diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2c91bd37
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+build/
+*.swp
+*.swo
diff --git a/backend/CMakeLists.txt b/backend/CMakeLists.txt
index 57a819ed..6159679c 100644
--- a/backend/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/backend/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ project(zint)
 
 find_package(PNG)
 
-set(zint_COMMON_SRCS common.c library.c ps.c large.c reedsol.c gs1.c svg.c png.c)
+set(zint_COMMON_SRCS common.c library.c render.c ps.c large.c reedsol.c gs1.c svg.c png.c)
 set(zint_ONEDIM_SRCS code.c code128.c 2of5.c upcean.c telepen.c medical.c plessey.c rss.c)
 set(zint_POSTAL_SRCS postal.c auspost.c imail.c)
 set(zint_TWODIM_SRCS code16k.c dmatrix.c dm200.c pdf417.c qr.c maxicode.c composite.c aztec.c code49.c code1.c gridmtx.c)
diff --git a/backend/Makefile b/backend/Makefile
index a27179c5..4534b46d 100644
--- a/backend/Makefile
+++ b/backend/Makefile
@@ -18,8 +18,8 @@ includedir := $(prefix)/include
 libdir := $(prefix)/lib
 DESTDIR :=
 
-COMMON:= common.c png.c library.c ps.c large.c reedsol.c gs1.c svg.c
-COMMON_OBJ:= common.o png.o library.o ps.o large.o reedsol.o gs1.o svg.o
+COMMON:= common.c render.c png.c library.c ps.c large.c reedsol.c gs1.c svg.c
+COMMON_OBJ:= common.o render.o png.o library.o ps.o large.o reedsol.o gs1.o svg.o
 ONEDIM:= code.c code128.c 2of5.c upcean.c telepen.c medical.c plessey.c rss.c
 ONEDIM_OBJ:= code.o code128.o 2of5.o upcean.o telepen.o medical.o plessey.o rss.o
 POSTAL:= postal.c auspost.c imail.c
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ TWODIM:= code16k.c dmatrix.c dm200.c pdf417.c qr.c maxicode.c composite.c aztec.
 TWODIM_OBJ:= code16k.o dmatrix.o dm200.o pdf417.o qr.o maxicode.o composite.o aztec.o code49.o code1.o gridmtx.o
 LIBS:= `libpng12-config --I_opts --L_opts --ldflags` -lz -lm
  
-libzint: code.c code128.c 2of5.c upcean.c medical.c telepen.c plessey.c postal.c auspost.c imail.c code16k.c dmatrix.c dm200.c reedsol.c pdf417.c maxicode.c rss.c common.c png.c library.c ps.c qr.c large.c composite.c aztec.c gs1.c svg.c code49.c code1.c gridmtx.c
+libzint: code.c code128.c 2of5.c upcean.c medical.c telepen.c plessey.c postal.c auspost.c imail.c code16k.c dmatrix.c dm200.c reedsol.c pdf417.c maxicode.c rss.c common.c render.c png.c library.c ps.c qr.c large.c composite.c aztec.c gs1.c svg.c code49.c code1.c gridmtx.c
 	$(CC) -Wall -fPIC $(CFLAGS) $(ZINT_VERSION) -c $(ONEDIM)
 	$(CC) -Wall -fPIC $(CFLAGS) $(ZINT_VERSION) -c $(POSTAL)
 	$(CC) -Wall -fPIC $(CFLAGS) $(ZINT_VERSION) -c $(TWODIM)
diff --git a/backend/Makefile.mingw b/backend/Makefile.mingw
index 5cb0e83b..9e0977fc 100644
--- a/backend/Makefile.mingw
+++ b/backend/Makefile.mingw
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ APP:=zint
 DLL:=$(APP).dll
 STATLIB:=lib$(APP).a
 
-COMMON_OBJ:= common.o png.o library.o ps.o large.o reedsol.o gs1.o svg.o
+COMMON_OBJ:= common.o render.o png.o library.o ps.o large.o reedsol.o gs1.o svg.o
 ONEDIM_OBJ:= code.o code128.o 2of5.o upcean.o telepen.o medical.o plessey.o rss.o
 POSTAL_OBJ:= postal.o auspost.o imail.o
 TWODIM_OBJ:= code16k.o dmatrix.o dm200.o pdf417.o qr.o maxicode.o composite.o aztec.o code49.o code1.o gridmtx.o
diff --git a/backend/library.c b/backend/library.c
index c2dc570d..a8fff727 100644
--- a/backend/library.c
+++ b/backend/library.c
@@ -92,6 +92,30 @@ void ZBarcode_Delete(struct zint_symbol *symbol)
 {
 	if (symbol->bitmap != NULL)
 		free(symbol->bitmap);
+
+	// If there is a rendered version, ensure it's memory is released
+	if (symbol->rendered != NULL) {
+		struct zint_render_line *line, *l;
+		struct zint_render_char *bchar, *bc;
+
+		// Free lines
+		line = symbol->rendered->lines;
+		while(line) {
+			l = line;
+			line = line->next;
+			free(l);
+		}
+		// Free Chars
+		bchar = symbol->rendered->chars;
+		while (bchar) {
+			bc = bchar;
+			bchar = bchar->next;
+			free(bc);
+		}
+
+		// Free Render
+		free(symbol->rendered);
+	}
 	free(symbol);
 }
 
@@ -154,6 +178,8 @@ extern int grid_matrix(struct zint_symbol *symbol, unsigned char source[], int l
 extern int png_handle(struct zint_symbol *symbol, int rotate_angle);
 #endif
 
+extern int render_plot(struct zint_symbol *symbol, unsigned int hide_text);
+
 extern int bmp_handle(struct zint_symbol *symbol, int rotate_angle);
 extern int ps_plot(struct zint_symbol *symbol);
 extern int svg_plot(struct zint_symbol *symbol);
@@ -835,3 +861,15 @@ int ZBarcode_Encode_File_and_Buffer(struct zint_symbol *symbol, char *filename,
 	
 	return ZBarcode_Buffer(symbol, rotate_angle);
 }
+
+/*
+ * Rendering support, initially added by Sam Lown.
+ *
+ * Converts encoded data into an intermediate format to be interpreted
+ * in other applications using this library.
+ */
+int ZBarcode_Render(struct zint_symbol *symbol, unsigned int hide_text)
+{
+	// Send the request to the render_plot method
+	return render_plot(symbol, hide_text);
+}
diff --git a/backend/render.c b/backend/render.c
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ba126c9f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/render.c
@@ -0,0 +1,212 @@
+/* 
+ * render.c - Generic Rendered Format 
+ *
+ * Initiall written by Sam Lown for use in gLabels. Converts encoded
+ * data into a generic internal structure of lines and characters
+ * usable in external applications.
+ */
+
+/*
+    libzint - the open source barcode library
+    Copyright (C) 2009 Robin Stuart <robin@zint.org.uk>
+
+    This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+    it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+    the Free Software Foundation; either version 3 of the License, or
+    (at your option) any later version.
+
+    This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+    but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+    MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+    GNU General Public License for more details.
+
+    You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along
+    with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
+    51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA.
+*/
+
+#include <locale.h>
+#include <string.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <stdio.h>
+#include "common.h"
+
+int render_plot(struct zint_symbol *symbol, unsigned int hide_text)
+{
+	struct zint_render      *render;
+	struct zint_render_line *line, *last_line = NULL;
+	struct zint_render_char *bchar, *last_bchar = NULL;
+
+	int i, r, block_width, latch, this_row;
+	float textpos, large_bar_height, preset_height, row_height, row_posn = 0.0;
+	// int error_number = 0;
+	int textoffset, textheight, xoffset, yoffset, textdone, main_width;
+	char addon[6]; //, textpart[10];
+	int large_bar_count, comp_offset;
+	float addon_text_posn;
+	float default_text_posn;
+	float scaler = symbol->scale;
+	unsigned char *p;
+
+	// Allocate memory for the rendered version
+	render = symbol->rendered = malloc(sizeof(struct zint_render));
+	render->lines = NULL;
+	render->chars = NULL;
+
+	row_height = 0;
+	textdone = 0;
+	textpos = 0.0;
+	main_width = symbol->width;
+	strcpy(addon, "");
+	comp_offset = 0;
+	addon_text_posn = 0.0;
+
+	if (symbol->height < 15) {
+		symbol->height = 15;
+	}
+	// symbol->height = 50;
+
+	if(!hide_text && strlen((char *) symbol->text)) {
+		textheight = 9.0;
+		textoffset = 2.0;
+	} else {
+		textheight = textoffset = 0.0;
+	}
+	// Update height for texts
+	symbol->height -= textheight + textoffset;
+
+	large_bar_count = 0;
+	preset_height = 0.0;
+	for(i = 0; i < symbol->rows; i++) {
+		preset_height += symbol->row_height[i];
+		if(symbol->row_height[i] == 0) {
+			large_bar_count++;
+		}
+	}
+	large_bar_height = (symbol->height - preset_height) / large_bar_count;
+
+	if (large_bar_count == 0) {
+		symbol->height = preset_height;
+	}
+	
+	while(!(module_is_set(symbol, symbol->rows - 1, comp_offset))) {
+		comp_offset++;
+	}
+
+	xoffset = symbol->border_width + symbol->whitespace_width;
+	yoffset = symbol->border_width;
+
+	render->width = (symbol->width + xoffset + xoffset) * scaler;
+	render->height = (symbol->height + textheight + textoffset + yoffset + yoffset) * scaler;
+
+	default_text_posn = (symbol->height + textoffset + symbol->border_width) * scaler;
+
+	if(symbol->symbology != BARCODE_MAXICODE) {
+		/* everything else uses rectangles (or squares) */
+		/* Works from the bottom of the symbol up */
+		int addon_latch = 0;
+		
+		for(r = 0; r < symbol->rows; r++) {
+			this_row = r;
+			if(symbol->row_height[this_row] == 0) {
+				row_height = large_bar_height;
+			} else {
+				row_height = symbol->row_height[this_row];
+			}
+			row_posn = 0;
+			for(i = 0; i < r; i++) {
+				if(symbol->row_height[i] == 0) {
+					row_posn += large_bar_height;
+				} else {
+					row_posn += symbol->row_height[i];
+				}
+			}
+			row_posn += yoffset;
+			
+			i = 0;
+			if(module_is_set(symbol, this_row, 0)) {
+				latch = 1;
+			} else {
+				latch = 0;
+			}
+
+			do {
+				block_width = 0;
+				do {
+					block_width++;
+				} while (module_is_set(symbol, this_row, i + block_width) == module_is_set(symbol, this_row, i));
+				if((addon_latch == 0) && (r == (symbol->rows - 1)) && (i > main_width)) {
+					addon_text_posn = (row_posn + 8.0) * scaler;
+					addon_latch = 1;
+				} 
+				if(latch == 1) {
+					/* a bar */
+					line = malloc(sizeof(struct zint_render_line));
+					line->next = NULL;
+					
+					line->width = block_width * scaler;
+					line->x = (i + xoffset) * scaler;
+				
+					if(addon_latch == 0) {
+						line->y = row_posn * scaler;
+						line->length = row_height * scaler;
+					} else {
+						line->y = (row_posn + 10.0) * scaler;
+						line->length = (row_height - 5.0) * scaler;
+					}
+					latch = 0;
+					
+					if (last_line)
+						last_line->next = line;
+					else
+						render->lines = line; // first line
+				  last_line = line;
+				} else {
+					/* a space */
+					latch = 1;
+				}
+				i += block_width;
+				
+			} while (i < symbol->width);
+		}
+	}
+	/* That's done the actual data area, everything else is human-friendly */
+
+
+	/* Add the text */
+	xoffset -= comp_offset;
+
+	if (!hide_text) {
+		// caculate start xoffset to center text
+		xoffset = symbol->width / 2.0;
+		xoffset -= (strlen((char *) symbol->text) / 2) * 5.0;
+
+		for (p = symbol->text; *p != 0; p++) {
+			if (p != symbol->text && *p == '(') xoffset += 3.0;
+
+			bchar = malloc(sizeof(struct zint_render_char));
+			bchar->next = NULL;
+			bchar->x = (textpos + xoffset) * scaler;
+			bchar->y = default_text_posn;
+			bchar->fsize = 8.0 * scaler;
+			bchar->c = (char) *p;
+
+			if (last_bchar)
+				last_bchar->next = bchar;
+			else
+				render->chars = bchar; // First character
+			last_bchar = bchar;
+
+			// Poor mans kerning for next character
+			if (*p == '(') {
+				xoffset += 3.0;
+			} else if (*p == ')') {
+				xoffset += 3.0;
+			} else {
+				xoffset += 5.0;
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	return 1;
+}
diff --git a/backend/zint.h b/backend/zint.h
index 71c3fafe..eed05c96 100644
--- a/backend/zint.h
+++ b/backend/zint.h
@@ -25,6 +25,23 @@
 extern "C" {
 #endif /* __cplusplus */
 
+struct zint_render_line {
+	float x, y, length, width;
+	struct zint_render_line *next;      /* Pointer to next line */
+};
+
+struct zint_render_char {
+	float x, y, fsize;
+	char c;
+	struct zint_render_char *next;      /* Pointer to next character */
+};
+
+struct zint_render {
+	float width, height;
+	struct zint_render_line *lines;	 		/* Pointer to first line */
+	struct zint_render_char *chars;		  /* Pointer to first character */
+};
+
 struct zint_symbol {
 	int symbology;
 	int height;
@@ -50,8 +67,10 @@ struct zint_symbol {
 	char *bitmap;
 	int bitmap_width;
 	int bitmap_height;
+	struct zint_render *rendered;
 };
 
+
 /* Tbarcode 7 codes */
 #define BARCODE_CODE11		1
 #define BARCODE_C25MATRIX	2
@@ -189,6 +208,8 @@ ZINT_EXTERN int ZBarcode_Print(struct zint_symbol *symbol, int rotate_angle);
 ZINT_EXTERN int ZBarcode_Encode_and_Print(struct zint_symbol *symbol, unsigned char *input, int length, int rotate_angle);
 ZINT_EXTERN int ZBarcode_Encode_File_and_Print(struct zint_symbol *symbol, char *filename, int rotate_angle);
 
+ZINT_EXTERN int ZBarcode_Render(struct zint_symbol *symbol, unsigned int hide_text);
+
 ZINT_EXTERN int ZBarcode_Buffer(struct zint_symbol *symbol, int rotate_angle);
 ZINT_EXTERN int ZBarcode_Encode_and_Buffer(struct zint_symbol *symbol, unsigned char *input, int length, int rotate_angle);
 ZINT_EXTERN int ZBarcode_Encode_File_and_Buffer(struct zint_symbol *symbol, char *filename, int rotate_angle);