diff --git a/caca/driver_raw.c b/caca/driver_raw.c
index a5ddcb8..0ea92a5 100644
--- a/caca/driver_raw.c
+++ b/caca/driver_raw.c
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ static void raw_display(caca_display_t *dp)
 {
     cucul_buffer_t *buffer;
 
-    buffer = cucul_create_export(dp->cv, "caca");
+    buffer = cucul_export_canvas(dp->cv, "caca");
     fwrite(cucul_get_buffer_data(buffer),
            cucul_get_buffer_size(buffer), 1, stdout);
     fflush(stdout);
diff --git a/cpp/cucul++.cpp b/cpp/cucul++.cpp
index b5f633e..f79247d 100644
--- a/cpp/cucul++.cpp
+++ b/cpp/cucul++.cpp
@@ -350,10 +350,10 @@ void 	Cucul::free_font ( Cucul::Font *f)
     cucul_free_font(f->font);
 }
 
-Cucul::Buffer * 	Cucul::create_export (char const *buf)
+Cucul::Buffer * 	Cucul::export_canvas (char const *buf)
 {
     Cucul::Buffer *b = new Cucul::Buffer();
-    b->buffer = cucul_create_export(cv, buf);
+    b->buffer = cucul_export_canvas(cv, buf);
     return b;
 }
 
diff --git a/cpp/cucul++.h b/cpp/cucul++.h
index 66e7ee2..9671254 100644
--- a/cpp/cucul++.h
+++ b/cpp/cucul++.h
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ class Cucul {
     unsigned int 	get_font_height (Font *);
     void 	render_canvas ( Font *, unsigned char *, unsigned int, unsigned int, unsigned int);
     void 	free_font (Font *);
-    Buffer * 	create_export ( char const *);
+    Buffer * 	export_canvas ( char const *);
     char const *const * 	get_export_list (void);
 
 
diff --git a/cucul/Makefile.am b/cucul/Makefile.am
index 13ceecc..2e72f05 100644
--- a/cucul/Makefile.am
+++ b/cucul/Makefile.am
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ libcucul_la_SOURCES = \
 	font.c \
 	font_mono9.h \
 	font_monobold12.h \
+	import.c \
 	export.c \
 	$(NULL)
 libcucul_la_LDFLAGS = -no-undefined
diff --git a/cucul/cucul.c b/cucul/cucul.c
index 7b8abdf..66e104c 100644
--- a/cucul/cucul.c
+++ b/cucul/cucul.c
@@ -72,61 +72,6 @@ cucul_canvas_t * cucul_create_canvas(unsigned int width, unsigned int height)
     return cv;
 }
 
-/** \brief Load a memory area into a canvas.
- *
- *  This function loads a memory area containing an exported canvas into
- *  a new \e libcucul canvas.
- *
- *  \param data The memory area to be loaded into a canvas.
- *  \param size The length of the memory area.
- *  \return A libcucul canvas, or NULL in case of error.
- */
-cucul_canvas_t *cucul_load_canvas(void *data, unsigned int size)
-{
-    cucul_canvas_t *cv;
-    uint8_t *buf = (uint8_t *)data;
-    unsigned int width, height, n;
-
-    if(size < 16)
-        return NULL;
-
-    if(buf[0] != 'C' || buf[1] != 'A' || buf[2] != 'C' || buf[3] != 'A')
-        return NULL;
-
-    if(buf[4] != 'C' || buf[5] != 'A' || buf[6] != 'N' || buf[7] != 'V')
-        return NULL;
-
-    width = ((uint32_t)buf[8] << 24) | ((uint32_t)buf[9] << 16)
-           | ((uint32_t)buf[10] << 8) | (uint32_t)buf[11];
-    height = ((uint32_t)buf[12] << 24) | ((uint32_t)buf[13] << 16)
-            | ((uint32_t)buf[14] << 8) | (uint32_t)buf[15];
-
-    if(!width || !height)
-        return NULL;
-
-    if(size != 16 + width * height * 8)
-        return NULL;
-
-    cv = cucul_create_canvas(width, height);
-
-    if(!cv)
-        return NULL;
-
-    for(n = height * width; n--; )
-    {
-        cv->chars[n] = ((uint32_t)buf[16 + 0 + 8 * n] << 24)
-                     | ((uint32_t)buf[16 + 1 + 8 * n] << 16)
-                     | ((uint32_t)buf[16 + 2 + 8 * n] << 8)
-                     | (uint32_t)buf[16 + 3 + 8 * n];
-        cv->attr[n] = ((uint32_t)buf[16 + 4 + 8 * n] << 24)
-                    | ((uint32_t)buf[16 + 5 + 8 * n] << 16)
-                    | ((uint32_t)buf[16 + 6 + 8 * n] << 8)
-                    | (uint32_t)buf[16 + 7 + 8 * n];
-    }
-
-    return cv;
-}
-
 /** \brief Resize a canvas.
  *
  *  This function sets the canvas width and height, in character cells.
diff --git a/cucul/cucul.h b/cucul/cucul.h
index 73ba454..1cece8a 100644
--- a/cucul/cucul.h
+++ b/cucul/cucul.h
@@ -74,7 +74,6 @@ typedef struct cucul_font cucul_font_t;
  *
  *  @{ */
 cucul_canvas_t * cucul_create_canvas(unsigned int, unsigned int);
-cucul_canvas_t * cucul_load_canvas(void *, unsigned int);
 void cucul_set_canvas_size(cucul_canvas_t *, unsigned int, unsigned int);
 unsigned int cucul_get_canvas_width(cucul_canvas_t *);
 unsigned int cucul_get_canvas_height(cucul_canvas_t *);
@@ -205,14 +204,16 @@ void cucul_render_canvas(cucul_canvas_t *, cucul_font_t *, void *,
 void cucul_free_font(cucul_font_t *);
 /*  @} */
 
-/** \defgroup exporter libcucul exporters to various formats
+/** \defgroup importexport libcucul importers/exporters from/to various formats
  *
- *  These functions export the current canvas to various text formats. It
- *  is necessary to call cucul_free_buffer() to dispose of the data.
+ *  These functions import various file formats into a new canvas, or export
+ *  the current canvas to various text formats.
  *
  *  @{ */
-cucul_buffer_t * cucul_create_export(cucul_canvas_t *, char const *);
+cucul_buffer_t * cucul_export_canvas(cucul_canvas_t *, char const *);
 char const * const * cucul_get_export_list(void);
+cucul_canvas_t * cucul_import_canvas(void const *, unsigned int, char const *);
+char const * const * cucul_get_import_list(void);
 /*  @} */
 
 #ifdef __cplusplus
diff --git a/cucul/export.c b/cucul/export.c
index 1542a56..7e9045f 100644
--- a/cucul/export.c
+++ b/cucul/export.c
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ static void export_tga(cucul_canvas_t *, cucul_buffer_t *);
  *  \param cv A libcucul canvas
  *  \param format A string describing the requested output format.
  */
-cucul_buffer_t * cucul_create_export(cucul_canvas_t *cv, char const *format)
+cucul_buffer_t * cucul_export_canvas(cucul_canvas_t *cv, char const *format)
 {
     cucul_buffer_t *ex;
 
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ cucul_buffer_t * cucul_create_export(cucul_canvas_t *cv, char const *format)
  *
  *  Return a list of available export formats. The list is a NULL-terminated
  *  array of strings, interleaving a string containing the internal value for
- *  the export format, to be used with cucul_create_export(), and a string
+ *  the export format, to be used with cucul_export_canvas(), and a string
  *  containing the natural language description for that export format.
  *
  *  \return An array of strings.
diff --git a/cucul/import.c b/cucul/import.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..db53395
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cucul/import.c
@@ -0,0 +1,127 @@
+/*
+ *  libcucul      Canvas for ultrafast compositing of Unicode letters
+ *  Copyright (c) 2002-2006 Sam Hocevar <sam@zoy.org>
+ *                All Rights Reserved
+ *
+ *  $Id$
+ *
+ *  This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
+ *  modify it under the terms of the Do What The Fuck You Want To
+ *  Public License, Version 2, as published by Sam Hocevar. See
+ *  http://sam.zoy.org/wtfpl/COPYING for more details.
+ */
+
+/*
+ *  This file contains various import functions.
+ */
+
+#include "config.h"
+
+#if !defined(__KERNEL__)
+#   include <stdio.h>
+#   include <stdlib.h>
+#   include <string.h>
+#endif
+
+#include "cucul.h"
+#include "cucul_internals.h"
+
+static cucul_canvas_t *import_caca(void const *, unsigned int);
+
+/** \brief Import a buffer into a canvas
+ *
+ *  This function imports a memory area into an internal libcucul canvas.
+ *
+ *  Valid values for \c format are:
+ *
+ *  \li \c "caca": import native libcaca files.
+ *
+ *  \param data The memory area to be loaded into a canvas.
+ *  \param size The length of the memory area.
+ *  \param format A string describing the input format.
+ *  \return A libcucul canvas, or NULL in case of error.
+ */
+cucul_canvas_t * cucul_import_canvas(void const *data, unsigned int size,
+                                     char const *format)
+{
+    if(!strcasecmp("caca", format))
+        return import_caca(data, size);
+
+    /* FIXME: Try to autodetect */
+    if(!strcasecmp("", format))
+        return import_caca(data, size);
+
+    return NULL;
+}
+
+/** \brief Get available import formats
+ *
+ *  Return a list of available import formats. The list is a NULL-terminated
+ *  array of strings, interleaving a string containing the internal value for
+ *  the import format, to be used with cucul_import_canvas(), and a string
+ *  containing the natural language description for that import format.
+ *
+ *  \return An array of strings.
+ */
+char const * const * cucul_get_import_list(void)
+{
+    static char const * const list[] =
+    {
+        "", "autodetect",
+        "caca", "native libcaca format",
+        NULL, NULL
+    };
+
+    return list;
+}
+
+/*
+ * XXX: the following functions are local.
+ */
+
+static cucul_canvas_t *import_caca(void const *data, unsigned int size)
+{
+    cucul_canvas_t *cv;
+    uint8_t *buf = (uint8_t *)data;
+    unsigned int width, height, n;
+
+    if(size < 16)
+        return NULL;
+
+    if(buf[0] != 'C' || buf[1] != 'A' || buf[2] != 'C' || buf[3] != 'A')
+        return NULL;
+
+    if(buf[4] != 'C' || buf[5] != 'A' || buf[6] != 'N' || buf[7] != 'V')
+        return NULL;
+
+    width = ((uint32_t)buf[8] << 24) | ((uint32_t)buf[9] << 16)
+           | ((uint32_t)buf[10] << 8) | (uint32_t)buf[11];
+    height = ((uint32_t)buf[12] << 24) | ((uint32_t)buf[13] << 16)
+            | ((uint32_t)buf[14] << 8) | (uint32_t)buf[15];
+
+    if(!width || !height)
+        return NULL;
+
+    if(size != 16 + width * height * 8)
+        return NULL;
+
+    cv = cucul_create_canvas(width, height);
+
+    if(!cv)
+        return NULL;
+
+    for(n = height * width; n--; )
+    {
+        cv->chars[n] = ((uint32_t)buf[16 + 0 + 8 * n] << 24)
+                     | ((uint32_t)buf[16 + 1 + 8 * n] << 16)
+                     | ((uint32_t)buf[16 + 2 + 8 * n] << 8)
+                     | (uint32_t)buf[16 + 3 + 8 * n];
+        cv->attr[n] = ((uint32_t)buf[16 + 4 + 8 * n] << 24)
+                    | ((uint32_t)buf[16 + 5 + 8 * n] << 16)
+                    | ((uint32_t)buf[16 + 6 + 8 * n] << 8)
+                    | (uint32_t)buf[16 + 7 + 8 * n];
+    }
+
+    return cv;
+}
+
diff --git a/src/cacaplay.c b/src/cacaplay.c
index 15ee2be..d86b328 100644
--- a/src/cacaplay.c
+++ b/src/cacaplay.c
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 
     buffer = malloc(statbuf.st_size);
     read(fd, buffer, statbuf.st_size);
-    cv = cucul_load_canvas(buffer, statbuf.st_size);
+    cv = cucul_import_canvas(buffer, statbuf.st_size, "caca");
     free(buffer);
 
     if(!cv)
diff --git a/src/cacaserver.c b/src/cacaserver.c
index c917e6b..c73452d 100644
--- a/src/cacaserver.c
+++ b/src/cacaserver.c
@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@ int main(void)
         if(server->canvas)
             cucul_free_canvas(server->canvas);
 
-        server->canvas = cucul_load_canvas(buf, size);
+        server->canvas = cucul_import_canvas(buf, size, "caca");
 
         if(!server->canvas)
             continue; /* Load error */
@@ -240,7 +240,7 @@ int main(void)
 
         /* Get ANSI representation of the image and skip the end-of buffer
          * linefeed ("\r\n", 2 bytes) */
-        server->buffer = cucul_create_export(server->canvas, "ansi");
+        server->buffer = cucul_export_canvas(server->canvas, "ansi");
         server->bufdata = cucul_get_buffer_data(server->buffer);
         server->buflen = cucul_get_buffer_size(server->buffer);
         server->buflen -= 2;
diff --git a/src/img2irc.c b/src/img2irc.c
index 88ca8de..f06a89e 100644
--- a/src/img2irc.c
+++ b/src/img2irc.c
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 
     unload_image(i);
 
-    export = cucul_create_export(cv, "irc");
+    export = cucul_export_canvas(cv, "irc");
     fwrite(cucul_get_buffer_data(export),
            cucul_get_buffer_size(export), 1, stdout);
     cucul_free_buffer(export);
diff --git a/test/export.c b/test/export.c
index c229dc2..828dca5 100644
--- a/test/export.c
+++ b/test/export.c
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
         cucul_putstr(cv, WIDTH / 2 - 7 + x, HEIGHT / 2 + 5, "#");
     }
 
-    buffer = cucul_create_export(cv, argv[1]);
+    buffer = cucul_export_canvas(cv, argv[1]);
     fwrite(cucul_get_buffer_data(buffer),
            cucul_get_buffer_size(buffer), 1, stdout);
     cucul_free_buffer(buffer);