diff --git a/Installation/changes.html b/Installation/changes.html
index 91a27548f8b..877960f897b 100644
--- a/Installation/changes.html
+++ b/Installation/changes.html
@@ -161,6 +161,10 @@ and <code>src/</code> directories).
     automatically adapt the local density of points to the local
     variation of the input computed by principal component analysis.
     </li>
+    <li> New IO functions for PLY format (Polygon File
+      Format): <code>CGAL::read_ply_points()</code>,
+      <code>CGAL::read_ply_points_and_normals()</code>, <code>CGAL::write_ply_points()</code>
+    and <code>CGAL::write_ply_points_and_normals()</code>.</li>
   </ul>
   <h3>Surface Mesh Parameterization</h3>
   <ul>
diff --git a/Point_set_processing_3/doc/Point_set_processing_3/PackageDescription.txt b/Point_set_processing_3/doc/Point_set_processing_3/PackageDescription.txt
index fc99524025a..9236e434369 100644
--- a/Point_set_processing_3/doc/Point_set_processing_3/PackageDescription.txt
+++ b/Point_set_processing_3/doc/Point_set_processing_3/PackageDescription.txt
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 ## Functions ##
 
 - `CGAL::read_off_points()`
+- `CGAL::read_ply_points()`
 - `CGAL::read_xyz_points()`
 - `CGAL::compute_average_spacing()`
 - `CGAL::remove_outliers()`
@@ -42,6 +43,7 @@
 - `CGAL::vcm_estimate_normals()`
 - `CGAL::vcm_is_on_feature_edge()`
 - `CGAL::write_off_points()`
+- `CGAL::write_ply_points()`
 - `CGAL::write_xyz_points()`
 */
 
diff --git a/Point_set_processing_3/doc/Point_set_processing_3/Point_set_processing_3.txt b/Point_set_processing_3/doc/Point_set_processing_3/Point_set_processing_3.txt
index 70762bab334..011cea1f97e 100644
--- a/Point_set_processing_3/doc/Point_set_processing_3/Point_set_processing_3.txt
+++ b/Point_set_processing_3/doc/Point_set_processing_3/Point_set_processing_3.txt
@@ -80,13 +80,19 @@ a property map.
 We provide functions to read and write sets of points or sets of
 points with normals from the following ASCII file formats: XYZ (three
 point coordinates `x y z` per line or three point coordinates and
-three normal vector coordinates `x y z nx ny nz` per line), and OFF
-(%Object File Format) \cgalCite{cgal:p-gmgv16-96}.
+three normal vector coordinates `x y z nx ny nz` per line), OFF
+(%Object File Format) \cgalCite{cgal:p-gmgv16-96} and PLY (Polygon
+File Format).
 
 - `read_xyz_points()` 
-- `read_off_points()` 
+- `read_off_points()`
+- `read_ply_points()` 
 - `write_off_points()` 
-- `write_xyz_points()` 
+- `write_xyz_points()`
+- `write_ply_points()`
+
+Note that `read_ply_points()` also accepts binary PLY format in
+addition of ASCII.
 
 \subsection Point_set_processing_3Example Example
 
diff --git a/Point_set_processing_3/include/CGAL/IO/read_ply_points.h b/Point_set_processing_3/include/CGAL/IO/read_ply_points.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..ad772f205c9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Point_set_processing_3/include/CGAL/IO/read_ply_points.h
@@ -0,0 +1,615 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2015  Geometry Factory
+// All rights reserved.
+//
+// This file is part of CGAL (www.cgal.org).
+// You can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU
+// General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation,
+// either version 3 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
+//
+// Licensees holding a valid commercial license may use this file in
+// accordance with the commercial license agreement provided with the software.
+//
+// This file is provided AS IS with NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING THE
+// WARRANTY OF DESIGN, MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
+//
+// $URL$
+// $Id$
+//
+// Author(s) : Simon Giraudot
+
+#ifndef CGAL_READ_PLY_POINTS_H
+#define CGAL_READ_PLY_POINTS_H
+
+#include <CGAL/property_map.h>
+#include <CGAL/value_type_traits.h>
+#include <CGAL/point_set_processing_assertions.h>
+
+#include <boost/version.hpp>
+#include <boost/cstdint.hpp>
+
+#include <iostream>
+#include <sstream>
+#include <string>
+
+
+namespace CGAL {
+
+
+// PLY types:
+// name        type        number of bytes
+// ---------------------------------------
+// char       character                 1
+// uchar      unsigned character        1
+// short      short integer             2
+// ushort     unsigned short integer    2
+// int        integer                   4
+// uint       unsigned integer          4
+// float      single-precision float    4
+// double     double-precision float    8
+
+namespace internal {
+
+  class Ply_read_number
+  {
+  protected:
+    std::string m_name;
+    std::size_t m_format;
+    
+  public:
+    Ply_read_number (std::string name, std::size_t format)
+      : m_name (name), m_format (format) { }
+    virtual ~Ply_read_number() { }
+
+    const std::string& name () const { return m_name; }
+
+    virtual double operator() (std::istream& stream) const = 0;
+
+    // The two following functions prevent the stream to only extract
+    // ONE character (= what the types char imply) by requiring
+    // explicitely an integer object when reading the stream
+    void read_ascii (std::istream& stream, boost::int8_t& c) const
+    {
+      short s;
+      stream >> s;
+      c = static_cast<char>(s);
+    }
+    void read_ascii (std::istream& stream, boost::uint8_t& c) const
+    {
+      unsigned short s;
+      stream >> s;
+      c = static_cast<unsigned char>(s);
+    }
+
+    // Default template when Type is not a char type
+    template <typename Type>
+    void read_ascii (std::istream& stream, Type& t) const
+    {
+      stream >> t;
+    }
+    
+    template <typename Type>
+    Type read (std::istream& stream) const
+    {
+      if (m_format == 0) // Ascii
+        {
+          Type t;
+          read_ascii (stream, t);
+          return t;
+        }
+      else // Binary (2 = little endian)
+        {
+          union
+          {
+            char uChar[sizeof (Type)];
+            Type type;
+          } buffer;
+          
+          std::size_t size = sizeof (Type);
+
+          stream.read(buffer.uChar, size);
+      
+          if (m_format == 2) // Big endian
+            {
+              for (std::size_t i = 0; i < size / 2; ++ i)
+                {
+                  unsigned char tmp = buffer.uChar[i];
+                  buffer.uChar[i] = buffer.uChar[size - 1 - i];
+                  buffer.uChar[size - 1 - i] = tmp;
+                }
+            }
+          return buffer.type;
+        }
+      return Type();
+    }
+  };
+
+  class Ply_read_char : public Ply_read_number
+  {
+  public:
+    Ply_read_char (std::string name, std::size_t format) : Ply_read_number (name, format) { }
+    double operator() (std::istream& stream) const
+    { return static_cast<double> (this->read<boost::int8_t> (stream)); }
+  };
+  class Ply_read_uchar : public Ply_read_number
+  {
+  public:
+    Ply_read_uchar (std::string name, std::size_t format) : Ply_read_number (name, format) { }
+    double operator() (std::istream& stream) const
+    { return static_cast<double> (this->read<boost::uint8_t> (stream)); }
+  };
+  class Ply_read_short : public Ply_read_number
+  {
+  public:
+    Ply_read_short (std::string name, std::size_t format) : Ply_read_number (name, format) { }
+    double operator() (std::istream& stream) const
+    { return static_cast<double> (this->read<boost::int16_t> (stream)); }
+  };
+  class Ply_read_ushort : public Ply_read_number
+  {
+  public:
+    Ply_read_ushort (std::string name, std::size_t format) : Ply_read_number (name, format) { }
+    double operator() (std::istream& stream) const
+    { return static_cast<double> (this->read<boost::uint16_t> (stream)); }
+  };
+  class Ply_read_int : public Ply_read_number
+  {
+  public:
+    Ply_read_int (std::string name, std::size_t format) : Ply_read_number (name, format) { }
+    double operator() (std::istream& stream) const
+    { return static_cast<double> (this->read<boost::int32_t> (stream)); }
+  };
+  class Ply_read_uint : public Ply_read_number
+  {
+  public:
+    Ply_read_uint (std::string name, std::size_t format) : Ply_read_number (name, format) { }
+    double operator() (std::istream& stream) const
+    { return static_cast<double> (this->read<boost::uint32_t> (stream)); }
+  };
+  class Ply_read_float : public Ply_read_number
+  {
+  public:
+    Ply_read_float (std::string name, std::size_t format) : Ply_read_number (name, format) { }
+    double operator() (std::istream& stream) const
+    { return static_cast<double> (this->read<float> (stream)); }
+  };
+  class Ply_read_double : public Ply_read_number
+  {
+  public:
+    Ply_read_double (std::string name, std::size_t format) : Ply_read_number (name, format) { }
+    double operator() (std::istream& stream) const
+    { return this->read<float> (stream); }
+  };
+
+
+
+} //namespace CGAL
+  
+//===================================================================================
+/// \ingroup PkgPointSetProcessing
+/// Reads points (positions + normals, if available) from a .ply
+/// stream (ASCII or binary).
+/// Potential additional point properties and faces are ignored.
+///
+/// @tparam OutputIteratorValueType type of objects that can be put in `OutputIterator`.
+///         It is default to `value_type_traits<OutputIterator>::%type` and can be omitted when the default is fine.
+/// @tparam OutputIterator iterator over output points.
+/// @tparam PointPMap is a model of `WritablePropertyMap` with  value type `Point_3<Kernel>`.
+///        It can be omitted if the value type of `OutputIterator` is convertible to `Point_3<Kernel>`.
+/// @tparam NormalPMap is a model of `WritablePropertyMap` with value type `Vector_3<Kernel>`.
+/// @tparam Kernel Geometric traits class.
+///        It can be omitted and deduced automatically from the value type of `PointPMap`.
+///
+/// @return true on success.
+
+// This variant requires all parameters.
+//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+template < typename OutputIteratorValueType,
+           typename OutputIterator,
+           typename PointPMap,
+           typename NormalPMap,
+           typename Kernel >
+bool read_ply_points_and_normals(std::istream& stream, ///< input stream.
+                                 OutputIterator output, ///< output iterator over points.
+                                 PointPMap point_pmap, ///< property map: value_type of OutputIterator -> Point_3.
+                                 NormalPMap normal_pmap, ///< property map: value_type of OutputIterator -> Vector_3.
+                                 const Kernel& /*kernel*/) ///< geometric traits.
+{
+  // value_type_traits is a workaround as back_insert_iterator's value_type is void
+  // typedef typename value_type_traits<OutputIterator>::type Enriched_point;
+  typedef OutputIteratorValueType Enriched_point;
+
+  typedef typename Kernel::Point_3 Point;
+  typedef typename Kernel::Vector_3 Vector;
+  typedef typename Kernel::FT FT;
+
+  if(!stream)
+  {
+    std::cerr << "Error: cannot open file" << std::endl;
+    return false;
+  }
+
+  // scan points
+  std::size_t pointsCount = 0,  // number of items in file
+    pointsRead = 0, // current number of points read
+    lineNumber = 0; // current line number
+  enum Format { ASCII = 0, BINARY_LITTLE_ENDIAN = 1, BINARY_BIG_ENDIAN = 2};
+  Format format = ASCII;
+    
+  std::string line;
+  std::istringstream iss;
+
+  // Check the order of the properties of the point set
+  bool reading_properties = false;
+  std::vector<internal::Ply_read_number*> readers;
+  
+  while (getline (stream,line))
+  {
+    iss.clear();
+    iss.str (line);
+    ++ lineNumber;
+
+    // Reads file signature on first line
+    if (lineNumber == 1)
+      {
+        std::string signature;
+        if (!(iss >> signature) || (signature != "ply"))
+          {
+            // if wrong file format
+            std::cerr << "Incorrect file format line " << lineNumber << " of file" << std::endl;
+            return false;
+          }
+      }
+
+    // Reads format on 2nd line
+    else if (lineNumber == 2)
+      {
+        std::string tag, format_string, version;
+        if ( !(iss >> tag >> format_string >> version) )
+          {
+            std::cerr << "Error line " << lineNumber << " of file" << std::endl;
+            return false;
+          }
+        if (format_string == "ascii") format = ASCII;
+        else if (format_string == "binary_little_endian") format = BINARY_LITTLE_ENDIAN;
+        else if (format_string == "binary_big_endian") format = BINARY_BIG_ENDIAN;
+        else
+          {
+            std::cerr << "Unknown file format \"" << format_string << "\" line " << lineNumber << std::endl;
+            return false;
+          }
+      }
+
+    // Comments and vertex properties
+    else
+      {
+        std::string keyword;
+        if (!(iss >> keyword))
+          {
+            std::cerr << "Error line " << lineNumber << " of file" << std::endl;
+            return false;
+          }
+
+        if (keyword == "property")
+          {
+            if (!reading_properties)
+              continue;
+
+            std::string type, name;
+            if (!(iss >> type >> name))
+              {
+                std::cerr << "Error line " << lineNumber << " of file" << std::endl;
+                return false;
+              }
+
+            if (     type == "char"   || type == "int8")
+              readers.push_back (new internal::Ply_read_char (name, format));
+            else if (type == "uchar"  || type == "uint8")
+              readers.push_back (new internal::Ply_read_uchar (name, format));
+            else if (type == "short"  || type == "int16")
+              readers.push_back (new internal::Ply_read_short (name, format));
+            else if (type == "ushort" || type == "uint16")
+              readers.push_back (new internal::Ply_read_ushort (name, format));
+            else if (type == "int"    || type == "int32")
+              readers.push_back (new internal::Ply_read_int (name, format));
+            else if (type == "uint"   || type == "uint32")
+              readers.push_back (new internal::Ply_read_uint (name, format));
+            else if (type == "float"  || type == "float32")
+              readers.push_back (new internal::Ply_read_float (name, format));
+            else if (type == "double" || type == "float64")
+              readers.push_back (new internal::Ply_read_double (name, format));
+                
+            continue;
+          }
+        else
+          reading_properties = false;
+            
+        // ignore comments and properties (if not in element
+        // vertex - cf below - properties are useless in our case)
+        if (keyword == "comment" || keyword == "property")
+          continue;
+
+        // When end_header is reached, stop loop and begin reading points
+        if (keyword == "end_header")
+          break;
+            
+        if (keyword == "element")
+          {
+            std::string type;
+            std::size_t number;
+            if (!(iss >> type >> number))
+              {
+                std::cerr << "Error line " << lineNumber << " of file" << std::endl;
+                return false;
+              }
+                
+            if (type == "vertex")
+              {
+                pointsCount = number;
+                reading_properties = true;
+              }
+            else
+              continue;
+          }
+            
+      }
+  }
+  
+  while (!(stream.eof()) && pointsRead < pointsCount)
+    {
+
+      FT x = 0., y = 0., z = 0., nx = 0., ny = 0., nz = 0.;
+      for (std::size_t i = 0; i < readers.size (); ++ i)
+        {
+          FT value = (*readers[i])(stream);
+          if (readers[i]->name () == "x") x = value;
+          else if (readers[i]->name () == "y") y = value;
+          else if (readers[i]->name () == "z") z = value;
+          else if (readers[i]->name () == "nx") nx = value;
+          else if (readers[i]->name () == "ny") ny = value;
+          else if (readers[i]->name () == "nz") nz = value;
+        }
+      Point point(x,y,z);
+      Vector normal(nx,ny,nz);
+      Enriched_point pwn;
+      
+#ifdef CGAL_USE_PROPERTY_MAPS_API_V1
+      put(point_pmap,  &pwn, point);  // point_pmap[&pwn] = point
+      put(normal_pmap, &pwn, normal); // normal_pmap[&pwn] = normal
+#else
+      put(point_pmap,  pwn, point);  // point_pmap[&pwn] = point
+      put(normal_pmap, pwn, normal); // normal_pmap[&pwn] = normal
+#endif
+      *output++ = pwn;
+      pointsRead++;
+    }
+    // Skip remaining lines
+
+  for (std::size_t i = 0; i < readers.size (); ++ i)
+    delete readers[i];
+  
+  return true;
+}
+
+/// @cond SKIP_IN_MANUAL
+template < typename OutputIterator,
+           typename PointPMap,
+           typename NormalPMap,
+           typename Kernel >
+bool read_ply_points_and_normals(std::istream& stream, ///< input stream.
+                                 OutputIterator output, ///< output iterator over points.
+                                 PointPMap point_pmap, ///< property map: value_type of OutputIterator -> Point_3.
+                                 NormalPMap normal_pmap, ///< property map: value_type of OutputIterator -> Vector_3.
+                                 const Kernel& kernel) ///< geometric traits.
+{
+  // just deduce value_type of OutputIterator
+  return read_ply_points_and_normals
+    <typename value_type_traits<OutputIterator>::type>(stream,
+                                                       output,
+                                                       point_pmap,
+                                                       normal_pmap,
+                                                       kernel);
+}
+//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+/// @endcond
+
+/// @cond SKIP_IN_MANUAL
+// This variant deduces the kernel from the point property map.
+//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+template < typename OutputIteratorValueType,
+           typename OutputIterator,
+           typename PointPMap,
+           typename NormalPMap >
+bool read_ply_points_and_normals(std::istream& stream, ///< input stream.
+                                 OutputIterator output, ///< output iterator over points.
+                                 PointPMap point_pmap, ///< property map: value_type of OutputIterator -> Point_3.
+                                 NormalPMap normal_pmap) ///< property map: value_type of OutputIterator -> Vector_3.
+{
+  typedef typename boost::property_traits<PointPMap>::value_type Point;
+  typedef typename Kernel_traits<Point>::Kernel Kernel;
+  return read_ply_points_and_normals
+    <OutputIteratorValueType>(stream,
+                              output,
+                              point_pmap,
+                              normal_pmap,
+                              Kernel());
+}
+
+template < typename OutputIterator,
+           typename PointPMap,
+           typename NormalPMap >
+bool read_ply_points_and_normals(std::istream& stream, ///< input stream.
+                                 OutputIterator output, ///< output iterator over points.
+                                 PointPMap point_pmap, ///< property map: value_type of OutputIterator -> Point_3.
+                                 NormalPMap normal_pmap) ///< property map: value_type of OutputIterator -> Vector_3.
+{
+  // just deduce value_type of OutputIterator
+  return read_ply_points_and_normals
+    <typename value_type_traits<OutputIterator>::type>(stream,
+                                                       output,
+                                                       point_pmap,
+                                                       normal_pmap);
+}
+//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+/// @endcond
+
+/// @cond SKIP_IN_MANUAL
+// This variant creates a default point property map = Identity_property_map.
+//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+template < typename OutputIteratorValueType,
+           typename OutputIterator,
+           typename NormalPMap >
+bool read_ply_points_and_normals(std::istream& stream, ///< input stream.
+                                 OutputIterator output, ///< output iterator over points.
+                                 NormalPMap normal_pmap) ///< property map: value_type of OutputIterator -> Vector_3.
+{
+  return read_ply_points_and_normals
+    <OutputIteratorValueType>(stream,
+                              output,
+#ifdef CGAL_USE_PROPERTY_MAPS_API_V1
+                              make_dereference_property_map(output),
+#else
+                              make_identity_property_map(OutputIteratorValueType()),
+#endif
+                              normal_pmap);
+}
+
+template < typename OutputIterator,
+           typename NormalPMap >
+bool read_ply_points_and_normals(std::istream& stream, ///< input stream.
+                                 OutputIterator output, ///< output iterator over points.
+                                 NormalPMap normal_pmap) ///< property map: value_type of OutputIterator -> Vector_3.
+{
+  // just deduce value_type of OutputIterator
+  return read_ply_points_and_normals
+    <typename value_type_traits<OutputIterator>::type>(stream,
+                                                       output,
+                                                       normal_pmap);
+}
+//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+/// @endcond
+
+
+//===================================================================================
+/// \ingroup PkgPointSetProcessing
+/// Reads points (position only) from a .ply stream (ASCII or binary).
+/// Potential additional point properties (including normals) and faces are ignored.
+///
+/// @tparam OutputIteratorValueType type of objects that can be put in `OutputIterator`.
+///         It is default to `value_type_traits<OutputIterator>::%type` and can be omitted when the default is fine.
+/// @tparam OutputIterator iterator over output points.
+/// @tparam PointPMap is a model of `WritablePropertyMap` with  value_type `Point_3<Kernel>`.
+///        It can be omitted if the value type of `OutputIterator` is convertible to `Point_3<Kernel>`.
+/// @tparam Kernel Geometric traits class.
+///        It can be omitted and deduced automatically from  the value type of `PointPMap`.
+///
+/// @return `true` on success.
+
+// This variant requires all parameters.
+//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+template < typename OutputIteratorValueType,
+           typename OutputIterator,
+           typename PointPMap,
+           typename Kernel >
+bool read_ply_points(std::istream& stream, ///< input stream.
+                     OutputIterator output, ///< output iterator over points.
+                     PointPMap point_pmap, ///< property map: value_type of OutputIterator -> Point_3.
+                     const Kernel& kernel) ///< geometric traits.
+{
+  // Calls read_ply_points_and_normals() with a normal property map = boost::dummy_property_map
+  return read_ply_points_and_normals
+    <OutputIteratorValueType>(stream,
+                              output,
+                              point_pmap,
+                              boost::dummy_property_map(),
+                              kernel);
+}
+
+/// @cond SKIP_IN_MANUAL
+template < typename OutputIterator,
+           typename PointPMap,
+           typename Kernel >
+bool read_ply_points(std::istream& stream, ///< input stream.
+                     OutputIterator output, ///< output iterator over points.
+                     PointPMap point_pmap, ///< property map: value_type of OutputIterator -> Point_3.
+                     const Kernel& kernel) ///< geometric traits.
+{
+  // just deduce value_type of OutputIterator
+  return read_ply_points
+    <typename value_type_traits<OutputIterator>::type>(stream,
+                                                       output,
+                                                       point_pmap,
+                                                       kernel);
+}
+//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+/// @endcond
+
+/// @cond SKIP_IN_MANUAL
+// This variant deduces the kernel from the point property map.
+//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+template < typename OutputIteratorValueType,
+           typename OutputIterator,
+           typename PointPMap >
+bool read_ply_points(std::istream& stream, ///< input stream.
+                     OutputIterator output, ///< output iterator over points.
+                     PointPMap point_pmap) ///< property map: value_type of OutputIterator -> Point_3.
+{
+  typedef typename boost::property_traits<PointPMap>::value_type Point;
+  typedef typename Kernel_traits<Point>::Kernel Kernel;
+  return read_ply_points
+    <OutputIteratorValueType>(stream,
+                              output,
+                              point_pmap,
+                              Kernel());
+}
+
+template < typename OutputIterator,
+           typename PointPMap >
+bool read_ply_points(std::istream& stream, ///< input stream.
+                     OutputIterator output, ///< output iterator over points.
+                     PointPMap point_pmap) ///< property map: value_type of OutputIterator -> Point_3.
+{
+  // just deduce value_type of OutputIterator
+  return read_ply_points
+    <typename value_type_traits<OutputIterator>::type>(stream,
+                                                       output,
+                                                       point_pmap);
+}
+//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+/// @endcond
+
+/// @cond SKIP_IN_MANUAL
+// This variant creates a default point property map = Identity_property_map.
+//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+template < typename OutputIteratorValueType,
+           typename OutputIterator >
+bool read_ply_points(std::istream& stream, ///< input stream.
+                     OutputIterator output) ///< output iterator over points.
+{
+  return read_ply_points
+    <OutputIteratorValueType>(stream,
+                              output,
+#ifdef CGAL_USE_PROPERTY_MAPS_API_V1
+                              make_dereference_property_map(output)
+#else
+                              make_identity_property_map(OutputIteratorValueType())
+#endif
+                              );
+}
+
+template < typename OutputIterator>
+bool read_ply_points(std::istream& stream, ///< input stream.
+                     OutputIterator output) ///< output iterator over points.
+{
+  // just deduce value_type of OutputIterator
+  return read_ply_points
+    <typename value_type_traits<OutputIterator>::type>(stream,
+                                                       output);
+}
+//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+/// @endcond
+
+
+} //namespace CGAL
+
+#endif // CGAL_READ_PLY_POINTS_H
diff --git a/Point_set_processing_3/include/CGAL/IO/write_ply_points.h b/Point_set_processing_3/include/CGAL/IO/write_ply_points.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..274713ec6a6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Point_set_processing_3/include/CGAL/IO/write_ply_points.h
@@ -0,0 +1,260 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2015  Geometry Factory
+// All rights reserved.
+//
+// This file is part of CGAL (www.cgal.org).
+// You can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU
+// General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation,
+// either version 3 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
+//
+// Licensees holding a valid commercial license may use this file in
+// accordance with the commercial license agreement provided with the software.
+//
+// This file is provided AS IS with NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING THE
+// WARRANTY OF DESIGN, MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
+//
+// $URL$
+// $Id$
+//
+// Author(s) : Simon Giraudot
+
+#ifndef CGAL_WRITE_PLY_POINTS_H
+#define CGAL_WRITE_PLY_POINTS_H
+
+#include <CGAL/property_map.h>
+#include <CGAL/point_set_processing_assertions.h>
+
+#include <boost/version.hpp>
+
+#include <iostream>
+#include <iterator>
+
+namespace CGAL {
+
+
+//===================================================================================
+/// \ingroup PkgPointSetProcessing
+/// Saves the [first, beyond) range of points (positions + normals) to a .ply ASCII stream.
+///
+/// \pre normals must be unit vectors
+///
+/// @tparam ForwardIterator iterator over input points.
+/// @tparam PointPMap is a model of `ReadablePropertyMap` with  value type `Point_3<Kernel>`.
+///        It can be omitted if the value type of `ForwardIterator` is convertible to `Point_3<Kernel>`.
+/// @tparam NormalPMap is a model of `ReadablePropertyMap` with a value type  `Vector_3<Kernel>`.
+/// @tparam Kernel Geometric traits class.
+///        It can be omitted and deduced automatically from the value type of `PointPMap`.
+///
+/// @return true on success.
+
+// This variant requires all parameters.
+template < typename ForwardIterator,
+           typename PointPMap,
+           typename NormalPMap,
+           typename Kernel >
+bool
+write_ply_points_and_normals(
+  std::ostream& stream, ///< output stream.
+  ForwardIterator first,  ///< iterator over the first input point.
+  ForwardIterator beyond, ///< past-the-end iterator over the input points.
+  PointPMap point_pmap, ///< property map: value_type of ForwardIterator -> Point_3. 
+  NormalPMap normal_pmap, ///< property map: value_type of ForwardIterator -> Vector_3. 
+  const Kernel& /*kernel*/) ///< geometric traits.
+{
+  // basic geometric types
+  typedef typename Kernel::Point_3 Point;
+  typedef typename Kernel::Vector_3 Vector;
+
+  CGAL_point_set_processing_precondition(first != beyond);
+
+  if(!stream)
+  {
+    std::cerr << "Error: cannot open file" << std::endl;
+    return false;
+  }
+
+  // Write header
+  stream << "ply" << std::endl
+         << "format ascii 1.0" << std::endl
+         << "comment Generated by the CGAL library" << std::endl
+         << "element vertex " << std::distance (first, beyond) << std::endl
+         << "property double x" << std::endl
+         << "property double y" << std::endl
+         << "property double z" << std::endl
+         << "property double nx" << std::endl
+         << "property double ny" << std::endl
+         << "property double nz" << std::endl
+         << "end_header" << std::endl;
+  
+
+  // Write positions + normals
+  for(ForwardIterator it = first; it != beyond; it++)
+  {
+#ifdef CGAL_USE_PROPERTY_MAPS_API_V1
+    Point p = get(point_pmap, it);
+    Vector n = get(normal_pmap, it);
+#else
+    Point p = get(point_pmap, *it);
+    Vector n = get(normal_pmap, *it);
+#endif
+    stream << p << " " << n << std::endl;
+  }
+
+  return ! stream.fail();
+}
+
+/// @cond SKIP_IN_MANUAL
+// This variant deduces the kernel from the point property map.
+template < typename ForwardIterator,
+           typename PointPMap,
+           typename NormalPMap >
+bool
+write_ply_points_and_normals(
+  std::ostream& stream, ///< output stream.
+  ForwardIterator first, ///< first input point.
+  ForwardIterator beyond, ///< past-the-end input point.
+  PointPMap point_pmap, ///< property map: value_type of OutputIterator -> Point_3.
+  NormalPMap normal_pmap) ///< property map: value_type of OutputIterator -> Vector_3.
+{
+  typedef typename boost::property_traits<PointPMap>::value_type Point;
+  typedef typename Kernel_traits<Point>::Kernel Kernel;
+  return write_ply_points_and_normals(
+    stream,
+    first, beyond,
+    point_pmap,
+    normal_pmap,
+    Kernel());
+}
+/// @endcond
+
+/// @cond SKIP_IN_MANUAL
+// This variant creates a default point property map = Identity_property_map.
+template <typename ForwardIterator,
+          typename NormalPMap
+>
+bool
+write_ply_points_and_normals(
+  std::ostream& stream, ///< output stream.
+  ForwardIterator first, ///< first input point.
+  ForwardIterator beyond, ///< past-the-end input point.
+  NormalPMap normal_pmap) ///< property map: value_type of OutputIterator -> Vector_3.
+{
+  return write_ply_points_and_normals(
+    stream,
+    first, beyond,
+#ifdef CGAL_USE_PROPERTY_MAPS_API_V1
+    make_dereference_property_map(first),
+#else
+    make_identity_property_map(
+    typename std::iterator_traits<ForwardIterator>::value_type()),
+#endif
+    normal_pmap);
+}
+/// @endcond
+
+
+//===================================================================================
+/// \ingroup PkgPointSetProcessing
+/// Saves the [first, beyond) range of points (positions only) to a .ply ASCII stream.
+///
+/// @tparam ForwardIterator iterator over input points.
+/// @tparam PointPMap is a model of `ReadablePropertyMap` with a value_type = `Point_3<Kernel>`.
+///        It can be omitted if the value type of `ForwardIterator` is convertible to `Point_3<Kernel>`.
+/// @tparam Kernel Geometric traits class.
+///        It can be omitted and deduced automatically from the value type of `PointPMap`.
+///
+/// @return true on success.
+
+// This variant requires all parameters.
+template < typename ForwardIterator,
+           typename PointPMap,
+           typename Kernel >
+bool
+write_ply_points(
+  std::ostream& stream, ///< output stream.
+  ForwardIterator first,  ///< iterator over the first input point.
+  ForwardIterator beyond, ///< past-the-end iterator over the input points.
+  PointPMap point_pmap, ///< property map: value_type of ForwardIterator -> Point_3.
+  const Kernel& ) ///< geometric traits.
+{
+  // basic geometric types
+  typedef typename Kernel::Point_3 Point;
+
+  CGAL_point_set_processing_precondition(first != beyond);
+
+  if(!stream)
+  {
+    std::cerr << "Error: cannot open file" << std::endl;
+    return false;
+  }
+
+  // Write header
+  stream << "ply" << std::endl
+         << "format ascii 1.0" << std::endl
+         << "comment Generated by the CGAL library" << std::endl
+         << "element vertex " << std::distance (first, beyond) << std::endl
+         << "property double x" << std::endl
+         << "property double y" << std::endl
+         << "property double z" << std::endl
+         << "end_header" << std::endl;
+
+  // Write positions
+  for(ForwardIterator it = first; it != beyond; it++)
+  {
+#ifdef CGAL_USE_PROPERTY_MAPS_API_V1
+    Point p = get(point_pmap, it);
+#else
+    Point p = get(point_pmap, *it);
+#endif
+    stream << p << std::endl;
+  }
+
+  return ! stream.fail();
+}
+
+/// @cond SKIP_IN_MANUAL
+// This variant deduces the kernel from the point property map.
+template < typename ForwardIterator,
+           typename PointPMap >
+bool
+write_ply_points(
+  std::ostream& stream, ///< output stream.
+  ForwardIterator first, ///< first input point.
+  ForwardIterator beyond, ///< past-the-end input point.
+  PointPMap point_pmap) ///< property map: value_type of OutputIterator -> Point_3.
+{
+  typedef typename boost::property_traits<PointPMap>::value_type Point;
+  typedef typename Kernel_traits<Point>::Kernel Kernel;
+  return write_ply_points(
+    stream,
+    first, beyond,
+    point_pmap,
+    Kernel());
+}
+/// @endcond
+
+/// @cond SKIP_IN_MANUAL
+// This variant creates a default point property map = Identity_property_map.
+template < typename ForwardIterator >
+bool
+write_ply_points(
+  std::ostream& stream, ///< output stream.
+  ForwardIterator first, ///< first input point.
+  ForwardIterator beyond) ///< past-the-end input point.
+{
+  return write_ply_points(
+    stream,
+    first, beyond,
+#ifdef CGAL_USE_PROPERTY_MAPS_API_V1
+    make_dereference_property_map(first)
+#else
+    make_identity_property_map(
+    typename std::iterator_traits<ForwardIterator>::value_type())
+#endif
+    );
+}
+/// @endcond
+
+
+} //namespace CGAL
+
+#endif // CGAL_WRITE_PLY_POINTS_H
diff --git a/Point_set_processing_3/test/Point_set_processing_3/data/read_test/simple.off b/Point_set_processing_3/test/Point_set_processing_3/data/read_test/simple.off
index 71f3a1ccc32..462dc6fb8e6 100644
--- a/Point_set_processing_3/test/Point_set_processing_3/data/read_test/simple.off
+++ b/Point_set_processing_3/test/Point_set_processing_3/data/read_test/simple.off
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-OFF
+NOFF
 3 0 0
 1 1 1 2 2 2
 3 3 3 4 4 4
diff --git a/Point_set_processing_3/test/Point_set_processing_3/data/read_test/simple.ply b/Point_set_processing_3/test/Point_set_processing_3/data/read_test/simple.ply
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..1f55c3277c0
Binary files /dev/null and b/Point_set_processing_3/test/Point_set_processing_3/data/read_test/simple.ply differ
diff --git a/Point_set_processing_3/test/Point_set_processing_3/data/read_test/simple_ascii.ply b/Point_set_processing_3/test/Point_set_processing_3/data/read_test/simple_ascii.ply
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..5bc4a19d34f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Point_set_processing_3/test/Point_set_processing_3/data/read_test/simple_ascii.ply
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+ply
+format ascii 1.0
+comment VCGLIB generated
+element vertex 3
+property float x
+property float y
+property float z
+property float nx
+property float ny
+property float nz
+element face 0
+property list uchar int vertex_indices
+end_header
+1 1 1 2 2 2 
+3 3 3 4 4 4 
+5 5 5 6 6 6 
diff --git a/Point_set_processing_3/test/Point_set_processing_3/data/read_test/simple_with_flag.ply b/Point_set_processing_3/test/Point_set_processing_3/data/read_test/simple_with_flag.ply
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..55661dd36bc
Binary files /dev/null and b/Point_set_processing_3/test/Point_set_processing_3/data/read_test/simple_with_flag.ply differ
diff --git a/Point_set_processing_3/test/Point_set_processing_3/read_test.cpp b/Point_set_processing_3/test/Point_set_processing_3/read_test.cpp
index 297faf29399..5d32d7d3094 100644
--- a/Point_set_processing_3/test/Point_set_processing_3/read_test.cpp
+++ b/Point_set_processing_3/test/Point_set_processing_3/read_test.cpp
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #include <CGAL/Simple_cartesian.h>
 #include <CGAL/property_map.h>
 #include <CGAL/IO/read_off_points.h>
+#include <CGAL/IO/read_ply_points.h>
 #include <CGAL/IO/read_xyz_points.h>
 
 #include <vector>
@@ -47,6 +48,17 @@ bool read_off(std::string s,
                                            CGAL::Second_of_pair_property_map<PointVectorPair>());
 }
 
+bool read_ply (std::string s,
+               std::vector<PointVectorPair>& pv_pairs)
+{
+  std::ifstream fs(s.c_str());
+
+  return CGAL::read_ply_points_and_normals (fs, 
+                                            back_inserter(pv_pairs), 
+                                            CGAL::First_of_pair_property_map<PointVectorPair>(), 
+                                            CGAL::Second_of_pair_property_map<PointVectorPair>());
+}
+
 
 int main()
 {
@@ -78,6 +90,23 @@ int main()
   assert(pv_pairs[2] == std::make_pair(Point_3(4,5,6), Vector_3(0,0,0)));
   assert(pv_pairs[3] == std::make_pair(Point_3(7,8,9), Vector_3(0,0,0)));
 
+  pv_pairs.clear ();
+  assert(read_ply("data/read_test/simple.ply", pv_pairs));
+  assert(pv_pairs[0] == std::make_pair(Point_3(1,1,1), Vector_3(2,2,2)));
+  assert(pv_pairs[1] == std::make_pair(Point_3(3,3,3), Vector_3(4,4,4)));
+  assert(pv_pairs[2] == std::make_pair(Point_3(5,5,5), Vector_3(6,6,6)));
+
+  pv_pairs.clear ();
+  assert(read_ply("data/read_test/simple_ascii.ply", pv_pairs));
+  assert(pv_pairs[0] == std::make_pair(Point_3(1,1,1), Vector_3(2,2,2)));
+  assert(pv_pairs[1] == std::make_pair(Point_3(3,3,3), Vector_3(4,4,4)));
+  assert(pv_pairs[2] == std::make_pair(Point_3(5,5,5), Vector_3(6,6,6)));
+
+  pv_pairs.clear ();
+  assert(read_ply("data/read_test/simple_with_flag.ply", pv_pairs));
+  assert(pv_pairs[0] == std::make_pair(Point_3(1,1,1), Vector_3(2,2,2)));
+  assert(pv_pairs[1] == std::make_pair(Point_3(3,3,3), Vector_3(4,4,4)));
+  assert(pv_pairs[2] == std::make_pair(Point_3(5,5,5), Vector_3(6,6,6)));
 
   return 0;
 }  
diff --git a/Polyhedron/demo/Polyhedron/CMakeLists.txt b/Polyhedron/demo/Polyhedron/CMakeLists.txt
index 2df990619b6..5b54bcc5c22 100644
--- a/Polyhedron/demo/Polyhedron/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/Polyhedron/demo/Polyhedron/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -319,6 +319,9 @@ if(CGAL_Qt5_FOUND AND Qt5_FOUND AND OPENGL_FOUND AND QGLVIEWER_FOUND)
   polyhedron_demo_plugin(off_to_xyz_plugin Polyhedron_demo_off_to_xyz_plugin)
   target_link_libraries(off_to_xyz_plugin scene_points_with_normal_item)
 
+  polyhedron_demo_plugin(ply_to_xyz_plugin Polyhedron_demo_ply_to_xyz_plugin)
+  target_link_libraries(ply_to_xyz_plugin scene_points_with_normal_item)
+
   polyhedron_demo_plugin(convex_hull_plugin Polyhedron_demo_convex_hull_plugin)
   target_link_libraries(convex_hull_plugin scene_polyhedron_item scene_points_with_normal_item scene_polylines_item scene_polyhedron_selection_item)
 
diff --git a/Polyhedron/demo/Polyhedron/Polyhedron_demo_off_to_xyz_plugin.cpp b/Polyhedron/demo/Polyhedron/Polyhedron_demo_off_to_xyz_plugin.cpp
index cc32c58e245..375adf00f29 100644
--- a/Polyhedron/demo/Polyhedron/Polyhedron_demo_off_to_xyz_plugin.cpp
+++ b/Polyhedron/demo/Polyhedron/Polyhedron_demo_off_to_xyz_plugin.cpp
@@ -56,14 +56,28 @@ Polyhedron_demo_off_to_xyz_plugin::load(QFileInfo fileinfo) {
   return item;
 }
 
-bool Polyhedron_demo_off_to_xyz_plugin::canSave(const Scene_item*)
+bool Polyhedron_demo_off_to_xyz_plugin::canSave(const Scene_item* item)
 {
-  return false;
+  // This plugin supports point sets
+  return qobject_cast<const Scene_points_with_normal_item*>(item);
 }
 
-bool Polyhedron_demo_off_to_xyz_plugin::save(const Scene_item*, QFileInfo)
+bool Polyhedron_demo_off_to_xyz_plugin::save(const Scene_item* item, QFileInfo fileinfo)
 {
-  return false;
+  // Check extension (quietly)
+  std::string extension = fileinfo.suffix().toUtf8().data();
+  if (extension != "off" && extension != "OFF")
+    return false;
+
+  // This plugin supports point sets
+  const Scene_points_with_normal_item* point_set_item =
+    qobject_cast<const Scene_points_with_normal_item*>(item);
+  if(!point_set_item)
+    return false;
+
+  // Save point set as .xyz
+  std::ofstream out(fileinfo.filePath().toUtf8().data());
+  return point_set_item->write_off_point_set(out);
 }
 
 
diff --git a/Polyhedron/demo/Polyhedron/Polyhedron_demo_ply_to_xyz_plugin.cpp b/Polyhedron/demo/Polyhedron/Polyhedron_demo_ply_to_xyz_plugin.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..91ddfec4c63
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Polyhedron/demo/Polyhedron/Polyhedron_demo_ply_to_xyz_plugin.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+#include "Scene_points_with_normal_item.h"
+#include "Polyhedron_demo_io_plugin_interface.h"
+
+#include <fstream>
+
+class Polyhedron_demo_ply_to_xyz_plugin :
+  public QObject,
+  public Polyhedron_demo_io_plugin_interface
+{
+  Q_OBJECT
+  Q_INTERFACES(Polyhedron_demo_io_plugin_interface)
+  Q_PLUGIN_METADATA(IID "com.geometryfactory.PolyhedronDemo.IOPluginInterface/1.0")
+
+public:
+  QString name() const { return "ply_to_xyz_plugin"; }
+  QString nameFilters() const { return "PLY files as Point set (*.ply)"; }
+  bool canLoad() const;
+  Scene_item* load(QFileInfo fileinfo);
+
+  bool canSave(const Scene_item*);
+  bool save(const Scene_item*, QFileInfo fileinfo);
+};
+
+bool Polyhedron_demo_ply_to_xyz_plugin::canLoad() const {
+  return true;
+}
+
+Scene_item* 
+Polyhedron_demo_ply_to_xyz_plugin::load(QFileInfo fileinfo) {
+  std::ifstream in(fileinfo.filePath().toUtf8());
+
+  if(!in)
+    std::cerr << "Error!\n";
+
+  Scene_points_with_normal_item* item;
+  item = new Scene_points_with_normal_item();
+  if(!item->read_ply_point_set(in))
+    {
+      delete item;
+      return 0;
+    }
+
+  item->setName(fileinfo.baseName());
+  return item;
+}
+
+bool Polyhedron_demo_ply_to_xyz_plugin::canSave(const Scene_item* item)
+{
+  // This plugin supports point sets
+  return qobject_cast<const Scene_points_with_normal_item*>(item);
+}
+
+bool Polyhedron_demo_ply_to_xyz_plugin::save(const Scene_item* item, QFileInfo fileinfo)
+{
+  // Check extension (quietly)
+  std::string extension = fileinfo.suffix().toUtf8().data();
+  if (extension != "ply" && extension != "PLY")
+    return false;
+
+  // This plugin supports point sets
+  const Scene_points_with_normal_item* point_set_item =
+    qobject_cast<const Scene_points_with_normal_item*>(item);
+  if(!point_set_item)
+    return false;
+
+  // Save point set as .xyz
+  std::ofstream out(fileinfo.filePath().toUtf8().data());
+  return point_set_item->write_ply_point_set(out);
+}
+
+
+#include "Polyhedron_demo_ply_to_xyz_plugin.moc"
diff --git a/Polyhedron/demo/Polyhedron/Scene_points_with_normal_item.cpp b/Polyhedron/demo/Polyhedron/Scene_points_with_normal_item.cpp
index e583cbb6cf5..8c9e3a33584 100644
--- a/Polyhedron/demo/Polyhedron/Scene_points_with_normal_item.cpp
+++ b/Polyhedron/demo/Polyhedron/Scene_points_with_normal_item.cpp
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 #include "Polyhedron_type.h"
 #include <CGAL/Polygon_mesh_processing/compute_normal.h>
 
+#include <CGAL/IO/read_ply_points.h>
+#include <CGAL/IO/write_ply_points.h>
 #include <CGAL/IO/read_off_points.h>
 #include <CGAL/IO/write_off_points.h>
 #include <CGAL/IO/read_xyz_points.h>
@@ -317,6 +319,45 @@ void Scene_points_with_normal_item::selectDuplicates()
   Q_EMIT itemChanged();
 }
 
+// Loads point set from .PLY file
+bool Scene_points_with_normal_item::read_ply_point_set(std::istream& stream)
+{
+  Q_ASSERT(m_points != NULL);
+
+  m_points->clear();
+  bool ok = stream &&
+            CGAL::read_ply_points_and_normals(stream,
+                                              std::back_inserter(*m_points),
+                                              CGAL::make_normal_of_point_with_normal_pmap(Point_set::value_type())) &&
+            !isEmpty();
+  if (ok)
+    {
+      for (Point_set::iterator it=m_points->begin(),
+             end=m_points->end();it!=end; ++it)
+        {
+          if (it->normal() != CGAL::NULL_VECTOR)
+            {
+              m_has_normals=true;
+              setRenderingMode(PointsPlusNormals);
+              break;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+  invalidate_buffers();
+  return ok;
+}
+
+// Write point set to .PLY file
+bool Scene_points_with_normal_item::write_ply_point_set(std::ostream& stream) const
+{
+  Q_ASSERT(m_points != NULL);
+
+  return stream &&
+         CGAL::write_ply_points_and_normals(stream,
+                                            m_points->begin(), m_points->end(),
+                                            CGAL::make_normal_of_point_with_normal_pmap(Point_set::value_type()));
+}
+
 // Loads point set from .OFF file
 bool Scene_points_with_normal_item::read_off_point_set(std::istream& stream)
 {
diff --git a/Polyhedron/demo/Polyhedron/Scene_points_with_normal_item.h b/Polyhedron/demo/Polyhedron/Scene_points_with_normal_item.h
index 4e4f6b82e0e..02c726b7c1b 100644
--- a/Polyhedron/demo/Polyhedron/Scene_points_with_normal_item.h
+++ b/Polyhedron/demo/Polyhedron/Scene_points_with_normal_item.h
@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@ public:
   QMenu* contextMenu();
 
   // IO
+  bool read_ply_point_set(std::istream& in);
+  bool write_ply_point_set(std::ostream& out) const;
   bool read_off_point_set(std::istream& in);
   bool write_off_point_set(std::ostream& out) const;
   bool read_xyz_point_set(std::istream& in);
diff --git a/Polyhedron/demo/Polyhedron/cgal_test_with_cmake b/Polyhedron/demo/Polyhedron/cgal_test_with_cmake
index 2f49750a143..203a417cde9 100755
--- a/Polyhedron/demo/Polyhedron/cgal_test_with_cmake
+++ b/Polyhedron/demo/Polyhedron/cgal_test_with_cmake
@@ -126,6 +126,7 @@ else
       orient_soup_plugin \
       parameterization_plugin \
       pca_plugin \
+      ply_to_xyz_plugin \
       point_dialog \
       point_inside_polyhedron_plugin \
       point_set_average_spacing_plugin \