diff --git a/pcbnew/layer_widget.cpp b/pcbnew/layer_widget.cpp
index 5fb2963b99..80581f878b 100644
--- a/pcbnew/layer_widget.cpp
+++ b/pcbnew/layer_widget.cpp
@@ -301,9 +301,34 @@ int LAYER_WIDGET::findLayerRow( int aLayer )
     for( int row=0;  row<count;  ++row )
     {
         // column 0 in the layer scroll window has a wxStaticBitmap, get its ID.
-        wxStaticBitmap* bm = (wxStaticBitmap*) getLayerComp( row * LYR_COLUMN_COUNT );
+        wxWindow* w = getLayerComp( row * LYR_COLUMN_COUNT );
+        wxASSERT( w );
 
-        if( aLayer == getDecodedId( bm->GetId() ))
+        if( aLayer == getDecodedId( w->GetId() ))
+            return row;
+    }
+    return -1;
+}
+
+
+wxWindow* LAYER_WIDGET::getRenderComp( int aSizerNdx )
+{
+    if( (unsigned) aSizerNdx < m_RenderFlexGridSizer->GetChildren().GetCount() )
+        return m_RenderFlexGridSizer->GetChildren()[aSizerNdx]->GetWindow();
+    return NULL;
+}
+
+
+int LAYER_WIDGET::findRenderRow( int aId )
+{
+    int count = GetRenderRowCount();
+    for( int row=0;  row<count;  ++row )
+    {
+        // column 0 in the layer scroll window has a wxStaticBitmap, get its ID.
+        wxWindow* w = getRenderComp( row * RND_COLUMN_COUNT );
+        wxASSERT( w );
+
+        if( aId == getDecodedId( w->GetId() ))
             return row;
     }
     return -1;
@@ -675,6 +700,82 @@ void LAYER_WIDGET::SetLayerVisible( int aLayer, bool isVisible )
     }
 }
 
+
+bool LAYER_WIDGET::IsLayerVisible( int aLayer )
+{
+    int row = findLayerRow( aLayer );
+    if( row >= 0 )
+    {
+        wxCheckBox* cb = (wxCheckBox*) getLayerComp( row * LYR_COLUMN_COUNT + 3 );
+        wxASSERT( cb );
+        return cb->GetValue();
+    }
+    return false;
+}
+
+
+void LAYER_WIDGET::SetLayerColor( int aLayer, int aColor )
+{
+    int row = findLayerRow( aLayer );
+    if( row >= 0 )
+    {
+        int col = 1;    // bitmap button is column 1
+        wxBitmapButton* bmb = (wxBitmapButton*) getLayerComp( row * LYR_COLUMN_COUNT + col );
+        wxASSERT( bmb );
+
+        wxBitmap bm = makeBitmap( aColor );
+
+        bmb->SetBitmapLabel( bm );
+        bmb->SetName( makeColorTxt( aColor ) ); // save color value in name as string
+    }
+}
+
+
+int LAYER_WIDGET::GetLayerColor( int aLayer )
+{
+    int row = findLayerRow( aLayer );
+    if( row >= 0 )
+    {
+        int col = 1;    // bitmap button is column 1
+        wxBitmapButton* bmb = (wxBitmapButton*) getLayerComp( row * LYR_COLUMN_COUNT + col );
+        wxASSERT( bmb );
+
+        wxString colorTxt = bmb->GetName();
+        int color = strtoul( CONV_TO_UTF8(colorTxt), NULL, 0 );
+        return color;
+    }
+
+    return 0;   // it's caller fault, gave me a bad layer
+}
+
+
+void LAYER_WIDGET::SetRenderState( int aId, bool isSet )
+{
+    int row = findRenderRow( aId );
+    if( row >= 0 )
+    {
+        int col = 1;    // checkbox is column 1
+        wxCheckBox* cb = (wxCheckBox*) getRenderComp( row * RND_COLUMN_COUNT + col );
+        wxASSERT( cb );
+        cb->SetValue( isSet );  // does not fire an event
+    }
+}
+
+
+bool LAYER_WIDGET::GetRenderState( int aId )
+{
+    int row = findRenderRow( aId );
+    if( row >= 0 )
+    {
+        int col = 1;    // checkbox is column 1
+        wxCheckBox* cb = (wxCheckBox*) getRenderComp( row * RND_COLUMN_COUNT + col );
+        wxASSERT( cb );
+        return cb->GetValue();
+    }
+    return false;   // the value of a non-existent row
+}
+
+
 void LAYER_WIDGET::UpdateLayouts()
 {
     m_LayersFlexGridSizer->Layout();
diff --git a/pcbnew/layer_widget.h b/pcbnew/layer_widget.h
index 0b7d1e46c9..d54751bf18 100644
--- a/pcbnew/layer_widget.h
+++ b/pcbnew/layer_widget.h
@@ -162,12 +162,14 @@ protected:
      *   been added to the m_LayersFlexGridSizer.
      */
     wxWindow* getLayerComp( int aSizerNdx );
+    wxWindow* getRenderComp( int aSizerNdx );
 
     /**
      * Function findLayerRow
      * returns the row index that \a aLayer resides in, or -1 if not found.
      */
     int findLayerRow( int aLayer );
+    int findRenderRow( int aId );
 
     /**
      * Function insertLayerRow
@@ -288,6 +290,42 @@ public:
      */
     void SetLayerVisible( int aLayer, bool isVisible );
 
+    /**
+     * Function IsLayerVisible
+     * returns the visible state of the layer ROW associated with \a aLayer id.
+     */
+    bool IsLayerVisible( int aLayer );
+
+    /**
+     * Function SetLayerColor
+     * changes the color of \a aLayer
+     */
+    void SetLayerColor( int aLayer, int aColor );
+
+    /**
+     * Function GetLayerColor
+     * returns the color of the layer ROW associated with \a aLayer id.
+     */
+    int GetLayerColor( int aLayer );
+
+    /**
+     * Function SetRenderState
+     * sets the state of the checkbox associated with \a aId within the
+     * Render tab group of the widget.  Does not fire an event, i.e. does
+     * not invoke OnRenderEnable().
+     * @param aId is the same unique id used when adding a ROW to the
+     *  Render tab.
+     */
+    void SetRenderState( int aId, bool isSet );
+
+    /**
+     * Function GetRenderState
+     * returns the state of the checkbox associated with \a aId.
+     * @return bool - true if checked, else false.
+     */
+    bool GetRenderState( int aId );
+
+
     void UpdateLayouts();
 
 /*  did not help: