diff --git a/contrib/ci/Dockerfile-debian-experimental b/contrib/ci/Dockerfile-debian-experimental
index 875d5dcc3..87ce9e9d6 100644
--- a/contrib/ci/Dockerfile-debian-experimental
+++ b/contrib/ci/Dockerfile-debian-experimental
@@ -5,15 +5,21 @@ RUN echo "deb-src http://deb.debian.org/debian/ experimental main" >> /etc/apt/s
 RUN apt-get update -qq
 RUN apt-get install -yq --no-install-recommends \
 	docbook-utils \
+	fontconfig \
+	fontconfig-config \
+	fonts-dejavu \
 	gcab \
 	gettext \
 	gobject-introspection \
 	gtk-doc-tools \
 	libarchive-dev \
+	libcairo-dev \
+	libcairo-gobject2 \
 	libcolord-dev \
 	libcolorhug-dev \
 	libefivar-dev \
 	libelf-dev \
+	libfreetype6-dev \
 	libfwup-dev \
 	libgcab-dev \
 	libgirepository1.0-dev \
@@ -21,6 +27,7 @@ RUN apt-get install -yq --no-install-recommends \
 	libgpgme11-dev \
 	libgudev-1.0-dev \
 	libgusb-dev \
+	libpango1.0-dev \
 	libpolkit-gobject-1-dev \
 	libsmbios-dev \
 	libsoup2.4-dev \
@@ -29,6 +36,10 @@ RUN apt-get install -yq --no-install-recommends \
 	meson \
 	pkg-config \
 	policykit-1 \
+	python3 \
+	python3-cairo \
+	python3-gi-cairo \
+	python3-pil \
 	udev \
 	systemd
 #deps not yet in unstable:
diff --git a/contrib/ci/Dockerfile-debian-unstable b/contrib/ci/Dockerfile-debian-unstable
index b32a2cf29..096eb25b9 100644
--- a/contrib/ci/Dockerfile-debian-unstable
+++ b/contrib/ci/Dockerfile-debian-unstable
@@ -4,6 +4,9 @@ RUN echo "deb-src http://deb.debian.org/debian/ unstable main" >> /etc/apt/sourc
 RUN apt-get update -qq
 RUN apt-get install -yq --no-install-recommends \
 	docbook-utils \
+	fontconfig \
+	fontconfig-config \
+	fonts-dejavu \
 	gcab \
 	gettext \
 	gir1.2-appstreamglib-1.0 \
@@ -11,10 +14,13 @@ RUN apt-get install -yq --no-install-recommends \
 	gtk-doc-tools \
 	libappstream-glib-dev \
 	libarchive-dev \
+	libcairo-dev \
+	libcairo-gobject2 \
 	libcolord-dev \
 	libcolorhug-dev \
 	libefivar-dev \
 	libelf-dev \
+	libfreetype6-dev \
 	libfwup-dev \
 	libgcab-dev \
 	libgirepository1.0-dev \
@@ -22,6 +28,7 @@ RUN apt-get install -yq --no-install-recommends \
 	libgpgme11-dev \
 	libgudev-1.0-dev \
 	libgusb-dev \
+	libpango1.0-dev \
 	libpolkit-gobject-1-dev \
 	libsmbios-dev \
 	libsoup2.4-dev \
@@ -30,6 +37,10 @@ RUN apt-get install -yq --no-install-recommends \
 	meson \
 	pkg-config \
 	policykit-1 \
+	python3 \
+	python3-cairo \
+	python3-gi-cairo \
+	python3-pil \
 	udev \
 	systemd
 RUN mkdir /build
diff --git a/contrib/ci/Dockerfile-fedora-25 b/contrib/ci/Dockerfile-fedora-25
index 0e7aca99a..8ac0220ef 100644
--- a/contrib/ci/Dockerfile-fedora-25
+++ b/contrib/ci/Dockerfile-fedora-25
@@ -2,9 +2,15 @@ FROM fedora:25
 
 RUN dnf --enablerepo=updates-testing -y update
 RUN dnf --enablerepo=updates-testing -y install \
+	adobe-source-han-sans-cn-fonts \
+	cairo-devel \
+	cairo-gobject-devel \
 	colord-devel \
+	dejavu-sans-fonts \
 	docbook-utils \
 	elfutils-libelf-devel \
+	freetype \
+	fontconfig \
 	fwupdate-devel \
 	gcab \
 	gettext \
@@ -19,7 +25,12 @@ RUN dnf --enablerepo=updates-testing -y install \
 	libsmbios-devel \
 	libsoup-devel \
 	meson \
+	pango-devel \
 	polkit-devel \
+	python3 \
+	python3-cairo \
+	python3-gobject \
+	python3-pillow \
 	redhat-rpm-config \
 	sqlite-devel \
 	systemd \
diff --git a/contrib/fwupd.spec.in b/contrib/fwupd.spec.in
index 63963f831..b100fdc20 100644
--- a/contrib/fwupd.spec.in
+++ b/contrib/fwupd.spec.in
@@ -43,6 +43,13 @@ BuildRequires: valgrind-devel
 BuildRequires: elfutils-libelf-devel
 BuildRequires: gtk-doc
 BuildRequires: meson
+BuildRequires: python3 python3-cairo python3-gobject python3-pillow
+BuildRequires: pango-devel
+BuildRequires: cairo-devel cairo-gobject-devel
+BuildRequires: freetype
+BuildRequires: fontconfig
+BuildRequires: dejavu-sans-fonts
+BuildRequires: adobe-source-han-sans-cn-fonts
 
 %if 0%{?have_smbios}
 BuildRequires: libsmbios-devel >= 2.3.0
@@ -61,6 +68,7 @@ Requires: glib2%{?_isa} >= %{glib2_version}
 Requires: libappstream-glib%{?_isa} >= %{libappstream_version}
 Requires: libgusb%{?_isa} >= %{libgusb_version}
 Requires: libsoup%{?_isa} >= %{libsoup_version}
+Requires: fwupd-labels = %{version}-%{release}
 
 Obsoletes: fwupd-sign < 0.1.6
 Obsoletes: libebitdo < 0.7.5-3
@@ -89,6 +97,13 @@ Requires: libdfu%{?_isa} = %{version}-%{release}
 %description -n libdfu-devel
 Files for development with libdfu.
 
+%package labels
+Summary: Rendered labels for display during system firmware updates.
+BuildArch: noarch
+
+%description labels
+Rendered labels for display during system firmware updates.
+
 %prep
 %setup -q
 
@@ -208,6 +223,9 @@ mkdir -p --mode=0700 $RPM_BUILD_ROOT%{_localstatedir}/lib/fwupd/gnupg
 %{_libdir}/libdfu*.so
 %{_libdir}/pkgconfig/dfu.pc
 
+%files labels
+%{_datadir}/locale/*/LC_IMAGES/fwupd*
+
 %changelog
 * #LONGDATE# Richard Hughes <richard@hughsie.com> #VERSION#-0.#BUILD##ALPHATAG#
 - Update from git
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index bc2a15940..41296bde0 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -128,6 +128,11 @@ gpgerror = cc.find_library('gpg-error')
 libm = cc.find_library('m', required: false)
 udev = dependency('udev')
 
+cairo = dependency('cairo')
+pango = dependency('pango')
+fontconfig = cc.find_library('fontconfig')
+freetype = cc.find_library('freetype')
+
 if valgrind.found()
   conf.set('HAVE_VALGRIND', '1')
 endif
diff --git a/po/make-images b/po/make-images
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..894ad77ee
--- /dev/null
+++ b/po/make-images
@@ -0,0 +1,194 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+""" This thing rasterizes text for use later """
+
+# pylint: disable=wrong-import-position,too-many-locals,unused-argument
+# pylint: disable=invalid-name,too-many-instance-attributes
+
+"""
+ Licensed under the GNU General Public License Version 2
+
+ This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+ the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
+ (at your option) any later version.
+
+ This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ GNU General Public License for more details.
+
+ You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+ along with this program; if not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+"""
+
+
+import os
+import sys
+import gettext
+import math
+import cairo
+import gi
+gi.require_version('Pango', '1.0')
+gi.require_version('PangoCairo', '1.0')
+from gi.repository import Pango, PangoCairo
+from PIL import Image
+
+def usage(return_code):
+    """ print usage and exit with the supplied return code """
+    if return_code == 0:
+        out = sys.stdout
+    else:
+        out = sys.stderr
+    out.write("usage: make-images <label text> <mo file directory> <LINGUAS> <installdir>")
+    sys.exit(return_code)
+
+class Rasterizer:
+    """ Rasterize some text """
+
+    def __init__(self, label, modir, linguas):
+        self.text = label
+        self.modir = modir
+        while modir.endswith('/'):
+            modir = modir[:-1]
+        self.linguas = linguas
+        self.directory = modir
+        self.domain = "fwupd"
+        self.font_face = "sans-serif"
+        self.pattern = "{directory}/{language}/LC_IMAGES/fwupd-{width}-{height}.{suffix}"
+        self.fontmap = PangoCairo.font_map_get_default()
+
+        gettext.textdomain(self.domain)
+        gettext.bind_textdomain_codeset(self.domain, self.modir)
+        gettext.install(self.domain, self.modir)
+
+    @property
+    def languages(self):
+        """ Find all of our languages """
+        for x in open(self.linguas, "r").readlines():
+            x = x.strip()
+            # currently ligatures seem completely broken in hi, and I don't know
+            # why.  They get LANG=C.
+            if x == 'hi':
+                continue
+            yield x
+        yield "C"
+
+    def render(self):
+        """ Do the work... """
+        def render_one(language, string, width, height, filename):
+            """ Do the work... """
+
+            font_desc = "Sans %fpx" % (height / 32,)
+            fd = Pango.FontDescription(font_desc)
+            fo = cairo.FontOptions()
+            fo.set_antialias(cairo.ANTIALIAS_SUBPIXEL)
+            l = Pango.Language.from_string(language)
+
+            img = cairo.ImageSurface(cairo.FORMAT_RGB24, 1, 1)
+            cctx = cairo.Context(img)
+            layout = PangoCairo.create_layout(cctx)
+            pctx = layout.get_context()
+            pctx.set_font_description(fd)
+            pctx.set_language(l)
+            fs = pctx.load_fontset(fd, l)
+            PangoCairo.context_set_font_options(pctx, fo)
+
+            attrs = Pango.AttrList()
+            length = len(bytes(string, "utf8"))
+            items = Pango.itemize(pctx, string, 0, length, attrs, None)
+            gs = Pango.GlyphString()
+            Pango.shape(string, length, items[0].analysis, gs)
+
+            def find_size(fs, f, data):
+                """ find our size, I hope... """
+                (ink, log) = gs.extents(f)
+                if ink.height == 0 or ink.width == 0:
+                    return False
+                data.update({"log": log, "ink": ink})
+                return True
+            data = {}
+            fs.foreach(find_size, data)
+
+            log = data['log']
+            ink = data['ink']
+
+            height = math.ceil(max(ink.height, log.height) / Pango.SCALE)
+            width = math.ceil(max(ink.width, log.width) / Pango.SCALE)
+
+            x = -math.ceil(log.x / Pango.SCALE)
+            y = -math.ceil(log.y / Pango.SCALE)
+
+            del img, cctx, pctx, layout
+            img = cairo.ImageSurface(cairo.FORMAT_RGB24, width, height)
+            cctx = cairo.Context(img)
+            layout = PangoCairo.create_layout(cctx)
+            pctx = layout.get_context()
+            PangoCairo.context_set_font_options(pctx, fo)
+
+            cctx.set_source_rgb(1, 1, 1)
+            cctx.move_to(x, y)
+            def do_write(fs, f, data):
+                """ write out glyphs """
+                ink = gs.extents(f)[0]
+                if ink.height == 0 or ink.width == 0:
+                    return False
+                PangoCairo.show_glyph_string(cctx, f, gs)
+                return True
+            fs.foreach(do_write, None)
+            img.flush()
+            try:
+                tmpname = filename[len(os.environ['DESTDIR']):]
+            except KeyError:
+                tmpname = filename[len(os.environ['MESON_BUILD_ROOT']):]
+            print("Writing %s                    " % (tmpname,), end='\r')
+            def make_dir(d):
+                """ make our parent dir and then our own dir """
+                if os.access(d, os.O_RDWR):
+                    return
+                parts = os.path.split(d)
+                if parts and parts[0]:
+                    make_dir(parts[0])
+                os.mkdir(d, 0o755)
+            d = os.path.split(filename)[0]
+            make_dir(d)
+            img.write_to_png(filename)
+            pimg = Image.open(filename)
+            img = pimg.copy()
+            del pimg
+            img.save(filename)
+
+        for lang in self.languages:
+            #print("lang:\"%s\" string:\"%s\"" % (lang, string))
+            # these are the 1.6:1 of some common(ish) screen widths
+            sizes = ((640, 480), (800, 600), (1024, 768), (1920, 1080),
+                     (3840, 2160), (5120, 2880), (5688, 3200), (7680, 4320))
+            nameinfo = {
+                'directory': self.directory,
+                'language': lang,
+            }
+            if lang == 'C':
+                string = self.text
+            else:
+                tl = gettext.translation(self.domain, self.modir,
+                                         languages=[lang])
+                string = tl.gettext(self.text)
+                if string == self.text:
+                    continue
+            for width, height in sizes:
+                nameinfo.update({'width': width,
+                                 'height': height,
+                                 'suffix': 'bmp'})
+                filename = self.pattern.format_map(nameinfo)
+                render_one(lang, string, width, height, filename)
+        print("")
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    if {'-?', '--help', '--usage'}.intersection(set(sys.argv)):
+        usage(0)
+    if len(sys.argv) != 4:
+        usage(1)
+
+    r = Rasterizer(label=sys.argv[1], modir=sys.argv[2],
+                   linguas=sys.argv[3])
+    r.render()
diff --git a/po/make-images.sh b/po/make-images.sh
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..004e716b3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/po/make-images.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+#! /bin/sh
+#
+# make-images.sh
+# Copyright (C) 2017 Peter Jones <pjones@redhat.com>
+#
+# Distributed under terms of the GPLv2 license.
+#
+install -m 0755 -d ${MESON_INSTALL_DESTDIR_PREFIX}/share/fwupd/labels/
+${MESON_SOURCE_ROOT}/po/make-images "Please wait while we install a system update" ${MESON_INSTALL_DESTDIR_PREFIX}/share/locale/ ${MESON_SOURCE_ROOT}/po/LINGUAS
+for x in ${MESON_INSTALL_DESTDIR_PREFIX}/share/locale/*/LC_IMAGES/*.bmp ; do
+    gzip -f ${x}
+done
diff --git a/po/meson.build b/po/meson.build
index 6b9a7bc39..a26476dbf 100644
--- a/po/meson.build
+++ b/po/meson.build
@@ -4,3 +4,5 @@ i18n.gettext(meson.project_name(),
   '--default-domain=' + meson.project_name(),
   ]
 )
+
+meson.add_install_script('make-images.sh')