diff --git a/python/damask/Lambert.py b/python/damask/Lambert.py
index 5d07f73f4..73909f963 100644
--- a/python/damask/Lambert.py
+++ b/python/damask/Lambert.py
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-# -*- coding: UTF-8 no BOM -*-
-
 ####################################################################################################
 # Code below available according to the followin conditions on https://github.com/MarDiehl/3Drotations
 ####################################################################################################
diff --git a/python/damask/asciitable.py b/python/damask/asciitable.py
index 8dd0a549d..59e285d6a 100644
--- a/python/damask/asciitable.py
+++ b/python/damask/asciitable.py
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
-# -*- coding: UTF-8 no BOM -*-
+import os
+import sys
+import re
+import shlex
+from collections import Iterable
 
-import os, sys
 import numpy as np
 
 # ------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -80,8 +83,6 @@ class ASCIItable():
   def _quote(self,
              what):
     """Quote empty or white space-containing output"""
-    import re
-    
     return '{quote}{content}{quote}'.format(
              quote   = ('"' if str(what)=='' or re.search(r"\s",str(what)) else ''),
              content = what)
@@ -147,8 +148,6 @@ class ASCIItable():
     by either reading the first row or,
     if keyword "head[*]" is present, the last line of the header
     """
-    import re,shlex
-
     try:
       self.__IO__['in'].seek(0)
     except IOError:
@@ -276,8 +275,6 @@ class ASCIItable():
     "x" for "1_x","2_x",... unless raw output is requested.
     operates on object tags or given list.
     """
-    from collections import Iterable
-    
     if tags is None: tags = self.tags
 
     if isinstance(tags, Iterable) and not raw:                                                    # check whether list of tags is requested
@@ -313,8 +310,6 @@ class ASCIItable():
     return numpy array if asked for list of labels.
     transparently deals with label positions implicitly given as numbers or their headings given as strings.
     """
-    from collections import Iterable
-
     if isinstance(labels, Iterable) and not isinstance(labels, str):                                # check whether list of labels is requested
       idx = []
       for label in labels:
@@ -354,8 +349,6 @@ class ASCIItable():
     return numpy array if asked for list of labels.
     transparently deals with label positions implicitly given as numbers or their headings given as strings.
     """
-    from collections import Iterable
-
     listOfLabels = isinstance(labels, Iterable) and not isinstance(labels, str)                   # check whether list of labels is requested
     if not listOfLabels: labels = [labels]
 
@@ -389,8 +382,6 @@ class ASCIItable():
     return numpy array if asked for list of labels.
     transparently deals with label positions implicitly given as numbers or their headings given as strings.
     """
-    from collections import Iterable
-
     start = self.label_index(labels)
     dim   = self.label_dimension(labels)
   
@@ -436,8 +427,6 @@ class ASCIItable():
                 advance = True,
                 respectLabels = True):
     """Read next line (possibly buffered) and parse it into data array"""
-    import shlex
-    
     self.line = self.__IO__['readBuffer'].pop(0) if len(self.__IO__['readBuffer']) > 0 \
            else self.__IO__['in'].readline().strip()                                                # take buffered content or get next data row from file
 
@@ -458,8 +447,6 @@ class ASCIItable():
   def data_readArray(self,
                      labels = []):
     """Read whole data of all (given) labels as numpy array"""
-    from collections import Iterable
-
     try:      self.data_rewind()                                                                    # try to wind back to start of data
     except:   pass                                                                                  # assume/hope we are at data start already...
 
diff --git a/python/damask/colormaps.py b/python/damask/colormaps.py
index 17c2e508d..496b76b4f 100644
--- a/python/damask/colormaps.py
+++ b/python/damask/colormaps.py
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
-# -*- coding: UTF-8 no BOM -*-
+import math
 
-import math,numpy as np
-
-### --- COLOR CLASS --------------------------------------------------
+import numpy as np
 
 class Color():
   """
diff --git a/python/damask/environment.py b/python/damask/environment.py
index 21eb24694..ef07cd264 100644
--- a/python/damask/environment.py
+++ b/python/damask/environment.py
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
-# -*- coding: UTF-8 no BOM -*-
-
-import os,re
+import os
+import re
 
 class Environment():
   __slots__ = [ \
diff --git a/python/damask/orientation.py b/python/damask/orientation.py
index aae96c8d6..116333e81 100644
--- a/python/damask/orientation.py
+++ b/python/damask/orientation.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
-# -*- coding: UTF-8 no BOM -*-
-
 import math
+
 import numpy as np
+
 from . import Lambert
 from .quaternion import Quaternion
 from .quaternion import P
diff --git a/python/damask/quaternion.py b/python/damask/quaternion.py
index fd681fe9b..203a398ef 100644
--- a/python/damask/quaternion.py
+++ b/python/damask/quaternion.py
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-# -*- coding: UTF-8 no BOM -*-
-
 import numpy as np
 
 P = -1                                                                                              # convention (see DOI:10.1088/0965-0393/23/8/083501)
diff --git a/python/damask/util.py b/python/damask/util.py
index 7e7bae3bc..189f08a98 100644
--- a/python/damask/util.py
+++ b/python/damask/util.py
@@ -1,8 +1,12 @@
-# -*- coding: UTF-8 no BOM -*-
-import sys,time,os,subprocess,shlex
-import numpy as np
+import sys
+import time
+import os
+import subprocess
+import shlex
 from optparse import Option
 
+import numpy as np
+
 class bcolors:
     """
     ASCII Colors (Blender code)