cairo_reference 3 cairo_reference increase reference count of cairo_t void cairo_reference (cairo_t *cr) cr : a cairo_t functions cairo_reference When calling cairo_reference the reference count will be increased by one and the caller becomes owner of the cairo_t. When the creator of the cairo_t destroys the the object via cairo_destroy the refcount will be decreased but the object will stay valid, since you are still owner of the object.