diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 02c47bf..7b91abc 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ Latest release (2.2):
 pip3 install sc8pr
 ```
 
-Development version (2.2.x):
+Development version (2.3.a):
 ```
 pip3 install https://github.com/dmaccarthy/sc8pr/archive/master.zip
 ```
diff --git a/sc8pr/__init__.py b/sc8pr/__init__.py
index d5b3ecc..db805a5 100644
--- a/sc8pr/__init__.py
+++ b/sc8pr/__init__.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# Copyright 2015-2022 D.G. MacCarthy <https://dmaccarthy.github.io/sc8pr>
+# Copyright 2015-2023 D.G. MacCarthy <https://dmaccarthy.github.io/sc8pr>
 #
 # This file is part of "sc8pr".
 #
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 # along with "sc8pr".  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
 
-version = 2, 2, 2
+version = 2, 3, "a0"
 print("sc8pr {}.{}.{}: https://dmaccarthy.github.io/sc8pr".format(*version))
 
 import sys, struct, zlib, io
diff --git a/sc8pr/misc/media.py b/sc8pr/misc/media.py
index 3390e19..6ed17c0 100644
--- a/sc8pr/misc/media.py
+++ b/sc8pr/misc/media.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# Copyright 2015-2021 D.G. MacCarthy <https://dmaccarthy.github.io/sc8pr>
+# Copyright 2015-2023 D.G. MacCarthy <https://dmaccarthy.github.io/sc8pr>
 #
 # This file is part of "sc8pr".
 #
@@ -77,13 +77,16 @@ def __init__(self, src, **kwargs):
 
     def __next__(self):
         "Return the next frame as an uncompressed PixelData instance"
-        return PixelData((next(self._iter), self._info))
+        return PixelData((bytes(next(self._iter)), self._info))
 
-    def read(self, n=None):
+    def read(self, n=None, compress=None):
         "Return a Video instance from the next n frames"
         vid = Video()
+        if compress is None:
+            compress = n is None or n > 20
         while n or n is None:
-            try: vid += next(self._iter), self._info
+            try:
+                vid += (next(self._iter), self._info) if compress else next(self)
             except: n = 0
             if n: n -= 1
         return vid
diff --git a/sc8pr/misc/video.py b/sc8pr/misc/video.py
index c49ba6e..860d831 100644
--- a/sc8pr/misc/video.py
+++ b/sc8pr/misc/video.py
@@ -86,6 +86,8 @@ def __iadd__(self, img):
         "Append a frame to the video"
         if isinstance(img, Video): return self.extend(img._costumes)
         if not isinstance(img, PixelData):
+            if type(img[0]) is not bytes:
+                img = bytes(img[0]), img[1]
             img = PixelData(img, True)
         self._costumes.append(img)
         if not hasattr(self, "_size"): self._size = img.size
diff --git a/sc8pr/plot/json.py b/sc8pr/plot/json.py
index 2db217b..5c81d35 100644
--- a/sc8pr/plot/json.py
+++ b/sc8pr/plot/json.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
 # along with "sc8pr".  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
-"EXPERIMENTAL!!! Create a Canvas from a description stored in a JSON file"
+"EXPERIMENTAL!!! Create a Canvas from a description stored in a dictionary / JSON file"
 
 import json
 from sc8pr import Sketch, Canvas
@@ -23,14 +23,18 @@
 from sc8pr.plot import plot, gridlines
 from sc8pr.text import Font
 from sc8pr.util import ondrag
+import sc8pr.plot.mpl as mpl
 
-data = None
 
 def canvas(data):
-    cv = Canvas(data["size"])
+    "Create a Canvas instance from data in a dictionary or JSON file"
+    if type(data) is str:
+        with open(data) as f: data = json.load(f)
+    bg = data.get("bg")
     dr = data.get("drag")
     cs = data.get("coords")
-    bg = data.get("bg")
+
+    cv = Canvas(data["size"])
     if bg: cv.config(bg=bg)
     if cs:
         cv.attachCS(cs, data.get("margin", 1))
@@ -42,13 +46,14 @@ def canvas(data):
                 if len(g) > 2: a.update(g[2])
                 gridlines(cv, *g[:2], **a)
             if data.get("flatten_grid", True): cv.flatten()
-    data = data.get("items", [])
-    for item, key, args, cfg in data:
+
+    for item, key, args, cfg in data.get("items", []):
         if item == "circ":
             item = Circle(args) if type(args) in (int, float) else Ellipse(args) 
         elif item == "line": item = Line(*args)
         elif item == "poly": item = Polygon(args)
         elif item == "arrow": item = Arrow(**args)
+        elif item == "mpl": item = mpl.text(args[0], **args[1])
         else: key = None
         if key: cv[key] = item.config(**cfg)
         elif item == "plot":
@@ -61,19 +66,8 @@ def canvas(data):
         for gr in cv: gr.bind(ondrag)
     return cv
 
-def render(fn, mode=0):
-    # Mode... 0 --> Canvas, 1 --> Image, 2 --> BytesIO, 3 --> bytes
-    global data
-    with open(fn) as f:
-        data = json.load(f)
-        cv = canvas(data)
-        if mode:
-            cv = cv.snapshot()
-            if mode > 1:
-                cv = cv.png
-                if mode == 3: cv = cv.read()
-        return cv
-
-def save_png(json, png):
-    with open(png, "wb") as png:
-        png.write(render(json, 3))
+def save_png(json_fn, png_fn):
+    "Convert JSON file data to PNG image"
+    with open(png_fn, "wb") as f:
+        data = canvas(json_fn).snapshot().png
+        f.write(data.read())
diff --git a/setup.cfg b/setup.cfg
index d88c059..52da0a8 100644
--- a/setup.cfg
+++ b/setup.cfg
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [metadata]
 name = sc8pr
-version = 2.2.2
+version = 2.3.a0
 author = D.G. MacCarthy
 author_email = sc8pr.py@gmail.com
 url = https://dmaccarthy.github.io/sc8pr