public boolean isEncodingAlpha() {
        return false;
    }

    /**
     * Set whether the encoder should encode alpha transparency (not 
     * supported in this ImageEncoder).
     *
     * @param encodingAlpha  Whether the encoder should encode alpha 
     *                       transparency.
     */
    public void setEncodingAlpha(boolean encodingAlpha) {
        //  No op
    }

    /**
     * Encodes an image in PNG format.
     *
     * @param bufferedImage  The image to be encoded.
     * 
     * @return The byte[] that is the encoded image.
     * 
     * @throws IOException
     */
    public byte[] encode(BufferedImage bufferedImage) throws IOException {
        ByteArrayOutputStream outputStream = new ByteArrayOutputStream();
        encode(bufferedImage, outputStream);
        return outputStream.toByteArray();