Is it possible to convert a movieclip to a bitmap using actionscript 3.0

I am interested in creating a flash player that enables the user to export the swf file as a bitmap of custom size/resolution and save it. Before I attempt to do it I would like to know if it’s possible to do it exclusively with actionscript 3.0 or if I need an external program. I haven’t found anything on the net that does this only using actionscript.

It’s possible in Flash Player 10.

File Reference runtime access — Bring users into the experience by letting them load files into your RIA. You can work with the content at runtime and even save it back when you are done through the browse dialog box. Files can be accessed as a byteArray or text using a convenient API in ActionScript without round-tripping to the server. You no longer have to know a server language or have access to a server to load or save files at runtime.

You can do that already, could even do it in as2. Think Quasimodo had a very intricate example of it in his blog.

edit: just noticed the word ‘exclusively’ … Have to retract my statement then since you do need to co-work with php in the above as2/as3 example.