diff --git a/tutorials/generate_doc_figures.py b/tutorials/generate_doc_figures.py
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..70c77338e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tutorials/generate_doc_figures.py
@@ -0,0 +1,144 @@
+
+# This script generate the illustration pictures for the documentation.
+#
+# To run this script, you have to install paraview, see:
+#
+# http://www.paraview.org/paraview/resources/software.php
+#
+# Eventually, set up the paths (figure_path, tutorial_data_path) according to your own installation.
+# (The default values should be ok.)
+#
+# Make sure that pvpython is in your path of executables.
+#
+# After all the tutorial programs have been executed, run the following
+# command in the same directory:
+#
+#   pvpython generate_doc_figures.py Documentation/Figure
+#
+
+from paraview.simple import *
+from os import remove, mkdir, curdir
+from os.path import join, isdir
+from sys import argv, exit
+
+# we need at least the output directory
+if len(argv) <= 1:
+	exit('Synopsis: pvpython generate_doc_figures.py dest-dir [src-dir]')
+
+figure_path = argv[1]
+
+# default for the input directory is the current one
+if len(argv) <= 2:
+    tutorial_data_path = curdir
+else:
+    tutorial_data_path = argv[2]
+
+collected_garbage_file = []
+
+if not isdir(figure_path):
+    mkdir(figure_path)
+    
+
+# tutorial 1
+data_file_name = join(tutorial_data_path, "tutorial1.vtu")
+# grid = servermanager.sources.XMLUnstructuredGridReader(FileName = data_file_name)
+grid = XMLUnstructuredGridReader(FileName = data_file_name)
+collected_garbage_file.append(data_file_name)
+grid.UpdatePipeline()
+Show(grid)
+dp = GetDisplayProperties(grid)
+dp.Representation = 'Wireframe'
+dp.LineWidth = 5
+dp.AmbientColor = [1, 0, 0]
+view = GetActiveView()
+view.Background = [1, 1, 1]
+camera = GetActiveCamera()
+camera.SetPosition(4, -6, 5)
+camera.SetViewUp(-0.19, 0.4, 0.9)
+camera.SetViewAngle(30)
+camera.SetFocalPoint(1.5, 1.5, 1)
+Render()
+WriteImage(join(figure_path, "tutorial1.png"))
+Hide(grid)
+
+# tutorial 2
+data_file_name = join(tutorial_data_path, "tutorial2.vtu")
+grid = XMLUnstructuredGridReader(FileName = data_file_name)
+collected_garbage_file.append(data_file_name)
+grid.UpdatePipeline()
+Show(grid)
+dp = GetDisplayProperties(grid)
+dp.Representation = 'Surface'
+dp.ColorArrayName = 'pressure'
+pres = grid.CellData.GetArray(0)
+pres_lookuptable = GetLookupTableForArray( "pressure", 1, RGBPoints=[pres.GetRange()[0], 1, 0, 0, pres.GetRange()[1], 0, 0, 1] )
+dp.LookupTable = pres_lookuptable
+view = GetActiveView()
+view.Background = [1, 1, 1]
+camera = GetActiveCamera()
+camera.SetPosition(20, 20, 110)
+camera.SetViewUp(0, 1, 0)
+camera.SetViewAngle(30)
+camera.SetFocalPoint(20, 20, 0.5)
+Render()
+WriteImage(join(figure_path, "tutorial2.png"))
+Hide(grid)
+
+# tutorial 3
+for case in range(0,20):
+    data_file_name = join(tutorial_data_path, "tutorial3-"+"%(case)03d"%{"case": case}+".vtu")
+    collected_garbage_file.append(data_file_name)
+
+cases = ["000", "005", "010", "015", "019"]
+for case in cases:
+    data_file_name = join(tutorial_data_path, "tutorial3-"+case+".vtu")
+    grid = XMLUnstructuredGridReader(FileName = data_file_name)
+    grid.UpdatePipeline()
+    Show(grid)
+    dp = GetDisplayProperties(grid)
+    dp.Representation = 'Surface'
+    dp.ColorArrayName = 'saturation'
+    sat = grid.CellData.GetArray(1)
+    sat_lookuptable = GetLookupTableForArray( "saturation", 1, RGBPoints=[0, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1])
+    dp.LookupTable = sat_lookuptable
+    view.Background = [1, 1, 1]
+    camera = GetActiveCamera()
+    camera.SetPosition(100, 100, 550)
+    camera.SetViewUp(0, 1, 0)
+    camera.SetViewAngle(30)
+    camera.SetFocalPoint(100, 100, 5)
+    Render()
+    WriteImage(join(figure_path, "tutorial3-"+case+".png"))
+Hide(grid)
+
+# tutorial 4
+for case in range(0,20):
+    data_file_name = join(tutorial_data_path, "tutorial4-"+"%(case)03d"%{"case": case}+".vtu")
+    collected_garbage_file.append(data_file_name)
+
+cases = ["000", "005", "010", "015", "019"]
+for case in cases:
+    data_file_name = join(tutorial_data_path, "tutorial4-"+case+".vtu")
+    grid = XMLUnstructuredGridReader(FileName = data_file_name)
+    grid.UpdatePipeline()
+    Show(grid)
+    dp = GetDisplayProperties(grid)
+    dp.Representation = 'Surface'
+    dp.ColorArrayName = 'saturation'
+    sat = grid.CellData.GetArray(1)
+    sat_lookuptable = GetLookupTableForArray( "saturation", 1, RGBPoints=[0, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1])
+    dp.LookupTable = sat_lookuptable
+    view.Background = [1, 1, 1]
+    camera = GetActiveCamera()
+    camera.SetPosition(100, 100, 550)
+    camera.SetViewUp(0, 1, 0)
+    camera.SetViewAngle(30)
+    camera.SetFocalPoint(100, 100, 5)
+    Render()
+    WriteImage(join(figure_path, "tutorial4-"+case+".png"))
+Hide(grid)
+
+# remove temporary files
+for f in collected_garbage_file:
+    remove(f)
+