diff --git a/openerp/tools/image.py b/openerp/tools/image.py
index 4dc92704c9f..edc251e40f6 100644
--- a/openerp/tools/image.py
+++ b/openerp/tools/image.py
@@ -18,3 +18,33 @@
 #    along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 #
 ##############################################################################
+
+import io
+from PIL import Image
+import StringIO
+
+def resize_image(base64_source, size=(1024, 1024), encoding='base64', filetype='PNG', avoid_if_small=False):
+    image_stream = io.BytesIO(base64_source.decode(encoding))
+    image = Image.open(image_stream)
+    # check image size: do not create a thumbnail if avoiding smaller images
+    if avoid_if_small and image.size[0] <= size[0] and image.size[1] <= size[1]:
+        return base64_source
+    # create a thumbnail: will resize and keep ratios
+    image.thumbnail(size, Image.ANTIALIAS)
+    # create a transparent image for background
+    background = Image.new('RGBA', size, (255, 255, 255, 0))
+    # past the resized image on the background
+    background.paste(image, ((size[0] - image.size[0]) / 2, (size[1] - image.size[1]) / 2))
+    # return an encoded image
+    background_stream = StringIO.StringIO()
+    background.save(background_stream, filetype)
+    return background_stream.getvalue().encode(encoding)
+
+def resize_image_big(base64_source, size=(1204, 1204), encoding='base64', filetype='PNG'):
+    return resize_image(base64_source, size, encoding, filetype, True)
+
+def resize_image_medium(base64_source, size=(180, 180), encoding='base64', filetype='PNG'):
+    return resize_image(base64_source, size, encoding, filetype)
+    
+def resize_image_small(base64_source, size=(50, 50), encoding='base64', filetype='PNG'):
+    return resize_image(base64_source, size, encoding, filetype)