Probably IO::Scalar would work as well. It allows you to treat a scalar as a FH object. In this case, you could grab your scalar from MySQL, sucked into a scalar, and IO::Scalar can give you a FH that you could slurp into Image::Magick.

that seems simplest to this monk, but then I love that module.

brother dep.

--
Laziness, Impatience, Hubris, and Generosity.