Specification for constructor
java.awt.image.SampleModel(int dataType, int w, int h, int numBands)
says:

     * @throws IllegalArgumentException if the product of <code>w</code>
     * and <code>h</code> is greater than
     * <code>Integer.MAX_VALUE</code>

This assertion is not satisfied.
If width=1 and height=Integer.MAX_VALUE exception is thrown.
Even if width=1 and height=Integer.MAX_VALUE-10 exception is still thrown.
Please see the following code sample:
-----
import java.awt.image.DataBuffer;
import java.awt.image.SampleModel;

public class Temp {

    public static void main(String[] args) {

        final int w = Integer.MAX_VALUE - 10;
        final int h = 1;

        /**
         * @throws IllegalArgumentException if the product of <code>w</code>
         * and <code>h</code> is greater than
         * <code>Integer.MAX_VALUE</code>
         */
        new SampleModel(DataBuffer.TYPE_BYTE, w, h, 1) {

            public int getNumDataElements() {
                return 0;
            }
            public Object getDataElements(int x, int y, Object obj, DataBuffer data) {
                return null;
            }
            public void setDataElements(int x, int y, Object obj, DataBuffer data) {

            }
            public int getSample(int x, int y, int b, DataBuffer data) {
                return 0;
            }
            public void setSample(int x, int y, int b, int s, DataBuffer data) {

            }
            public SampleModel createCompatibleSampleModel(int w, int h) {
                return null;
            }
            public SampleModel createSubsetSampleModel(int bands[]) {
                return null;
            }
            public DataBuffer createDataBuffer() {
                return null;
            }
            public int[] getSampleSize() {
                return new int[0];
            }
            public int getSampleSize(int band) {
                return 0;
            }
        };
    }
}