diff --git a/collects/mred/private/wx/common/backing-dc.rkt b/collects/mred/private/wx/common/backing-dc.rkt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c8cef0ed
--- /dev/null
+++ b/collects/mred/private/wx/common/backing-dc.rkt
@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+#lang racket/base
+(require racket/class
+         racket/draw/dc
+         racket/draw/bitmap-dc
+         racket/draw/bitmap
+         racket/draw/local)
+
+(provide backing-dc%
+         
+         ;; scoped method names:
+         get-backing-size
+         flush-backing
+         start-on-paint
+         end-on-paint)
+
+(define-local-member-name
+  get-backing-size
+  flush-backing
+  start-on-paint
+  end-on-paint)
+
+(define backing-dc%
+  (class (dc-mixin bitmap-dc-backend%)
+    (inherit call-with-cr-lock
+             internal-get-bitmap
+             internal-set-bitmap)
+
+    (super-new)
+
+    ;; Override this method to get the right size
+    (define/public (get-backing-size xb yb)
+      (set-box! xb 1)
+      (set-box! yb 1))
+
+    ;; override this method to push the bitmap to
+    ;;  the device that it backs
+    (define/public (flush-backing bm)
+      (void))
+
+    (define on-paint-cr #f)
+
+    (define/public (start-on-paint)
+      (call-with-cr-lock
+       (lambda () 
+         (if on-paint-cr 
+             (log-error "nested start-on-paint")
+             (set! on-paint-cr (get-cr))))))
+
+    (define/public (end-on-paint)
+      (call-with-cr-lock
+       (lambda () 
+         (if (not on-paint-cr)
+             (log-error "unbalanced end-on-paint")
+             (let ([cr on-paint-cr])
+               (set! on-paint-cr #f)
+               (release-cr cr))))))
+
+    (define/override (get-cr)
+      (or on-paint-cr
+          (let ([w (box 0)]
+                [h (box 0)])
+            (get-backing-size)
+            (let ([bm (get-backing-bitmap (unbox w) (unbox h))])
+              (internal-set-bitmap bm))
+            (super get-cr))))
+
+    (define/override (release-cr cr)
+      (unless (eq? cr on-paint-cr)
+        (let ([bm (internal-get-bitmap)])
+          (internal-set-bitmap #f)
+          (flush-backing bm)
+          (release-backing-bitmap bm))))))
+
+(define (get-backing-bitmap w h)
+  (make-object bitmap% w h #f #t))
+
+(define (release-backing-bitmap bm)
+  (send bm release-bitma-storage))