--- a/python/pypngtile.pyx	Mon Jan 25 04:33:38 2010 +0200
+++ b/python/pypngtile.pyx	Mon Jan 25 04:33:51 2010 +0200
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@
     int pt_image_open (pt_image **image_ptr, pt_ctx *ctx, char *png_path, int cache_mode)
     int pt_image_info_ "pt_image_info" (pt_image *image, pt_image_info **info_ptr)
     int pt_image_status (pt_image *image)
+    int pt_image_load (pt_image *image)
     int pt_image_update (pt_image *image, pt_image_params *params)
     int pt_image_tile_file (pt_image *image, pt_tile_info *info, stdio.FILE *out)
     int pt_image_tile_mem (pt_image *image, pt_tile_info *info, char **buf_ptr, size_t *len_ptr)
@@ -145,6 +146,16 @@
         return trap_err("pt_image_status", 
             pt_image_status(self.image)
         )
+    
+
+    def open (self) :
+        """
+            Open the underlying cache file for reading, if available.
+        """
+
+        return trap_err("pt_image_load",
+            pt_image_load(self.image)
+        )
 
 
     def update (self, background_color = None) :