diff --git a/bindings/python/mapnik/__init__.py b/bindings/python/mapnik/__init__.py
index 1b10836aa..61ac36f63 100644
--- a/bindings/python/mapnik/__init__.py
+++ b/bindings/python/mapnik/__init__.py
@@ -49,6 +49,10 @@ class _Envelope(Envelope,_injector):
         return 'Envelope(%s,%s,%s,%s)' % \
                (self.minx,self.miny,self.maxx,self.maxy)
 
+def Layer (**keywords):
+    return _Layer(keywords)
+    
+    
 #register datasources
 from mapnik import DatasourceCache
 DatasourceCache.instance().register_datasources('%s' % inputpluginspath)
diff --git a/bindings/python/mapnik_layer.cpp b/bindings/python/mapnik_layer.cpp
index b0d0e97bd..bd82c22f7 100644
--- a/bindings/python/mapnik_layer.cpp
+++ b/bindings/python/mapnik_layer.cpp
@@ -81,13 +81,18 @@ struct layer_pickle_suite : boost::python::pickle_suite
 
 namespace  
 {
+    //user-friendly wrapper that uses Python dictionary
     using namespace boost::python;
-    Layer create_layer(const char* name, const char* type, const char* file)
+    _Layer create_layer(const dict& d)
     {
 	parameters params;
-	params["name"] = name;
-        params["type"] = type;
-        params["file"] = file;
+	boost::python::list keys=d.keys();
+	for (int i=0;i<len(keys);++i)
+	{
+	    std::string key=extract<std::string>(keys[i]);
+            std::string value=extract<std::string>(d[key]);
+	    params[key] = value;
+	}
 	return Layer(params);
     }
 }
@@ -109,5 +114,5 @@ void export_layer()
 		      (&Layer::styles,return_value_policy<reference_existing_object>()))
         .def_pickle(layer_pickle_suite())
         ;
-    def("Layer",&create_layer);
+    def("_Layer",&create_layer);
 }
diff --git a/bindings/python/mapnik_text_symbolizer.cpp b/bindings/python/mapnik_text_symbolizer.cpp
index dfa72e04b..2989ab0cb 100644
--- a/bindings/python/mapnik_text_symbolizer.cpp
+++ b/bindings/python/mapnik_text_symbolizer.cpp
@@ -29,6 +29,6 @@ void export_text_symbolizer()
     using namespace boost::python;
     
     class_<text_symbolizer>("TextSymbolizer",
-			    init<std::string const&,Color const&>("TODO"))
+			    init<std::string const&,unsigned,Color const&>("TODO"))
 	;
 }