diff --git a/python/CHANGELOG b/python/CHANGELOG
index 7c41368c..edeb0a00 100644
--- a/python/CHANGELOG
+++ b/python/CHANGELOG
@@ -8,6 +8,10 @@
   as it's pretty clear Chat.send_X is going to send a message
   to the chat)
 
+- new Account.create_message() to create new messages 
+  that are not in the database (yet) 
+  
+
 0.6
 ---
 
diff --git a/python/src/deltachat/account.py b/python/src/deltachat/account.py
index 96afe770..3f3ae83a 100644
--- a/python/src/deltachat/account.py
+++ b/python/src/deltachat/account.py
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ class Account(object):
 
     def get_message_by_id(self, msg_id):
         """ return Message instance. """
-        return Message.from_id(self._dc_context, msg_id)
+        return Message.from_db(self._dc_context, msg_id)
 
     def mark_seen_messages(self, messages):
         """ mark the given set of messages as seen.
diff --git a/python/src/deltachat/chatting.py b/python/src/deltachat/chatting.py
index 6900d42f..8a85730f 100644
--- a/python/src/deltachat/chatting.py
+++ b/python/src/deltachat/chatting.py
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ class Chat(object):
         msg_id = lib.dc_send_text_msg(self._dc_context, self.id, msg)
         if msg_id == 0:
             raise ValueError("message could not be send, does chat exist?")
-        return Message.from_id(self._dc_context, msg_id)
+        return Message.from_db(self._dc_context, msg_id)
 
     def send_file(self, path, mime_type="application/octet-stream"):
         """ send a file and return the resulting Message instance.
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ class Chat(object):
         msg_id = lib.dc_send_file_msg(self._dc_context, self.id, path, mtype)
         if msg_id == 0:
             raise ValueError("message could not be send, does chat exist?")
-        return Message.from_id(self._dc_context, msg_id)
+        return Message.from_db(self._dc_context, msg_id)
 
     def send_image(self, path):
         """ send an image message and return the resulting Message instance.
@@ -144,11 +144,10 @@ class Chat(object):
         """
         if not os.path.exists(path):
             raise ValueError("path does not exist: {!r}".format(path))
-        path = as_dc_charpointer(path)
-        msg_id = lib.dc_send_image_msg(self._dc_context, self.id, path, ffi.NULL, 0, 0)
-        if msg_id == 0:
-            raise ValueError("chat does not exist")
-        return Message.from_id(self._dc_context, msg_id)
+        msg = Message.new(self._dc_context, "image")
+        msg.set_file(path)
+        msg_id = lib.dc_send_msg(self._dc_context, self.id, msg._dc_msg)
+        return Message.from_db(self._dc_context, msg_id)
 
     def get_messages(self):
         """ return list of messages in this chat.
@@ -159,7 +158,7 @@ class Chat(object):
             lib.dc_get_chat_msgs(self._dc_context, self.id, 0, 0),
             lib.dc_array_unref
         )
-        return list(iter_array(dc_array, lambda x: Message.from_id(self._dc_context, x)))
+        return list(iter_array(dc_array, lambda x: Message.from_db(self._dc_context, x)))
 
     def count_fresh_messages(self):
         """ return number of fresh messages in this chat.
diff --git a/python/src/deltachat/message.py b/python/src/deltachat/message.py
index 1631f3ce..1ddcc310 100644
--- a/python/src/deltachat/message.py
+++ b/python/src/deltachat/message.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 """ chatting related objects: Contact, Chat, Message. """
 
+import os
 from .cutil import from_dc_charpointer, as_dc_charpointer
 from .capi import lib, ffi
 from .types import property_with_doc
@@ -29,7 +30,7 @@ class Message(object):
         return self._dc_msg_volatile
 
     @classmethod
-    def from_id(cls, _dc_context, id):
+    def from_db(cls, _dc_context, id):
         assert id > 0
         return cls(_dc_context, id)
 
@@ -37,17 +38,14 @@ class Message(object):
     def new(cls, dc_context, view_type):
         """ create a non-persistent method. """
         msg = cls(dc_context, 0)
+        view_type_code = MessageType.get_typecode(view_type)
         msg._dc_msg_volatile = ffi.gc(
             lib.dc_msg_new(dc_context),
             lib.dc_msg_unref
         )
-        lib.dc_msg_set_type(msg._dc_msg, MessageType.get_typecode(view_type))
+        lib.dc_msg_set_type(msg._dc_msg, view_type_code)
         return msg
 
-    def is_persistent(self):
-        """ return True if the message is persistent in the database. """
-        return self.id > 0
-
     def get_state(self):
         """ get the message in/out state.
 
@@ -71,6 +69,9 @@ class Message(object):
 
     def set_file(self, path, mime_type=None):
         """set file for this message. """
+        mtype = ffi.NULL if mime_type is None else mime_type
+        assert os.path.exists(path)
+        lib.dc_msg_set_file(self._dc_msg, as_dc_charpointer(path), mtype)
 
     @property_with_doc
     def basename(self):
diff --git a/python/tests/test_account.py b/python/tests/test_account.py
index 55efbf56..936e9a11 100644
--- a/python/tests/test_account.py
+++ b/python/tests/test_account.py
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ class TestOfflineAccount:
         assert message._dc_msg is message._dc_msg
         message.set_text("hello")
         assert message.text == "hello"
-        assert not message.is_persistent()
+        assert message.id == 0
 
     def test_message(self, acfactory):
         ac1 = acfactory.get_configured_offline_account()