diff --git a/Modules/Python/QmitkPythonVariableStackTableModel.cpp b/Modules/Python/QmitkPythonVariableStackTableModel.cpp
index f4506ec4ef..55385f6607 100755
--- a/Modules/Python/QmitkPythonVariableStackTableModel.cpp
+++ b/Modules/Python/QmitkPythonVariableStackTableModel.cpp
@@ -1,163 +1,217 @@
 /*===================================================================
 
 The Medical Imaging Interaction Toolkit (MITK)
 
 Copyright (c) German Cancer Research Center,
 Division of Medical and Biological Informatics.
 All rights reserved.
 
 This software is distributed WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without
 even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR
 A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
 
 See LICENSE.txt or http://www.mitk.org for details.
 
 ===================================================================*/
 
 #include "QmitkPythonVariableStackTableModel.h"
 #include <QMimeData>
 #include <mitkModuleContext.h>
 #include <usServiceReference.h>
 #include <mitkDataNode.h>
 #include <mitkGetModuleContext.h>
 #include <QStringList>
+#include <QMessageBox>
 
 const QString QmitkPythonVariableStackTableModel::MITK_IMAGE_VAR_NAME = "mitkImage";
+const QString QmitkPythonVariableStackTableModel::MITK_SURFACE_VAR_NAME = "mitkSurface";
+
 QmitkPythonVariableStackTableModel::QmitkPythonVariableStackTableModel(QObject *parent)
     :QAbstractTableModel(parent)
 {
     mitk::ModuleContext* context = mitk::GetModuleContext();
     mitk::ServiceReference serviceRef = context->GetServiceReference<mitk::IPythonService>();
     m_PythonService = context->GetService<mitk::IPythonService>(serviceRef);
     m_PythonService->AddPythonCommandObserver( this );
 }
 
 QmitkPythonVariableStackTableModel::~QmitkPythonVariableStackTableModel()
 {
   m_PythonService->RemovePythonCommandObserver( this );
 }
 
 bool QmitkPythonVariableStackTableModel::dropMimeData ( const QMimeData * data, Qt::DropAction action, int row, int column, const QModelIndex & parent )
 {
     // Early exit, returning true, but not actually doing anything (ignoring data).
     if (action == Qt::IgnoreAction)
         return true;
 
     // Note, we are returning true if we handled it, and false otherwise
     bool returnValue = false;
 
     if(data->hasFormat("application/x-mitk-datanodes"))
     {
         MITK_DEBUG("QmitkPythonVariableStackTableModel") << "dropped MITK DataNode";
         returnValue = true;
 
         QString arg = QString(data->data("application/x-mitk-datanodes").data());
         QStringList listOfDataNodeAddressPointers = arg.split(",");
 
         QStringList::iterator slIter;
         int i = 0;
+        int j = 0;
         for (slIter = listOfDataNodeAddressPointers.begin();
              slIter != listOfDataNodeAddressPointers.end();
              slIter++)
         {
           long val = (*slIter).toLong();
           mitk::DataNode* node = static_cast<mitk::DataNode *>((void*)val);
           mitk::Image* mitkImage = dynamic_cast<mitk::Image*>(node->GetData());
-//QString::fromStdString((node->GetName());
-          QString varName = MITK_IMAGE_VAR_NAME;
-          if( i > 0 )
-            varName = QString("%1%2").arg(MITK_IMAGE_VAR_NAME).arg(i);
-          MITK_DEBUG("varName") << "varName" << varName;
-          m_PythonService->CopyToPythonAsItkImage( mitkImage, MITK_IMAGE_VAR_NAME );
-          ++i;
+
+          if( mitkImage )
+          {
+            QString varName = MITK_IMAGE_VAR_NAME;
+            if( i > 0 )
+              varName = QString("%1%2").arg(MITK_IMAGE_VAR_NAME).arg(i);
+            MITK_DEBUG("varName") << "varName" << varName;
+
+            bool exportAsCvImage = m_PythonService->IsOpenCvPythonWrappingAvailable();
+
+            if( mitkImage->GetDimension() == 2 && exportAsCvImage )
+            {
+              int ret = QMessageBox::question(this, "Export option",
+                "2D image detected. Export as OpenCV image to Python instead of an ITK image?",
+                QMessageBox::Yes|QMessageBox::No);
+              exportAsCvImage = ret == QMessageBox::Yes;
+              if(exportAsCvImage)
+              {
+                m_PythonService->CopyToPythonAsCvImage( mitkImage, MITK_IMAGE_VAR_NAME );
+                ++i;
+              }
+            }
+            if( !exportAsCvImage )
+            {
+              if( m_PythonService->IsItkPythonWrappingAvailable() )
+              {
+                m_PythonService->CopyToPythonAsItkImage( mitkImage, MITK_IMAGE_VAR_NAME );
+                ++i;
+              }
+              else
+              {
+                MITK_ERROR << "ITK Python wrapping not available. Skipping export for image " << node->GetName();
+              }
+            }
+          }
+          else
+          {
+            mitk::Surface* surface = dynamic_cast<mitk::Surface*>(node->GetData());
+
+            if( surface )
+            {
+              QString varName = MITK_SURFACE_VAR_NAME;
+              if( j > 0 )
+                varName = QString("%1%2").arg(MITK_SURFACE_VAR_NAME).arg(j);
+              MITK_DEBUG("varName") << "varName" << varName;
+
+              if( m_PythonService->IsVtkPythonWrappingAvailable() )
+              {
+                m_PythonService->CopyToPythonAsVtkPolyData( surface, MITK_SURFACE_VAR_NAME );
+                ++j;
+              }
+              else
+              {
+                MITK_ERROR << "VTK Python wrapping not available. Skipping export for surface " << node->GetName();
+              }
+            }
+          }
         }
     }
     return returnValue;
 }
 
 QVariant QmitkPythonVariableStackTableModel::headerData(int section, Qt::Orientation orientation,
                                                         int role) const
 {
     QVariant headerData;
 
     // show only horizontal header
     if ( role == Qt::DisplayRole )
     {
         if( orientation == Qt::Horizontal )
         {
             // first column: "Attribute"
             if(section == 0)
                 headerData = "Attribute";
             else if(section == 1)
                 headerData = "Value";
             else if(section == 2)
                 headerData = "Type";
         }
     }
 
     return headerData;
 }
 
 Qt::ItemFlags QmitkPythonVariableStackTableModel::flags(const QModelIndex &index) const
 {
     Qt::ItemFlags flags = QAbstractItemModel::flags(index);
 
     if(index.isValid())
         return Qt::ItemIsDragEnabled | Qt::ItemIsDropEnabled | flags;
     else
         return Qt::ItemIsDropEnabled | flags;
 }
 
 int QmitkPythonVariableStackTableModel::rowCount(const QModelIndex &) const
 {
     return m_VariableStack.size();
 }
 
 int QmitkPythonVariableStackTableModel::columnCount(const QModelIndex &) const
 {
     return 3;
 }
 
 QVariant QmitkPythonVariableStackTableModel::data(const QModelIndex &index, int role) const
 {
     if (index.isValid() && !m_VariableStack.empty())
     {
         if(role == Qt::DisplayRole)
         {
             mitk::PythonVariable item = m_VariableStack.at(index.row());
             if(index.column() == 0)
                 return item.m_Name;
             if(index.column() == 1)
                 return item.m_Value;
             if(index.column() == 2)
                 return item.m_Type;
         }
     }
     return QVariant();
 }
 
 QStringList QmitkPythonVariableStackTableModel::mimeTypes() const
 {
     return QAbstractTableModel::mimeTypes();
     QStringList types;
     types << "application/x-mitk-datanodes";
     types << "application/x-qabstractitemmodeldatalist";
     return types;
 }
 
 Qt::DropActions QmitkPythonVariableStackTableModel::supportedDropActions() const
 {
     return Qt::CopyAction | Qt::MoveAction;
 }
 
 void QmitkPythonVariableStackTableModel::CommandExecuted(const QString &pythonCommand)
 {
   MITK_DEBUG("QmitkPythonVariableStackTableModel") << "command was executed " << pythonCommand.toStdString();
     m_VariableStack = m_PythonService->GetVariableStack();
     QAbstractTableModel::reset();
 }
 
 QList<mitk::PythonVariable> QmitkPythonVariableStackTableModel::GetVariableStack() const
 {
     return m_VariableStack;
 }
diff --git a/Modules/Python/QmitkPythonVariableStackTableModel.h b/Modules/Python/QmitkPythonVariableStackTableModel.h
index dc2f2aa9bb..8b9d933e85 100755
--- a/Modules/Python/QmitkPythonVariableStackTableModel.h
+++ b/Modules/Python/QmitkPythonVariableStackTableModel.h
@@ -1,60 +1,61 @@
 /*===================================================================
 
 The Medical Imaging Interaction Toolkit (MITK)
 
 Copyright (c) German Cancer Research Center,
 Division of Medical and Biological Informatics.
 All rights reserved.
 
 This software is distributed WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without
 even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR
 A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
 
 See LICENSE.txt or http://www.mitk.org for details.
 
 ===================================================================*/
 
 #ifndef QmitkPythonVariableStackTableModel_h
 #define QmitkPythonVariableStackTableModel_h
 
 #include <QAbstractTableModel>
 #include <QVariant>
 #include <QModelIndex>
 #include "mitkIPythonService.h"
 #include "mitkPythonExports.h"
 
 ///
 /// implements a table model to show the variables of the Python "__main__" dictionary
 /// furthermore implements dragging and dropping of datanodes (conversion from and to python)
 ///
 class MITK_PYTHON_EXPORT QmitkPythonVariableStackTableModel : public QAbstractTableModel, public mitk::PythonCommandObserver
 {
   Q_OBJECT
 
 public:
   static const QString MITK_IMAGE_VAR_NAME;
+  static const QString MITK_SURFACE_VAR_NAME;
 
   QmitkPythonVariableStackTableModel(QObject *parent = 0);
   virtual ~QmitkPythonVariableStackTableModel();
 
   int rowCount(const QModelIndex &parent = QModelIndex()) const;
   int columnCount(const QModelIndex &parent = QModelIndex()) const;
   QVariant data(const QModelIndex &index, int role = Qt::DisplayRole) const;
   Qt::ItemFlags flags( const QModelIndex& index ) const;
   virtual QVariant headerData(int section, Qt::Orientation orientation,
                               int role) const;
 
   QStringList mimeTypes() const;
   bool dropMimeData ( const QMimeData *, Qt::DropAction, int, int, const QModelIndex & );
   Qt::DropActions supportedDropActions() const;
   Qt::DropActions supportedDragActions() const;
 
   void CommandExecuted(const QString& pythonCommand);
 
   QList<mitk::PythonVariable> GetVariableStack() const;
 private:
   QList<mitk::PythonVariable> m_VariableStack;
   mitk::IPythonService* m_PythonService;
 };
 
 #endif // QmitkPythonVariableStackTableModel_h
diff --git a/Modules/Python/mitkIPythonService.h b/Modules/Python/mitkIPythonService.h
index 4de02db8f5..5255aeeb63 100644
--- a/Modules/Python/mitkIPythonService.h
+++ b/Modules/Python/mitkIPythonService.h
@@ -1,118 +1,135 @@
 /*===================================================================
 
 The Medical Imaging Interaction Toolkit (MITK)
 
 Copyright (c) German Cancer Research Center,
 Division of Medical and Biological Informatics.
 All rights reserved.
 
 This software is distributed WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without
 even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR
 A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
 
 See LICENSE.txt or http://www.mitk.org for details.
 
 ===================================================================*/
 #ifndef mitkIPythonService_h
 #define mitkIPythonService_h
 
 // mitk
 #include "mitkPythonExports.h"
 #include "mitkImage.h"
 //for microservices
 #include <usServiceInterface.h>
 // Qt
 #include <QString>
 #include <QVariant>
 #include <QList>
+#include "mitkSurface.h"
 
 namespace mitk
 {
     ///
     /// describes a python variable (data container)
     /// \see IPythonService::GetVariableStack()
     ///
     struct PythonVariable
     {
       QString m_Name;
       QString m_Type;
       QString m_Value;
     };
 
     ///
     /// a PythonCommandObserver gets informed as soon as a python command was issued
     /// \see IPythonService::AddPythonCommandObserver()
     ///
     class PythonCommandObserver
     {
     public:
       virtual void CommandExecuted(const QString& pythonCommand) = 0;
     };
 
     ///
     /// The central service for issuing Python Code
     /// The class also enables to transfer mitk images to python as itk::Image and vice versa
     /// \see IPythonService::GetVariableStack()
     ///
     class MITK_PYTHON_EXPORT IPythonService
     {
     public:
         ///
         /// Constant representing a single line command
         /// \see IPythonService::Execute()
         static const int SINGLE_LINE_COMMAND = 0;
         ///
         /// Constant representing a command in which the commands are seperated by new lines, i.e. "\\n"
         /// \see IPythonService::Execute()
         static const int MULTI_LINE_COMMAND = 1;
         ///
         /// Constant representing a single line command x which is run as "eval(x)"
         /// \see IPythonService::Execute()
         static const int EVAL_COMMAND = 2;
 
         ///
         /// Executes a python command.
         /// \return A variant containing the return value of the python code (if any)
         virtual QVariant Execute( const QString& pythonCommand, int commandType = SINGLE_LINE_COMMAND ) = 0;
         ///
         /// \return The list of variables in the __main__ namespace
         virtual QList<PythonVariable> GetVariableStack() const = 0;
         ///
         /// adds a command observer which is informed after a command was issued with "Execute"
         virtual void AddPythonCommandObserver( PythonCommandObserver* observer ) = 0;
         ///
         /// removes a specific command observer
         virtual void RemovePythonCommandObserver( PythonCommandObserver* observer ) = 0;
         ///
         /// notify all observer. this should only be used if it can be garantueed that the
         /// current python interpreter instance got another command from anywhere else
         /// the the Execute() method of this service, e.g. the shell widget uses this function
         /// since it does not use Execute()
         virtual void NotifyObserver( const QString& command ) = 0;
 
+        ///
+        /// \return true, if itk wrapping is available, false otherwise
+        virtual bool IsItkPythonWrappingAvailable() = 0;
         ///
         /// copies an mitk image as itk image into the python interpreter process
         /// the image will be available as "varName" in python if everythin worked
         /// \return true if image was copied, else false
         virtual bool CopyToPythonAsItkImage( mitk::Image* image, const QString& varName ) = 0;
         ///
         /// copies an itk image from the python process that is named "varName"
         /// \return the image or 0 if copying was not possible
         virtual mitk::Image::Pointer CopyItkImageFromPython( const QString& varName ) = 0;
 
+        ///
+        /// \return true, if OpenCv wrapping is available, false otherwise
+        virtual bool IsOpenCvPythonWrappingAvailable() = 0;
         ///
         /// \see CopyToPythonAsItkImage()
         virtual bool CopyToPythonAsCvImage( mitk::Image* image, const QString& varName ) = 0;
         ///
         /// \see CopyCvImageFromPython()
         virtual mitk::Image::Pointer CopyCvImageFromPython( const QString& varName ) = 0;
 
+        ///
+        /// \return true, if vtk wrapping is available, false otherwise
+        virtual bool IsVtkPythonWrappingAvailable() = 0;
+        ///
+        /// \see CopyToPythonAsItkImage()
+        virtual bool CopyToPythonAsVtkPolyData( mitk::Surface* surface, const QString& varName ) = 0;
+        ///
+        /// \see CopyCvImageFromPython()
+        virtual mitk::Surface::Pointer CopyVtkPolyDataFromPython( const QString& varName ) = 0;
+
         ///
         /// nothing to do here
         virtual ~IPythonService(); // leer in mitkIPythonService.cpp implementieren
     };
 }
 
 US_DECLARE_SERVICE_INTERFACE(mitk::IPythonService, "org.mitk.services.IPythonService")
 
 #endif
diff --git a/Modules/Python/mitkPythonService.cpp b/Modules/Python/mitkPythonService.cpp
index 5f8d8d1c48..b45a36a4f7 100644
--- a/Modules/Python/mitkPythonService.cpp
+++ b/Modules/Python/mitkPythonService.cpp
@@ -1,297 +1,379 @@
 /*===================================================================
 
 The Medical Imaging Interaction Toolkit (MITK)
 
 Copyright (c) German Cancer Research Center,
 Division of Medical and Biological Informatics.
 All rights reserved.
 
 This software is distributed WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without
 even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR
 A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
 
 See LICENSE.txt or http://www.mitk.org for details.
 
 ===================================================================*/
 
 #include "mitkPythonService.h"
 #include <Python.h>
 #include <mitkIOUtil.h>
 #include <QFile>
 #include <QDir>
 
 const QString mitk::PythonService::m_TmpImageName("temp_mitk_image");
 
 mitk::PythonService::PythonService()
 {
     m_PythonManager.initialize();
 }
 
 mitk::PythonService::~PythonService()
 {
 }
 
 QVariant mitk::PythonService::Execute(const QString &pythonCommand, int commandType)
 {
     {
         MITK_DEBUG("mitk::PythonService") << "pythonCommand = " << pythonCommand.toStdString();
         MITK_DEBUG("mitk::PythonService") << "commandType = " << commandType;
     }
 
     QVariant result;
     bool commandIssued = true;
 
     if(commandType == IPythonService::SINGLE_LINE_COMMAND )
         result = m_PythonManager.executeString(pythonCommand, ctkAbstractPythonManager::SingleInput );
     else if(commandType == IPythonService::MULTI_LINE_COMMAND )
         result = m_PythonManager.executeString(pythonCommand, ctkAbstractPythonManager::FileInput );
     else if(commandType == IPythonService::EVAL_COMMAND )
         result = m_PythonManager.executeString(pythonCommand, ctkAbstractPythonManager::EvalInput );
     else
         commandIssued = false;
 
     if(commandIssued)
         this->NotifyObserver(pythonCommand);
 
     return result;
 }
 
 QList<mitk::PythonVariable> mitk::PythonService::GetVariableStack() const
 {
     QList<mitk::PythonVariable> list;
 
     PyObject* dict = PyImport_GetModuleDict();
     PyObject* object = PyDict_GetItemString(dict, "__main__");
     PyObject* dirMain = PyObject_Dir(object);
     PyObject* tempObject;
 
     if(dirMain)
     {
       QString attr, attrValue, attrType;
 
       for(int i = 0; i<PyList_Size(dirMain); i++)
       {
         tempObject = PyList_GetItem(dirMain, i);
         attr = PyString_AsString(tempObject);
         tempObject = PyObject_GetAttrString(object, attr.toLocal8Bit().data());
         attrType = tempObject->ob_type->tp_name;
         if(PyUnicode_Check(tempObject) || PyString_Check(tempObject))
           attrValue = PyString_AsString(tempObject);
         else
           attrValue = "";
         mitk::PythonVariable var;
         var.m_Name = attr;
         var.m_Value = attrValue;
         var.m_Type = attrType;
         list.append(var);
       }
     }
 
     return list;
 }
 
 void mitk::PythonService::AddPythonCommandObserver(mitk::PythonCommandObserver *observer)
 {
     if(!m_Observer.contains(observer))
         m_Observer.append(observer);
 }
 
 void mitk::PythonService::RemovePythonCommandObserver(mitk::PythonCommandObserver *observer)
 {
     m_Observer.removeOne(observer);
 }
 
 void mitk::PythonService::NotifyObserver(const QString &command)
 {
   MITK_DEBUG("mitk::PythonService") << "number of observer " << m_Observer.size();
     foreach(mitk::PythonCommandObserver* observer, m_Observer)
     {
         observer->CommandExecuted(command);
     }
 }
 
 QString mitk::PythonService::GetTempImageName(const QString& ext) const
 {
     QString tmpFolder = QDir::tempPath();
     QString fileName = tmpFolder + QDir::separator() + m_TmpImageName + ext;
     return fileName;
 }
 
 bool mitk::PythonService::CopyToPythonAsItkImage(mitk::Image *image, const QString &varName)
 {
     // save image
     QString fileName = this->GetTempImageName( QString::fromStdString(mitk::IOUtil::DEFAULTIMAGEEXTENSION) );
 
     MITK_DEBUG("PythonService") << "Saving temporary file " << fileName.toStdString();
     if( !mitk::IOUtil::SaveImage(image, fileName.toStdString()) )
     {
         MITK_ERROR << "Temporary file could not be created.";
     }
     else
     {
         // TODO CORRECT TYPE SETUP, MAKE MITK_DEBUG("PythonService") MITK_DEBUG("PythonService")
         int dim = image->GetDimension();
         mitk::PixelType pixelType = image->GetPixelType();
         itk::ImageIOBase::IOPixelType ioPixelType = image->GetPixelType().GetPixelTypeId();
 
         // default pixeltype: unsigned short
         QString type = "US";
         if( ioPixelType == itk::ImageIOBase::SCALAR )
         {
           if( pixelType.GetTypeId() == typeid(double) )
             type = "D";
           else if( pixelType.GetTypeId() == typeid(float) )
             type = "F";
           if( pixelType.GetTypeId() == typeid(long double) )
             type = "LD";
           else if( pixelType.GetTypeId() == typeid(short) )
             type = "SS";
           else if( pixelType.GetTypeId() == typeid(signed char) )
             type = "SC";
           else if( pixelType.GetTypeId() == typeid(signed int) )
             type = "SI";
           else if( pixelType.GetTypeId() == typeid(signed long) )
             type = "SL";
           else if( pixelType.GetTypeId() == typeid(signed short) )
             type = "SS";
           else if( pixelType.GetTypeId() == typeid(unsigned char) )
             type = "UC";
           else if( pixelType.GetTypeId() == typeid(unsigned int) )
             type = "UI";
           else if( pixelType.GetTypeId() == typeid(unsigned long) )
             type = "UL";
           else if( pixelType.GetTypeId() == typeid(unsigned short) )
             type = "US";
         }
 
         MITK_DEBUG("PythonService") << "Got mitk image with type " << type.toStdString() << " and dim " << dim;
 
         QString command;
 
         command.append( QString("import itk\n") );
         command.append( QString("imageType = itk.Image[%1, %2]\n") .arg( type ).arg( dim ) );
 
         command.append( QString("readerType = itk.ImageFileReader[imageType]\n") );
         command.append( QString("reader = readerType.New()\n") );
         command.append( QString("reader.SetFileName( \"%1\" )\n") .arg(fileName) );
         command.append( QString("reader.Update()\n") );
         command.append( QString("%1 = reader.GetOutput()\n").arg( varName ) );
 
         MITK_DEBUG("PythonService") << "Issuing python command " << command.toStdString();
         this->Execute(command, IPythonService::MULTI_LINE_COMMAND );
 
         QFile file(fileName);
         MITK_DEBUG("PythonService") << "Removing file " << fileName.toStdString();
         file.remove();
         return true;
     }
 
     return false;
 }
 
 mitk::Image::Pointer mitk::PythonService::CopyItkImageFromPython(const QString &varName)
 {
     mitk::Image::Pointer mitkImage;
     QString command;
     QString fileName = GetTempImageName( QString::fromStdString( mitk::IOUtil::DEFAULTIMAGEEXTENSION ) );
 
     MITK_DEBUG("PythonService") << "Saving temporary file with python itk code " << fileName.toStdString();
     command.append( QString("import itk\n") );
 
     command.append( QString( "writer = itk.ImageFileWriter[ %1 ].New()\n").arg( varName ) );
     command.append( QString( "writer.SetFileName( \"%1\" )\n").arg(fileName) );
     command.append( QString( "writer.SetInput( %1 )\n").arg(varName) );
     command.append( QString( "writer.Update()\n" ) );
 
     MITK_DEBUG("PythonService") << "Issuing python command " << command.toStdString();
     this->Execute(command, IPythonService::MULTI_LINE_COMMAND );
 
     try
     {
         MITK_DEBUG("PythonService") << "Loading temporary file " << fileName.toStdString() << " as MITK image";
         mitkImage = mitk::IOUtil::LoadImage( fileName.toStdString() );
     }
     catch(std::exception& e)
     {
       MITK_ERROR << e.what();
     }
 
     QFile file(fileName);
     if( file.exists() )
     {
         MITK_DEBUG("PythonService") << "Removing temporary file " << fileName.toStdString();
         file.remove();
     }
 
     return mitkImage;
 }
+
 bool mitk::PythonService::CopyToPythonAsCvImage( mitk::Image* image, const QString& varName )
 {
   bool convert = false;
   if(image->GetDimension() != 2)
   {
     MITK_ERROR << "Only 2D images allowed for OpenCV images";
     return convert;
   }
 
   // try to save mitk image
   QString fileName = this->GetTempImageName( QString::fromStdString(".bmp") );
   MITK_DEBUG("PythonService") << "Saving temporary file " << fileName.toStdString();
   if( !mitk::IOUtil::SaveImage(image, fileName.toStdString()) )
   {
     MITK_ERROR << "Temporary file " << fileName.toStdString() << " could not be created.";
     return convert;
   }
 
   QString command;
   command.append( QString("import cv\n") );
   command.append( QString("%1 = cv.LoadImage(\"%2\")\n") .arg( varName ).arg( fileName ) );
   MITK_DEBUG("PythonService") << "Issuing python command " << command.toStdString();
   this->Execute(command, IPythonService::MULTI_LINE_COMMAND );
 
   MITK_DEBUG("PythonService") << "Removing file " << fileName.toStdString();
   QFile file(fileName);
   file.remove();
-  return true;
-
+  convert = true;
+  return convert;
 }
 
 mitk::Image::Pointer mitk::PythonService::CopyCvImageFromPython( const QString& varName )
 {
 
   mitk::Image::Pointer mitkImage;
   QString command;
   QString fileName = GetTempImageName( QString::fromStdString( ".bmp" ) );
 
   MITK_DEBUG("PythonService") << "run python command to save image with opencv to " << fileName.toStdString();
   command.append( QString("import cv\n") );
   command.append( QString( "cv.SaveImage(\"%1\", %2)\n").arg( fileName ).arg( varName ) );
 
   MITK_DEBUG("PythonService") << "Issuing python command " << command.toStdString();
   this->Execute(command, IPythonService::MULTI_LINE_COMMAND );
 
   try
   {
       MITK_DEBUG("PythonService") << "Loading temporary file " << fileName.toStdString() << " as MITK image";
       mitkImage = mitk::IOUtil::LoadImage( fileName.toStdString() );
   }
   catch(std::exception& e)
   {
     MITK_ERROR << e.what();
   }
 
   QFile file(fileName);
   if( file.exists() )
   {
       MITK_DEBUG("PythonService") << "Removing temporary file " << fileName.toStdString();
       file.remove();
   }
 
   return mitkImage;
 }
 
 ctkAbstractPythonManager *mitk::PythonService::GetPythonManager()
 {
   return &m_PythonManager;
 }
 
+mitk::Surface::Pointer mitk::PythonService::CopyVtkPolyDataFromPython( const QString& varName )
+{
+  mitk::Surface::Pointer newSurface;
+
+  QString command;
+  QString fileName = GetTempImageName( ".stl" );
+
+  MITK_DEBUG("PythonService") << "run python command to save polydata with vtk to " << fileName.toStdString();
+  command = QString (
+    "vtkStlWriter = vtk.vtkSTLWriter()\n"
+    "vtkStlWriter.SetInput(%1)\n"
+    "vtkStlWriter.SetFileName(\"%2\")\n"
+    "vtkStlWriter.Write()\n").arg(varName).arg(fileName);
+
+  MITK_DEBUG("PythonService") << "Issuing python command " << command.toStdString();
+  this->Execute(command, IPythonService::MULTI_LINE_COMMAND );
+
+  try
+  {
+    MITK_DEBUG("PythonService") << "Loading temporary file " << fileName.toStdString() << " as MITK Surface";
+    newSurface = mitk::IOUtil::LoadSurface( fileName.toStdString() );
+  }
+  catch(std::exception& e)
+  {
+    MITK_ERROR << e.what();
+  }
+
+  QFile file(fileName);
+  if( file.exists() )
+  {
+    MITK_DEBUG("PythonService") << "Removing temporary file " << fileName.toStdString();
+    file.remove();
+  }
+
+  return newSurface;
+}
+
+bool mitk::PythonService::CopyToPythonAsVtkPolyData( mitk::Surface* surface, const QString& varName )
+{
+  bool convert = false;
+
+  // try to save mitk image
+  QString fileName = this->GetTempImageName( ".stl" );
+  MITK_DEBUG("PythonService") << "Saving temporary file " << fileName.toStdString();
+  if( !mitk::IOUtil::SaveSurface( surface, fileName.toStdString() ) )
+  {
+    MITK_ERROR << "Temporary file " << fileName.toStdString() << " could not be created.";
+    return convert;
+  }
+
+  QString command;
+  command.append( QString("import vtk\n") );
+  command.append( QString("vtkStlReader = vtk.vtkSTLReader()\n") );
+  command.append( QString("vtkStlReader.SetFileName(\"%1\")\n").arg( fileName ) );
+  command.append( QString("%1 = vtkStlReader.GetOutput()").arg( fileName ) );
+  MITK_DEBUG("PythonService") << "Issuing python command " << command.toStdString();
+  this->Execute(command, IPythonService::MULTI_LINE_COMMAND );
+
+  MITK_DEBUG("PythonService") << "Removing file " << fileName.toStdString();
+  QFile file(fileName);
+  file.remove();
+  convert = true;
+  return convert;
+}
+
+bool mitk::PythonService::IsItkPythonWrappingAvailable()
+{
+  return true; //TODO
+}
+
+bool mitk::PythonService::IsOpenCvPythonWrappingAvailable()
+{
+  return true; //TODO
+}
+
+bool mitk::PythonService::IsVtkPythonWrappingAvailable()
+{
+
+  return true; //TODO
+}
+
diff --git a/Modules/Python/mitkPythonService.h b/Modules/Python/mitkPythonService.h
index 48c52fd34c..687e31c163 100644
--- a/Modules/Python/mitkPythonService.h
+++ b/Modules/Python/mitkPythonService.h
@@ -1,53 +1,92 @@
 /*===================================================================
 
 The Medical Imaging Interaction Toolkit (MITK)
 
 Copyright (c) German Cancer Research Center,
 Division of Medical and Biological Informatics.
 All rights reserved.
 
 This software is distributed WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without
 even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR
 A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
 
 See LICENSE.txt or http://www.mitk.org for details.
 
 ===================================================================*/
 #ifndef mitkPythonService_h
 #define mitkPythonService_h
 
 #include "mitkIPythonService.h"
 #include <itkLightObject.h>
 #include <ctkAbstractPythonManager.h>
+#include "mitkSurface.h"
 
 namespace mitk
 {
+  ///
+  /// implementation of the IPythonService using ctkabstractpythonmanager
+  /// \see IPythonService
   class PythonService: public itk::LightObject, public mitk::IPythonService
   {
   public:
+      ///
+      /// instantiate python manager here
       PythonService();
-      ~PythonService(); // leer in mitkIPythonService.cpp implementieren
+      ///
+      /// empty implementation...
+      ~PythonService();
+      ///
+      /// \see IPythonService::Execute()
       QVariant Execute( const QString& pythonCommand, int commandType = SINGLE_LINE_COMMAND );
+      ///
+      /// \see IPythonService::GetVariableStack()
       QList<PythonVariable> GetVariableStack() const;
-
+      ///
+      /// \see IPythonService::AddPythonCommandObserver()
       void AddPythonCommandObserver( PythonCommandObserver* observer );
+      ///
+      /// \see IPythonService::RemovePythonCommandObserver()
       void RemovePythonCommandObserver( PythonCommandObserver* observer );
+      ///
+      /// \see IPythonService::NotifyObserver()
       void NotifyObserver( const QString& command );
-
+      ///
+      /// \see IPythonService::IsItkPythonWrappingAvailable()
+      bool IsItkPythonWrappingAvailable();
+      ///
+      /// \see IPythonService::CopyToPythonAsItkImage()
       bool CopyToPythonAsItkImage( mitk::Image* image, const QString& varName );
+      ///
+      /// \see IPythonService::CopyItkImageFromPython()
       mitk::Image::Pointer CopyItkImageFromPython( const QString& varName );
-
+      ///
+      /// \see IPythonService::IsOpenCvPythonWrappingAvailable()
+      bool IsOpenCvPythonWrappingAvailable();
+      ///
+      /// \see IPythonService::CopyToPythonAsCvImage()
       bool CopyToPythonAsCvImage( mitk::Image* image, const QString& varName );
+      ///
+      /// \see IPythonService::CopyCvImageFromPython()
       mitk::Image::Pointer CopyCvImageFromPython( const QString& varName );
-
+      ///
+      /// \see IPythonService::IsVtkPythonWrappingAvailable()
+      bool IsVtkPythonWrappingAvailable();
+      ///
+      /// \see IPythonService::CopyToPythonAsVtkPolyData()
+      bool CopyToPythonAsVtkPolyData( mitk::Surface* surface, const QString& varName );
+      ///
+      /// \see IPythonService::CopyVtkPolyDataFromPython()
+      mitk::Surface::Pointer CopyVtkPolyDataFromPython( const QString& varName );
+      ///
+      /// \return the ctk abstract python manager instance
       ctkAbstractPythonManager* GetPythonManager();
   protected:
       QString GetTempImageName(const QString &ext) const;
   private:
       QList<PythonCommandObserver*> m_Observer;
       ctkAbstractPythonManager m_PythonManager;
       static const QString m_TmpImageName;
 
   };
 }
 #endif