add API to directly request access to pixbuf

libs/canvas/canvas/pixbuf.h

@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+#ifndef __CANVAS_PIXBUF__
+#define __CANVAS_PIXBUF__
+
 #include <glibmm/refptr.h>
 
 #include "canvas/item.h"
@@ -20,8 +23,14 @@ public:
 
 	void set (Glib::RefPtr<Gdk::Pixbuf>);
 
+	/* returns the reference to the internal private pixbuf
+	 * after changing data in the pixbuf a call to set()
+	 * is mandatory to update the data on screen */
+	Glib::RefPtr<Gdk::Pixbuf> pixbuf();
+
 private:
 	Glib::RefPtr<Gdk::Pixbuf> _pixbuf;
 };
 
 }
+#endif

libs/canvas/pixbuf.cc

@@ -44,6 +44,11 @@ Pixbuf::set (Glib::RefPtr<Gdk::Pixbuf> pixbuf)
 	end_change ();
 }
 
+Glib::RefPtr<Gdk::Pixbuf>
+Pixbuf::pixbuf() {
+	return _pixbuf;
+}
+
 XMLNode *
 Pixbuf::get_state () const
 {