diff --git a/examples/example_observation/example_observation.py b/examples/example_observation/example_observation.py
index 310c894..3ae972a 100644
--- a/examples/example_observation/example_observation.py
+++ b/examples/example_observation/example_observation.py
@@ -45,8 +45,6 @@ workDir = basePath
 logDir = os.path.join(workDir,"logs","example_observation")
 
 # output directory for figures
-figDir = os.path.join(workDir,"figs","example_observation")
-
 # optimization: maximum number of parallel threads to use
 numZobovThreads = 8
 
diff --git a/examples/example_simulation/example_simulation.py b/examples/example_simulation/example_simulation.py
index bcdecc5..121aaf7 100644
--- a/examples/example_simulation/example_simulation.py
+++ b/examples/example_simulation/example_simulation.py
@@ -44,9 +44,6 @@ voidOutputDir = PWD+"/outputs/"
 # output directory for log files
 logDir = PWD+"/logs/example_simulation/"
 
-# output directory for figures
-figDir = PWD+"/figs/example_simulation/"
-
 # where to place the pipeline scripts
 scriptDir = PWD+"/example_simulation/"
 
diff --git a/python_source/backend/launchers.py b/python_source/backend/launchers.py
index 2e3a010..71fa22f 100644
--- a/python_source/backend/launchers.py
+++ b/python_source/backend/launchers.py
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ class Bunch:
 
 # -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 def launchPrep(sample, binPath, workDir=None, inputDataDir=None,
-               outputDir=None, figDir=None, logFile=None, useComoving=False,
+               outputDir=None, logFile=None, useComoving=False,
                continueRun=None):
 
   startTime = time.time()
diff --git a/python_source/backend/surveyTools.py b/python_source/backend/surveyTools.py
index af1928c..df63f79 100644
--- a/python_source/backend/surveyTools.py
+++ b/python_source/backend/surveyTools.py
@@ -275,7 +275,6 @@ def findEdgeGalaxies(galFile, maskFile, edgeGalFile, contourFile,
     flagList[nearest] = 1
 
   # flag galaxies near redsfhit boundaries
-  # TODO - save time by only covering portion of sphere that has data
 
   log.write("  Flagging galaxies near redshift bounds...\n")
   sphereIndices = np.arange(len(contourMap))
diff --git a/python_source/vide_pipeline/__main__.py b/python_source/vide_pipeline/__main__.py
index 23411c4..2c98e54 100644
--- a/python_source/vide_pipeline/__main__.py
+++ b/python_source/vide_pipeline/__main__.py
@@ -55,9 +55,6 @@ else:
 if not os.access(logDir, os.F_OK):
   os.makedirs(logDir)
 
-if not os.access(figDir, os.F_OK):
-  os.makedirs(figDir)
-
 if not continueRun:
   print(" Cleaning out log files...")
 
@@ -93,7 +90,7 @@ for sample in dataSampleList:
 
     launchPrep(sample, PREPARE_PATH, workDir=workDir, 
                inputDataDir=inputDataDir, outputDir=outputDir,
-               figDir=figDir, logFile=logFile, useComoving=sample.useComoving,
+               logFile=logFile, useComoving=sample.useComoving,
                continueRun=continueRun)
 
   # --------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/python_source/vide_pipeline/vide_prepare_simulation.py b/python_source/vide_pipeline/vide_prepare_simulation.py
index 1652870..773cfb8 100644
--- a/python_source/vide_pipeline/vide_prepare_simulation.py
+++ b/python_source/vide_pipeline/vide_prepare_simulation.py
@@ -181,14 +181,13 @@ setName = "{setName}"
 
 workDir = "{voidOutputDir}/{setName}/"
 inputDataDir = "{inputDataDir}"
-figDir = "{figDir}/{setName}/"
 logDir = "{logDir}/{setName}/"
 
 numZobovDivisions = {numZobovDivisions}
 numZobovThreads = {numZobovThreads}
 mergingThreshold = {mergingThreshold}
                """
-  scriptFile.write(dataInfo.format(setName=setName, figDir=figDir,
+  scriptFile.write(dataInfo.format(setName=setName,
                                    logDir=logDir, voidOutputDir=voidOutputDir,
                                    inputDataDir=catalogDir, 
                                    numZobovDivisions=numZobovDivisions,