 				m_imageLoader.priority = value;
 			}
 		}
-	
+		
 		public function setSmoothing(enabled : Boolean) : void
 		{
 			//TODO: found out how to enable smoothing
 			m_smoothing = enabled;
 		}
 		
+		public function bitmapData() : BitmapData
+		{
+			if (!m_image)
+			{
+				return null;
+			}
+			return m_image.bitmapData;
+		}
+
 		
 		/***************************************************************************
 		*							protected methods							   *

			{
				m_lowerContentDisplay.removeChild(m_image);
			}
			m_image = new Bitmap(BitmapData(m_imageLoader.content()));
			m_lowerContentDisplay.addChild(m_image);
			invalidate();
			dispatchEvent(new DisplayEvent(DisplayEvent.LOAD_COMPLETE));
		}
		
		protected override function measure() : void
		{
			if (!(m_imageLoader && m_imageLoader.didSucceed()))

				m_intrinsicHeight = 0;
				return;
			}
			m_intrinsicWidth = BitmapData(m_imageLoader.content()).width;
			m_intrinsicHeight = BitmapData(m_imageLoader.content()).height;
		}
	}
}