diff --git a/src/backends/gadfly_shapes.jl b/src/backends/gadfly_shapes.jl
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6ae8a51d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/backends/gadfly_shapes.jl
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+
+# Compose pseudo-forms for simple symbols, all parameterized by center and size
+
+using Compose: x_measure, y_measure
+
+function create
+
+function square(xs::AbstractArray, ys::AbstractArray, rs::AbstractArray)
+    n = max(length(xs), length(ys), length(rs))
+
+    rect_xs = Vector{Measure}(n)
+    rect_ys = Vector{Measure}(n)
+    rect_ws = Vector{Measure}(n)
+    s = 1/sqrt(2)
+    for i in 1:n
+        x = x_measure(xs[1 + i % length(xs)])
+        y = y_measure(ys[1 + i % length(ys)])
+        r = rs[1 + i % length(rs)]
+
+        rect_xs[i] = x - s*r
+        rect_ys[i] = y - s*r
+        rect_ws[i] = 2*s*r
+    end
+
+    return rectangle(rect_xs, rect_ys, rect_ws, rect_ws)
+end
+
+
+function diamond(xs::AbstractArray, ys::AbstractArray, rs::AbstractArray)
+    n = max(length(xs), length(ys), length(rs))
+
+    polys = Vector{Vector{Tuple{Measure, Measure}}}(n)
+    for i in 1:n
+        x = x_measure(xs[1 + i % length(xs)])
+        y = y_measure(ys[1 + i % length(ys)])
+        r = rs[1 + i % length(rs)]
+        polys[i] = Tuple{Measure, Measure}[(x, y - r), (x + r, y), (x, y + r), (x - r, y)]
+    end
+
+    return polygon(polys)
+end
+
+
+function cross(xs::AbstractArray, ys::AbstractArray, rs::AbstractArray)
+    n = max(length(xs), length(ys), length(rs))
+
+    polys = Vector{Vector{Tuple{Measure, Measure}}}(n)
+    s = 1/sqrt(5)
+    for i in 1:n
+        x = x_measure(xs[1 + i % length(xs)])
+        y = y_measure(ys[1 + i % length(ys)])
+        r = rs[1 + i % length(rs)]
+        u = s*r
+        polys[i] = Tuple{Measure, Measure}[
+            (x, y - u), (x + u, y - 2u), (x + 2u, y - u),
+            (x + u, y), (x + 2u, y + u), (x + u, y + 2u),
+            (x, y + u), (x - u, y + 2u), (x - 2u, y + u),
+            (x - u, y), (x - 2u, y - u), (x - u, y - 2u) ]
+    end
+
+    return polygon(polys)
+end