diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index c0f1334..933d1fd 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -32,3 +32,8 @@ Or you can directly give it an IplImage like this:
 
     image = cv.LoadImage("myimage.jpg")
     txt = pytesser.iplimage_to_string(image) 
+
+Or give it a mat:
+
+    image = cv2.imwrite("myimage.jpg")
+    txt = pytesser.mat_to_string(image) 
diff --git a/pytesser.py b/pytesser.py
index 10b874d..cdbdf62 100644
--- a/pytesser.py
+++ b/pytesser.py
@@ -4,6 +4,12 @@
 except ImportError:
     OPENCV_AVAILABLE = False
 
+try:
+    import cv2
+    OPENCV2_AVAILABLE = True
+except ImportError:
+    OPENCV2_AVAILABLE = False
+
 from subprocess import Popen, PIPE
 import os
 
@@ -47,8 +53,8 @@ def process_request(input_file, output_file, lang=None, psm=None):
         args.append(str(psm))
     proc = Popen(args, stdout=PIPE, stderr=PIPE) #Open process
     ret = proc.communicate() #Launch it
-    
-    code = proc.returncode 
+
+    code = proc.returncode
     if code != 0:
         if code == 2:
             raise TesseractException, "File not found"
@@ -66,7 +72,7 @@ def iplimage_to_string(im, lang=None, psm=None):
         txt = image_to_string(TEMP_IMAGE, lang, psm)
         os.remove(TEMP_IMAGE)
         return txt
-        
+
 def image_to_string(file,lang=None, psm=None):
     check_path() #Check if tesseract available in the path
     process_request(file, TEMP_FILE, lang, psm) #Process command
@@ -74,7 +80,16 @@ def image_to_string(file,lang=None, psm=None):
     txt = f.read()
     os.remove(TEMP_FILE+".txt")
     return txt
-    
-    
+
+def mat_to_string(im, lang=None, psm=None):
+    if not OPENCV2_AVAILABLE:
+        print "cv2 is not Available"
+        return -1
+    else:
+        cv2.imwrite(TEMP_IMAGE, im)
+        txt = image_to_string(TEMP_IMAGE, lang, psm)
+        os.remove(TEMP_IMAGE)
+        return txt
+
 if __name__ =='__main__':
-    print image_to_string("image.jpg", "fra", PSM_AUTO) #Example
\ No newline at end of file
+    print image_to_string("image.jpg", "fra", PSM_AUTO) #Example