cairo:surface-create-similar-image (target format width height)

target -- an existing cairo:surface-t instance used to select the preference of the new surface
format -- a cairo:format-t value for the new surface
width -- an integer for the width of the new surface, in device-space units
height -- an integer for the height of the new surface, in device-space units

The newly allocated image cairo:surface-t instance. The caller owns the surface and should call the cairo:surface-destroy function when done with it. This function always returns a valid surface, but it will return a "nil" surface if target is already in an error state or any other error occurs.

Create a new image surface that is as compatible as possible for uploading to and the use in conjunction with an existing surface. However, this surface can still be used like any normal image surface.

Initially the surface contents are all 0 and transparent if contents have transparency, black otherwise.

Use the cairo:surface-create-similar function if you do not need an image surface.