diff --git a/python/damask/_environment.py b/python/damask/_environment.py
index 9983a91aa..b040920c2 100644
--- a/python/damask/_environment.py
+++ b/python/damask/_environment.py
@@ -9,8 +9,6 @@ class Environment:
 
     @property
     def screen_size(self):
-        width  = 1024
-        height =  768
         try:
             import wx
             _ = wx.App(False)                                                                       # noqa
@@ -23,7 +21,9 @@ class Environment:
                 height = tk.winfo_screenheight()
                 tk.destroy()
             except Exception as e:
-                pass
+                width  = 1024
+                height =  768
+
         return (width,height)
 
 
diff --git a/python/damask/_geom.py b/python/damask/_geom.py
index 3d73861ad..798bad0f8 100644
--- a/python/damask/_geom.py
+++ b/python/damask/_geom.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import copy
 import multiprocessing as mp
 from functools import partial
 from os import path
+import warnings
 
 import numpy as np
 import pandas as pd
@@ -188,12 +189,16 @@ class Geom:
         """
         Read a geom file.
 
+        Storing geometry files in ASCII format is deprecated.
+        This function will be removed in a future version of DAMASK.
+
         Parameters
         ----------
         fname : str, pathlib.Path, or file handle
             Geometry file to read.
 
         """
+        warnings.warn('Support for ASCII-based geom format will be removed in DAMASK 3.1.0', DeprecationWarning)
         try:
             f = open(fname)
         except TypeError:
@@ -247,7 +252,6 @@ class Geom:
         return Geom(material.reshape(grid,order='F'),size,origin,comments)
 
 
-
     @staticmethod
     def load_DREAM3D(fname,base_group,point_data=None,material='FeatureIds'):
         """
@@ -523,6 +527,9 @@ class Geom:
         """
         Write a geom file.
 
+        Storing geometry files in ASCII format is deprecated.
+        This function will be removed in a future version of DAMASK.
+
         Parameters
         ----------
         fname : str or file handle
@@ -531,6 +538,7 @@ class Geom:
             Compress geometry with 'x of y' and 'a to b'.
 
         """
+        warnings.warn('Support for ASCII-based geom format will be removed in DAMASK 3.1.0', DeprecationWarning)
         header =  [f'{len(self.comments)+4} header'] + self.comments \
                 + ['grid   a {} b {} c {}'.format(*self.grid),
                    'size   x {} y {} z {}'.format(*self.size),
diff --git a/python/tests/test_Geom.py b/python/tests/test_Geom.py
index a9b9c91b5..09c43fe7e 100644
--- a/python/tests/test_Geom.py
+++ b/python/tests/test_Geom.py
@@ -45,6 +45,8 @@ class TestGeom:
         new = Geom(default.material[1:,1:,1:]+1,default.size*.9,np.ones(3)-default.origin,comments=['modified'])
         assert str(default.diff(new)) != ''
 
+    def test_repr(self,default):
+        print(default)
 
     def test_read_write_vtr(self,default,tmp_path):
         default.save(tmp_path/'default')
@@ -70,6 +72,9 @@ class TestGeom:
             Geom(default.material[1:,1:,1:],
                  size=np.ones(2))
 
+    def test_save_load_ASCII(self,default,tmp_path):
+        default.save_ASCII(tmp_path/'ASCII')
+        assert geom_equal(Geom.load_ASCII(tmp_path/'ASCII'),default)
 
     def test_invalid_origin(self,default):
         with pytest.raises(ValueError):
diff --git a/python/tests/test_VTK.py b/python/tests/test_VTK.py
index bab6051b0..3b14981ae 100644
--- a/python/tests/test_VTK.py
+++ b/python/tests/test_VTK.py
@@ -84,6 +84,15 @@ class TestVTK:
             time.sleep(.5)
         assert(False)
 
+    def test_compress(self,tmp_path):
+        points = np.random.rand(102,3)
+        v = VTK.from_poly_data(points)
+        fname_c = tmp_path/'compreesed.vtp'
+        fname_p = tmp_path/'plain.vtp'
+        v.save(fname_c,parallel=False,compress=False)
+        v.save(fname_p,parallel=False,compress=True)
+        assert(VTK.load(fname_c).__repr__() == VTK.load(fname_p).__repr__())
+
 
     @pytest.mark.parametrize('fname',['a','a.vtp','a.b','a.b.vtp'])
     def test_filename_variations(self,tmp_path,fname):