mips = []
-    if vol.layer_type == 'image':
-      mips = tinybrain.downsample_with_averaging(
-        image, factors[0], 
-        num_mips=num_mips, sparse=sparse
-      )
-    elif vol.layer_type == 'segmentation':
-      mips = tinybrain.downsample_segmentation(
-        image, factors[0],
-        num_mips=num_mips, sparse=sparse
-      )
-    else:
-      mips = tinybrain.downsample_with_striding(image, factors[0], num_mips=num_mips)
 
+    fn = downsample_method_to_fn(method, sparse, vol)
+    mips = fn(image, factors[0], num_mips=num_mips)
+        
     new_bounds = bounds.clone()
 
     for factor3 in factors:
@@ -384,6 +397,7 @@ def TransferTask(
   factor=None,
   max_mips:Optional[int] = None,
   stop_layer:Optional[int] = None,
+  downsample_method:str = DownsampleMethods.AUTO,
 ):
   """
   Transfer an image to a new location while enabling
@@ -445,6 +459,7 @@ def TransferTask(
       skip_first=skip_first,
       sparse=sparse, axis=axis,
       factor=factor, max_mips=max_mips,
+      method=downsample_method,
     )
 
 @queueable
@@ -453,7 +468,7 @@ def DownsampleTask(
   fill_missing=False, axis='z', sparse=False,
   delete_black_uploads=False, background_color=0,
   dest_path=None, compress="gzip", factor=None,
-  max_mips=None,
+  max_mips=None, method=DownsampleMethods.AUTO,
 ):
   """
   Downsamples a cutout of the volume. By default it performs
@@ -477,6 +492,7 @@ def DownsampleTask(
     compress=compress,
     factor=factor,
     max_mips=max_mips,
+    downsample_method=DownsampleMethods.AUTO,
   )
 
 @queueable
@@ -608,7 +624,8 @@ def ImageShardDownsampleTask(
   sparse: bool = False,
   agglomerate: bool = False,
   timestamp: Optional[int] = None,
-  factor: ShapeType = (2,2,1)
+  factor: ShapeType = (2,2,1),
+  method: int = DownsampleMethods.AUTO,
 ):
   """
   Generate a single downsample level for a shard.
@@ -656,9 +673,7 @@ def ImageShardDownsampleTask(
   output_img = np.zeros(shard_shape, dtype=src_vol.dtype, order="F")
   nz = int(math.ceil(bbox.dz / (chunk_size.z * factor[2])))
 
-  dsfn = tinybrain.downsample_with_averaging
-  if src_vol.layer_type == "segmentation":
-    dsfn = tinybrain.downsample_segmentation
+  dsfn = downsample_method_to_fn(method, sparse, vol)
 
   zbox = bbox.clone()
   zbox.maxpt.z = zbox.minpt.z + (chunk_size.z * factor[2])
diff --git a/igneous/types.py b/igneous/types.py
index 79e5b95..3bdbc6e 100644
--- a/igneous/types.py
+++ b/igneous/types.py
@@ -1,3 +1,12 @@
+import enum
 from typing import Any, Dict, Tuple, Union, Optional
 
-ShapeType = Tuple[int, int, int]
\ No newline at end of file
+ShapeType = Tuple[int, int, int]
+
+class DownsampleMethods(enum.IntEnum):
+  AVERAGE_POOLING = 1
+  MODE_POOLING = 2
+  MIN_POOLING = 3
+  MAX_POOLING = 4
+  STRIDING = 5
+  AUTO = 6
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/igneous_cli/cli.py b/igneous_cli/cli.py
index a7e6536..6109025 100644
--- a/igneous_cli/cli.py
+++ b/igneous_cli/cli.py
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 from igneous import task_creation as tc
 from igneous import downsample_scales
 from igneous.secrets import LEASE_SECONDS, SQS_REGION_NAME
+from igneous.types import DownsampleMethods
 
 from igneous_cli.humanbytes import format_bytes
 
@@ -123,6 +124,24 @@ class CloudPath(click.ParamType):
   def convert(self, value, param, ctx):
     return cloudfiles.paths.normalize(value)
 
+class DownsampleMethodType(click.ParamType):
+  name = "DownsampleMethod"
+  def convert(self, value, param, ctx):
+    if value == "auto":
+      return DownsampleMethods.AUTO
+    elif value == "avg":
+      return DownsampleMethods.AVERAGE_POOLING
+    elif value == "mode":
+      return DownsampleMethods.MODE_POOLING
+    elif value == "min":
+      return DownsampleMethods.MIN_POOLING
+    elif value == "max":
+      return DownsampleMethods.MAX_POOLING
+    elif value == "striding":
+      return DownsampleMethods.STRIDING
+    else:
+      raise ValueError(f"Downsample method {value} not supported.")
+
 def compute_bounds(path, mip, xrange, yrange, zrange):
   bounds = None
   if xrange or yrange or zrange:
@@ -208,6 +227,7 @@ def imagegroup():
 @click.option('--bg-color', default=0, help="Determines which color is regarded as background. Default: 0")
 @click.option('--sharded', is_flag=True, default=False, help="Generate sharded downsamples which reduces the number of files.")
 @click.option('--memory', default=3.5e9, type=int, help="(sharded only) Task memory limit in bytes. Task shape will be chosen to fit and maximize downsamples.", show_default=True)
+@click.option('--method', default="auto", type=DownsampleMethodType(), help="Select the downsample method type. Options: auto, avg, mode, min, max, striding", show_default=True)
 @click.option('--xrange', type=Tuple2(), default=None, help="If specified, set x-bounds for downsampling in terms of selected mip. By default the whole dataset is selected. The bounds must be chunk aligned to the task size (maybe mysterious... use igneous design to investigate). e.g. 0,1024.", show_default=True)
 @click.option('--yrange', type=Tuple2(), default=None, help="If specified, set y-bounds for downsampling in terms of selected mip. By default the whole dataset is selected. The bounds must be chunk aligned to the task size (maybe mysterious... use igneous design to investigate). e.g. 0,1024", show_default=True)
 @click.option('--zrange', type=Tuple2(), default=None, help="If specified, set z-bounds for downsampling in terms of selected mip. By default the whole dataset is selected. The bounds must be chunk aligned to the task size (maybe mysterious... use igneous design to investigate). e.g. 0,1", show_default=True)
@@ -217,7 +237,7 @@ def downsample(
   num_mips, encoding, encoding_level, sparse, 
   chunk_size, compress, volumetric,
   delete_bg, bg_color, sharded, memory,
-  xrange, yrange, zrange, 
+  xrange, yrange, zrange, method,
 ):
   """
   Create an image pyramid for grayscale or labeled images.
@@ -250,7 +270,7 @@ def downsample(
       sparse=sparse, chunk_size=chunk_size,
       encoding=encoding, memory_target=memory,
       factor=factor, bounds=bounds, bounds_mip=mip,
-      encoding_level=encoding_level,
+      encoding_level=encoding_level, method=method,
     )
   else:
     tasks = tc.create_downsampling_tasks(
@@ -264,6 +284,7 @@ def downsample(
       bounds_mip=mip,
       memory_target=memory,
       encoding_level=encoding_level,
+      downsample_method=method,
     )
 
   enqueue_tasks(ctx, queue, tasks)
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index 79ce9b2..7c90d94 100755
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ pytest>=3.3.1
 pytz
 scipy
 shard-computer
-tinybrain
+tinybrain>=1.5.0
 task-queue>=2.4.0
 tqdm
 trimesh[easy]
diff --git a/test/test_tasks.py b/test/test_tasks.py
index 908fee9..5ce6417 100755
--- a/test/test_tasks.py
+++ b/test/test_tasks.py
@@ -574,48 +574,49 @@ def test_num_mips_from_memory_target():
     memory = 0
     chunk_size = (128,128,64)
     factor = (2,2,1)
+    num_channels = 1
 
-    num_mips = num_mips_from_memory_target(memory, 'uint8', chunk_size, factor)
+    num_mips = num_mips_from_memory_target(memory, 'uint8', chunk_size, num_channels, factor)
     assert num_mips == 1
 
     memory = 100e6
-    num_mips = num_mips_from_memory_target(memory, 'uint8', chunk_size, factor)
+    num_mips = num_mips_from_memory_target(memory, 'uint8', chunk_size, num_channels, factor)
     assert num_mips == 3
 
     memory = 100e6
-    num_mips = num_mips_from_memory_target(memory, 'uint16', chunk_size, factor)
+    num_mips = num_mips_from_memory_target(memory, 'uint16', chunk_size, num_channels, factor)
     assert num_mips == 2
 
     memory = 100e6
-    num_mips = num_mips_from_memory_target(memory, 'uint32', chunk_size, factor)
+    num_mips = num_mips_from_memory_target(memory, 'uint32', chunk_size, num_channels, factor)
     assert num_mips == 2
 
     memory = 100e6
-    num_mips = num_mips_from_memory_target(memory, 'uint64', chunk_size, factor)
+    num_mips = num_mips_from_memory_target(memory, 'uint64', chunk_size, num_channels, factor)
     assert num_mips == 1
 
     memory = 3.5e9
-    num_mips = num_mips_from_memory_target(memory, 'uint64', chunk_size, factor)
+    num_mips = num_mips_from_memory_target(memory, 'uint64', chunk_size, num_channels, factor)
     assert num_mips == 4
 
     memory = 12e9
-    num_mips = num_mips_from_memory_target(memory, 'uint64', chunk_size, factor)
+    num_mips = num_mips_from_memory_target(memory, 'uint64', chunk_size, num_channels, factor)
     assert num_mips == 5
 
     factor = (2,2,2)
 
     memory = 800e6
-    num_mips = num_mips_from_memory_target(memory, 'uint8', chunk_size, factor)
+    num_mips = num_mips_from_memory_target(memory, 'uint8', chunk_size, num_channels, factor)
     assert num_mips == 3
 
     memory = 500e6
-    num_mips = num_mips_from_memory_target(memory, 'uint8', chunk_size, factor)
+    num_mips = num_mips_from_memory_target(memory, 'uint8', chunk_size, num_channels, factor)
     assert num_mips == 2
 
     memory = 100e6
-    num_mips = num_mips_from_memory_target(memory, 'uint8', chunk_size, factor)
+    num_mips = num_mips_from_memory_target(memory, 'uint8', chunk_size, num_channels, factor)
     assert num_mips == 2
 
     memory = 50e6
-    num_mips = num_mips_from_memory_target(memory, 'uint8', chunk_size, factor)
+    num_mips = num_mips_from_memory_target(memory, 'uint8', chunk_size, num_channels, factor)
     assert num_mips == 1