diff --git a/src/shogun/converter/Converter.h b/src/shogun/converter/Converter.h
index 9a042d9dd95..61d42948aa0 100644
--- a/src/shogun/converter/Converter.h
+++ b/src/shogun/converter/Converter.h
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ class CConverter : public CTransformer
 	 * @param features features to convert
 	 * @return converted features
 	 */
-	virtual CFeatures* apply(CFeatures* features) = 0;
+	virtual CFeatures* apply(CFeatures* features, bool inplace = true) = 0;
 };
 }
 #endif /* CONVERTER_H_ */
diff --git a/src/shogun/converter/DiffusionMaps.cpp b/src/shogun/converter/DiffusionMaps.cpp
index 5de87c20da6..885b1b4943a 100644
--- a/src/shogun/converter/DiffusionMaps.cpp
+++ b/src/shogun/converter/DiffusionMaps.cpp
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ const char* CDiffusionMaps::get_name() const
 	return "DiffusionMaps";
 };
 
-CFeatures* CDiffusionMaps::apply(CFeatures* features)
+CFeatures* CDiffusionMaps::apply(CFeatures* features, bool inplace)
 {
 	ASSERT(features)
 	// shorthand for simplefeatures
diff --git a/src/shogun/converter/DiffusionMaps.h b/src/shogun/converter/DiffusionMaps.h
index aa6bac287dd..daec66828ac 100644
--- a/src/shogun/converter/DiffusionMaps.h
+++ b/src/shogun/converter/DiffusionMaps.h
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ class CDiffusionMaps: public CEmbeddingConverter
 	/** apply preprocessor to features
 	 * @param features
 	 */
-	virtual CFeatures* apply(CFeatures* features);
+	virtual CFeatures* apply(CFeatures* features, bool inplace = true);
 
 	/** embed distance
 	 * @param distance to use for embedding
diff --git a/src/shogun/converter/EmbeddingConverter.h b/src/shogun/converter/EmbeddingConverter.h
index e669755c50b..08beb68e95d 100644
--- a/src/shogun/converter/EmbeddingConverter.h
+++ b/src/shogun/converter/EmbeddingConverter.h
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ class CEmbeddingConverter: public CConverter
 	 * @param features features to embed
 	 * @return embedding features
 	 */
-	virtual CFeatures* apply(CFeatures* features) = 0;
+	virtual CFeatures* apply(CFeatures* features, bool inplace = true) = 0;
 
 	/** embed given features, acts the same as apply, but returns
 	 * DenseFeatures
diff --git a/src/shogun/converter/FactorAnalysis.cpp b/src/shogun/converter/FactorAnalysis.cpp
index 5437f0bde5c..abf79e3105b 100644
--- a/src/shogun/converter/FactorAnalysis.cpp
+++ b/src/shogun/converter/FactorAnalysis.cpp
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ float64_t CFactorAnalysis::get_epsilon() const
 	return m_epsilon;
 }
 
-CFeatures* CFactorAnalysis::apply(CFeatures* features)
+CFeatures* CFactorAnalysis::apply(CFeatures* features, bool inplace)
 {
 	TAPKEE_PARAMETERS_FOR_SHOGUN parameters;
 	parameters.max_iteration = m_max_iteration;
diff --git a/src/shogun/converter/FactorAnalysis.h b/src/shogun/converter/FactorAnalysis.h
index f299cb1a84e..354e888aefb 100644
--- a/src/shogun/converter/FactorAnalysis.h
+++ b/src/shogun/converter/FactorAnalysis.h
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ class CFactorAnalysis : public CEmbeddingConverter
 	 *
 	 * @param features features to embed
 	 */
-	virtual CFeatures* apply(CFeatures* features);
+	virtual CFeatures* apply(CFeatures* features, bool inplace = true);
 
 	/** setter for the maximum number of iterations
 	 *
diff --git a/src/shogun/converter/HashedDocConverter.cpp b/src/shogun/converter/HashedDocConverter.cpp
index 146475c859d..5c554f3993e 100644
--- a/src/shogun/converter/HashedDocConverter.cpp
+++ b/src/shogun/converter/HashedDocConverter.cpp
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ const char* CHashedDocConverter::get_name() const
 	return "HashedDocConverter";
 }
 
-CFeatures* CHashedDocConverter::apply(CFeatures* features)
+CFeatures* CHashedDocConverter::apply(CFeatures* features, bool inplace)
 {
 	ASSERT(features);
 	if (strcmp(features->get_name(), "StringFeatures")!=0)
diff --git a/src/shogun/converter/HashedDocConverter.h b/src/shogun/converter/HashedDocConverter.h
index c94eaa133ea..b8a41cad493 100644
--- a/src/shogun/converter/HashedDocConverter.h
+++ b/src/shogun/converter/HashedDocConverter.h
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ class CHashedDocConverter : public CConverter
 	 * @param features the strings to be hashed. Must be an instance of CStringFeatures.
 	 * @return a CSparseFeatures object containing the hashes of the strings.
 	 */
-	virtual CFeatures* apply(CFeatures* features);
+	virtual CFeatures* apply(CFeatures* features, bool inplace = true);
 
 	/** Hashes the tokens contained in document
 	 *
diff --git a/src/shogun/converter/HessianLocallyLinearEmbedding.cpp b/src/shogun/converter/HessianLocallyLinearEmbedding.cpp
index c31547a6ab2..746008ff9e2 100644
--- a/src/shogun/converter/HessianLocallyLinearEmbedding.cpp
+++ b/src/shogun/converter/HessianLocallyLinearEmbedding.cpp
@@ -25,7 +25,8 @@ const char* CHessianLocallyLinearEmbedding::get_name() const
 	return "HessianLocallyLinearEmbedding";
 };
 
-CFeatures* CHessianLocallyLinearEmbedding::apply(CFeatures* features)
+CFeatures*
+CHessianLocallyLinearEmbedding::apply(CFeatures* features, bool inplace)
 {
 	CKernel* kernel = new CLinearKernel((CDotFeatures*)features,(CDotFeatures*)features);
 	TAPKEE_PARAMETERS_FOR_SHOGUN parameters;
diff --git a/src/shogun/converter/HessianLocallyLinearEmbedding.h b/src/shogun/converter/HessianLocallyLinearEmbedding.h
index ffd54f2faac..94bae22ecd3 100644
--- a/src/shogun/converter/HessianLocallyLinearEmbedding.h
+++ b/src/shogun/converter/HessianLocallyLinearEmbedding.h
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ class CHessianLocallyLinearEmbedding: public CLocallyLinearEmbedding
 	virtual const char* get_name() const;
 
 	/** apply */
-	virtual CFeatures* apply(CFeatures* features);
+	virtual CFeatures* apply(CFeatures* features, bool inplace = true);
 };
 }
 
diff --git a/src/shogun/converter/KernelLocallyLinearEmbedding.cpp b/src/shogun/converter/KernelLocallyLinearEmbedding.cpp
index 7e77f9dda71..365c5caca39 100644
--- a/src/shogun/converter/KernelLocallyLinearEmbedding.cpp
+++ b/src/shogun/converter/KernelLocallyLinearEmbedding.cpp
@@ -31,7 +31,8 @@ CKernelLocallyLinearEmbedding::~CKernelLocallyLinearEmbedding()
 {
 }
 
-CFeatures* CKernelLocallyLinearEmbedding::apply(CFeatures* features)
+CFeatures*
+CKernelLocallyLinearEmbedding::apply(CFeatures* features, bool inplace)
 {
 	ASSERT(features)
 	SG_REF(features);
diff --git a/src/shogun/converter/KernelLocallyLinearEmbedding.h b/src/shogun/converter/KernelLocallyLinearEmbedding.h
index 2bbba7f70b7..879b65ec395 100644
--- a/src/shogun/converter/KernelLocallyLinearEmbedding.h
+++ b/src/shogun/converter/KernelLocallyLinearEmbedding.h
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ class CKernelLocallyLinearEmbedding: public CLocallyLinearEmbedding
 	virtual ~CKernelLocallyLinearEmbedding();
 
 	/** apply */
-	virtual CFeatures* apply(CFeatures* features);
+	virtual CFeatures* apply(CFeatures* features, bool inplace = true);
 
 	/** embed kernel (kernel should be inited)
 	 * @param kernel kernel to construct embed
diff --git a/src/shogun/converter/LaplacianEigenmaps.cpp b/src/shogun/converter/LaplacianEigenmaps.cpp
index de0f8c80983..643945f9ed3 100644
--- a/src/shogun/converter/LaplacianEigenmaps.cpp
+++ b/src/shogun/converter/LaplacianEigenmaps.cpp
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ const char* CLaplacianEigenmaps::get_name() const
 	return "LaplacianEigenmaps";
 };
 
-CFeatures* CLaplacianEigenmaps::apply(CFeatures* features)
+CFeatures* CLaplacianEigenmaps::apply(CFeatures* features, bool inplace)
 {
 	// shorthand for simplefeatures
 	SG_REF(features);
diff --git a/src/shogun/converter/LaplacianEigenmaps.h b/src/shogun/converter/LaplacianEigenmaps.h
index 7aaecba4b0f..4f749d230fb 100644
--- a/src/shogun/converter/LaplacianEigenmaps.h
+++ b/src/shogun/converter/LaplacianEigenmaps.h
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ class CLaplacianEigenmaps: public CEmbeddingConverter
 	 * @param features to embed
 	 * @return embedded features
 	 */
-	virtual CFeatures* apply(CFeatures* features);
+	virtual CFeatures* apply(CFeatures* features, bool inplace = true);
 
 	/** embed distance
 	 * @param distance to use for embedding
diff --git a/src/shogun/converter/LinearLocalTangentSpaceAlignment.cpp b/src/shogun/converter/LinearLocalTangentSpaceAlignment.cpp
index 733679897b9..34763b5235a 100644
--- a/src/shogun/converter/LinearLocalTangentSpaceAlignment.cpp
+++ b/src/shogun/converter/LinearLocalTangentSpaceAlignment.cpp
@@ -26,7 +26,8 @@ const char* CLinearLocalTangentSpaceAlignment::get_name() const
 	return "LinearLocalTangentSpaceAlignment";
 }
 
-CFeatures* CLinearLocalTangentSpaceAlignment::apply(CFeatures* features)
+CFeatures*
+CLinearLocalTangentSpaceAlignment::apply(CFeatures* features, bool inplace)
 {
 	CKernel* kernel = new CLinearKernel((CDotFeatures*)features,(CDotFeatures*)features);
 	TAPKEE_PARAMETERS_FOR_SHOGUN parameters;
diff --git a/src/shogun/converter/LinearLocalTangentSpaceAlignment.h b/src/shogun/converter/LinearLocalTangentSpaceAlignment.h
index 764a178ce44..06b895c8447 100644
--- a/src/shogun/converter/LinearLocalTangentSpaceAlignment.h
+++ b/src/shogun/converter/LinearLocalTangentSpaceAlignment.h
@@ -49,8 +49,7 @@ class CLinearLocalTangentSpaceAlignment: public CLocalTangentSpaceAlignment
 	virtual const char* get_name() const;
 
 	/** apply */
-	virtual CFeatures* apply(CFeatures* features);
-
+	virtual CFeatures* apply(CFeatures* features, bool inplace = true);
 };
 }
 
diff --git a/src/shogun/converter/LocalTangentSpaceAlignment.cpp b/src/shogun/converter/LocalTangentSpaceAlignment.cpp
index 9133efb011a..a02a4c09106 100644
--- a/src/shogun/converter/LocalTangentSpaceAlignment.cpp
+++ b/src/shogun/converter/LocalTangentSpaceAlignment.cpp
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ const char* CLocalTangentSpaceAlignment::get_name() const
 	return "LocalTangentSpaceAlignment";
 };
 
-CFeatures* CLocalTangentSpaceAlignment::apply(CFeatures* features)
+CFeatures* CLocalTangentSpaceAlignment::apply(CFeatures* features, bool inplace)
 {
 	CKernel* kernel = new CLinearKernel((CDotFeatures*)features,(CDotFeatures*)features);
 	TAPKEE_PARAMETERS_FOR_SHOGUN parameters;
diff --git a/src/shogun/converter/LocalTangentSpaceAlignment.h b/src/shogun/converter/LocalTangentSpaceAlignment.h
index 25ba099c7d7..89a4a58a919 100644
--- a/src/shogun/converter/LocalTangentSpaceAlignment.h
+++ b/src/shogun/converter/LocalTangentSpaceAlignment.h
@@ -47,8 +47,7 @@ class CLocalTangentSpaceAlignment: public CLocallyLinearEmbedding
 	virtual const char* get_name() const;
 
 	/** apply */
-	virtual CFeatures* apply(CFeatures* features);
-
+	virtual CFeatures* apply(CFeatures* features, bool inplace = true);
 };
 }
 
diff --git a/src/shogun/converter/LocalityPreservingProjections.cpp b/src/shogun/converter/LocalityPreservingProjections.cpp
index 9771db7e400..156cab85455 100644
--- a/src/shogun/converter/LocalityPreservingProjections.cpp
+++ b/src/shogun/converter/LocalityPreservingProjections.cpp
@@ -26,7 +26,8 @@ const char* CLocalityPreservingProjections::get_name() const
 	return "LocalityPreservingProjections";
 };
 
-CFeatures* CLocalityPreservingProjections::apply(CFeatures* features)
+CFeatures*
+CLocalityPreservingProjections::apply(CFeatures* features, bool inplace)
 {
 	TAPKEE_PARAMETERS_FOR_SHOGUN parameters;
 	m_distance->init(features,features);
diff --git a/src/shogun/converter/LocalityPreservingProjections.h b/src/shogun/converter/LocalityPreservingProjections.h
index 1319c087a7a..5c8d494dddc 100644
--- a/src/shogun/converter/LocalityPreservingProjections.h
+++ b/src/shogun/converter/LocalityPreservingProjections.h
@@ -44,8 +44,7 @@ class CLocalityPreservingProjections: public CLaplacianEigenmaps
 	virtual const char* get_name() const;
 
 	/** apply */
-	virtual CFeatures* apply(CFeatures* features);
-
+	virtual CFeatures* apply(CFeatures* features, bool inplace = true);
 };
 }
 
diff --git a/src/shogun/converter/LocallyLinearEmbedding.cpp b/src/shogun/converter/LocallyLinearEmbedding.cpp
index 08482fcc77d..3ac8e9b05a4 100644
--- a/src/shogun/converter/LocallyLinearEmbedding.cpp
+++ b/src/shogun/converter/LocallyLinearEmbedding.cpp
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ const char* CLocallyLinearEmbedding::get_name() const
 	return "LocallyLinearEmbedding";
 }
 
-CFeatures* CLocallyLinearEmbedding::apply(CFeatures* features)
+CFeatures* CLocallyLinearEmbedding::apply(CFeatures* features, bool inplace)
 {
 	// oh my let me dirty cast it
 	CKernel* kernel = new CLinearKernel((CDotFeatures*)features,(CDotFeatures*)features);
diff --git a/src/shogun/converter/LocallyLinearEmbedding.h b/src/shogun/converter/LocallyLinearEmbedding.h
index a585ef6bafd..7640a3161ff 100644
--- a/src/shogun/converter/LocallyLinearEmbedding.h
+++ b/src/shogun/converter/LocallyLinearEmbedding.h
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ class CLocallyLinearEmbedding: public CEmbeddingConverter
 	/** apply preprocessor to features
 	 * @param features
 	 */
-	virtual CFeatures* apply(CFeatures* features);
+	virtual CFeatures* apply(CFeatures* features, bool inplace = true);
 
 	/** setter for k parameter
 	 * @param k k value
diff --git a/src/shogun/converter/ManifoldSculpting.cpp b/src/shogun/converter/ManifoldSculpting.cpp
index 24378af0269..a75098208b0 100644
--- a/src/shogun/converter/ManifoldSculpting.cpp
+++ b/src/shogun/converter/ManifoldSculpting.cpp
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ int32_t CManifoldSculpting::get_max_iteration() const
 	return m_max_iteration;
 }
 
-CFeatures* CManifoldSculpting::apply(CFeatures* features)
+CFeatures* CManifoldSculpting::apply(CFeatures* features, bool inplace)
 {
 	CDenseFeatures<float64_t>* feats = (CDenseFeatures<float64_t>*)features;
 	SG_REF(feats);
diff --git a/src/shogun/converter/ManifoldSculpting.h b/src/shogun/converter/ManifoldSculpting.h
index ec13b6bfe8f..9ecb09a32ba 100644
--- a/src/shogun/converter/ManifoldSculpting.h
+++ b/src/shogun/converter/ManifoldSculpting.h
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ class CManifoldSculpting : public CEmbeddingConverter
 	 *
 	 * @param features features to embed
 	 */
-	virtual CFeatures* apply(CFeatures* features);
+	virtual CFeatures* apply(CFeatures* features, bool inplace = true);
 
 	/** setter for the k
 	 *
diff --git a/src/shogun/converter/MultidimensionalScaling.cpp b/src/shogun/converter/MultidimensionalScaling.cpp
index 183c31c8d71..8bc98ad16e8 100644
--- a/src/shogun/converter/MultidimensionalScaling.cpp
+++ b/src/shogun/converter/MultidimensionalScaling.cpp
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ CDenseFeatures<float64_t>* CMultidimensionalScaling::embed_distance(CDistance* d
 	return embedding;
 }
 
-CFeatures* CMultidimensionalScaling::apply(CFeatures* features)
+CFeatures* CMultidimensionalScaling::apply(CFeatures* features, bool inplace)
 {
 	SG_REF(features);
 	ASSERT(m_distance)
diff --git a/src/shogun/converter/MultidimensionalScaling.h b/src/shogun/converter/MultidimensionalScaling.h
index bc865b19224..81d13dc1122 100644
--- a/src/shogun/converter/MultidimensionalScaling.h
+++ b/src/shogun/converter/MultidimensionalScaling.h
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ class CMultidimensionalScaling: public CEmbeddingConverter
 	 * @param features features which feature matrix should be processed
 	 * @return new feature matrix
 	 */
-	virtual CFeatures* apply(CFeatures* features);
+	virtual CFeatures* apply(CFeatures* features, bool inplace = true);
 
 	/** get name */
 	const char* get_name() const;
diff --git a/src/shogun/converter/NeighborhoodPreservingEmbedding.cpp b/src/shogun/converter/NeighborhoodPreservingEmbedding.cpp
index 4968dc8891c..0bf46e3a851 100644
--- a/src/shogun/converter/NeighborhoodPreservingEmbedding.cpp
+++ b/src/shogun/converter/NeighborhoodPreservingEmbedding.cpp
@@ -27,7 +27,8 @@ const char* CNeighborhoodPreservingEmbedding::get_name() const
 	return "NeighborhoodPreservingEmbedding";
 }
 
-CFeatures* CNeighborhoodPreservingEmbedding::apply(CFeatures* features)
+CFeatures*
+CNeighborhoodPreservingEmbedding::apply(CFeatures* features, bool inplace)
 {
 	CKernel* kernel = new CLinearKernel((CDotFeatures*)features,(CDotFeatures*)features);
 	TAPKEE_PARAMETERS_FOR_SHOGUN parameters;
diff --git a/src/shogun/converter/NeighborhoodPreservingEmbedding.h b/src/shogun/converter/NeighborhoodPreservingEmbedding.h
index c6bd04cdb7e..e02b610ddbd 100644
--- a/src/shogun/converter/NeighborhoodPreservingEmbedding.h
+++ b/src/shogun/converter/NeighborhoodPreservingEmbedding.h
@@ -49,8 +49,7 @@ class CNeighborhoodPreservingEmbedding: public CLocallyLinearEmbedding
 	virtual const char* get_name() const;
 
 	/** apply */
-	virtual CFeatures* apply(CFeatures* features);
-
+	virtual CFeatures* apply(CFeatures* features, bool inplace = true);
 };
 }
 
diff --git a/src/shogun/converter/StochasticProximityEmbedding.cpp b/src/shogun/converter/StochasticProximityEmbedding.cpp
index ed0c196e465..7592f2f640f 100644
--- a/src/shogun/converter/StochasticProximityEmbedding.cpp
+++ b/src/shogun/converter/StochasticProximityEmbedding.cpp
@@ -105,7 +105,8 @@ const char * CStochasticProximityEmbedding::get_name() const
 	return "StochasticProximityEmbedding";
 }
 
-CFeatures* CStochasticProximityEmbedding::apply(CFeatures* features)
+CFeatures*
+CStochasticProximityEmbedding::apply(CFeatures* features, bool inplace)
 {
 	if ( !features )
 		SG_ERROR("Features are required to apply SPE\n")
diff --git a/src/shogun/converter/StochasticProximityEmbedding.h b/src/shogun/converter/StochasticProximityEmbedding.h
index b7faab6d6e1..e94e4e0d186 100644
--- a/src/shogun/converter/StochasticProximityEmbedding.h
+++ b/src/shogun/converter/StochasticProximityEmbedding.h
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ class CStochasticProximityEmbedding : public CEmbeddingConverter
 		 * @param features features to embed
 		 * @return embedding features
 		 */
-		virtual CFeatures* apply(CFeatures* features);
+		virtual CFeatures* apply(CFeatures* features, bool inplace = true);
 
 		/** setter for number of neighbors k in local strategy
 		 *
diff --git a/src/shogun/converter/TDistributedStochasticNeighborEmbedding.cpp b/src/shogun/converter/TDistributedStochasticNeighborEmbedding.cpp
index 66919f4ccae..ad978462daa 100644
--- a/src/shogun/converter/TDistributedStochasticNeighborEmbedding.cpp
+++ b/src/shogun/converter/TDistributedStochasticNeighborEmbedding.cpp
@@ -55,7 +55,8 @@ float64_t CTDistributedStochasticNeighborEmbedding::get_perplexity() const
 	return m_perplexity;
 }
 
-CFeatures* CTDistributedStochasticNeighborEmbedding::apply(CFeatures* features)
+CFeatures* CTDistributedStochasticNeighborEmbedding::apply(
+    CFeatures* features, bool inplace)
 {
 	TAPKEE_PARAMETERS_FOR_SHOGUN parameters;
 	parameters.sne_theta = m_theta;
diff --git a/src/shogun/converter/TDistributedStochasticNeighborEmbedding.h b/src/shogun/converter/TDistributedStochasticNeighborEmbedding.h
index 63425c1b243..54fc1be4793 100644
--- a/src/shogun/converter/TDistributedStochasticNeighborEmbedding.h
+++ b/src/shogun/converter/TDistributedStochasticNeighborEmbedding.h
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ class CTDistributedStochasticNeighborEmbedding : public CEmbeddingConverter
 	 *
 	 * @param features features to embed
 	 */
-	virtual CFeatures* apply(CFeatures* features);
+	virtual CFeatures* apply(CFeatures* features, bool inplace = true);
 
 	/** setter for the learning rate
 	 *
diff --git a/src/shogun/converter/ica/FFSep.cpp b/src/shogun/converter/ica/FFSep.cpp
index 737bd2cfd68..cfe207abec2 100644
--- a/src/shogun/converter/ica/FFSep.cpp
+++ b/src/shogun/converter/ica/FFSep.cpp
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ SGNDArray<float64_t> CFFSep::get_covs() const
 	return m_covs;
 }
 
-CFeatures* CFFSep::apply(CFeatures* features)
+CFeatures* CFFSep::apply(CFeatures* features, bool inplace)
 {
 	ASSERT(features);
 	SG_REF(features);
diff --git a/src/shogun/converter/ica/FFSep.h b/src/shogun/converter/ica/FFSep.h
index b3218ce1771..97a5069e2b8 100644
--- a/src/shogun/converter/ica/FFSep.h
+++ b/src/shogun/converter/ica/FFSep.h
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ class CFFSep: public CICAConverter
 		/** apply to features
 		 * @param features features to embed
 		 */
-		virtual CFeatures* apply(CFeatures* features);
+		virtual CFeatures* apply(CFeatures* features, bool inplace = true);
 
 		/** getter for tau parameter
 		 * @return tau vector
diff --git a/src/shogun/converter/ica/FastICA.cpp b/src/shogun/converter/ica/FastICA.cpp
index e962f1c8f98..bb9d463bfaa 100644
--- a/src/shogun/converter/ica/FastICA.cpp
+++ b/src/shogun/converter/ica/FastICA.cpp
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ bool CFastICA::get_whiten() const
 	return whiten;
 }
 
-CFeatures* CFastICA::apply(CFeatures* features)
+CFeatures* CFastICA::apply(CFeatures* features, bool inplace)
 {
 	ASSERT(features);
 	SG_REF(features);
diff --git a/src/shogun/converter/ica/FastICA.h b/src/shogun/converter/ica/FastICA.h
index 5f1620ea510..982438baf53 100644
--- a/src/shogun/converter/ica/FastICA.h
+++ b/src/shogun/converter/ica/FastICA.h
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ class CFastICA: public CICAConverter
 		/** apply to features
 		 * @param features features to embed
 		 */
-		virtual CFeatures* apply(CFeatures* features);
+		virtual CFeatures* apply(CFeatures* features, bool inplace = true);
 
 		/** setter for whiten flag
 		 * whether to whiten the data or not
diff --git a/src/shogun/converter/ica/ICAConverter.h b/src/shogun/converter/ica/ICAConverter.h
index f0df6901ea1..3d51cd4ec0d 100644
--- a/src/shogun/converter/ica/ICAConverter.h
+++ b/src/shogun/converter/ica/ICAConverter.h
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ class CICAConverter: public CConverter
 		/** apply to features
 		 * @param features features to embed
 		 */
-		virtual CFeatures* apply(CFeatures* features) = 0;
+		virtual CFeatures* apply(CFeatures* features, bool inplace = true) = 0;
 
 		/** setter for mixing matrix, if the mixing matrix is set it will be
 		 * used as an initial guess if supported by the algorithm
diff --git a/src/shogun/converter/ica/Jade.cpp b/src/shogun/converter/ica/Jade.cpp
index 75fce0020ba..7e839e770ea 100644
--- a/src/shogun/converter/ica/Jade.cpp
+++ b/src/shogun/converter/ica/Jade.cpp
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ SGMatrix<float64_t> CJade::get_cumulant_matrix() const
 	return m_cumulant_matrix;
 }
 
-CFeatures* CJade::apply(CFeatures* features)
+CFeatures* CJade::apply(CFeatures* features, bool inplace)
 {
 	ASSERT(features);
 	SG_REF(features);
diff --git a/src/shogun/converter/ica/Jade.h b/src/shogun/converter/ica/Jade.h
index cbdfcec593e..4d7f90089a5 100644
--- a/src/shogun/converter/ica/Jade.h
+++ b/src/shogun/converter/ica/Jade.h
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ class CJade: public CICAConverter
 		/** apply to features
 		 * @param features features to embed
 		 */
-		virtual CFeatures* apply(CFeatures* features);
+		virtual CFeatures* apply(CFeatures* features, bool inplace = true);
 
 		/** getter for cumulant_matrix
 		 * @return cumulant_matrix
diff --git a/src/shogun/converter/ica/JediSep.cpp b/src/shogun/converter/ica/JediSep.cpp
index 312621dbcd0..e05e2602ebe 100644
--- a/src/shogun/converter/ica/JediSep.cpp
+++ b/src/shogun/converter/ica/JediSep.cpp
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ SGNDArray<float64_t> CJediSep::get_covs() const
 	return m_covs;
 }
 
-CFeatures* CJediSep::apply(CFeatures* features)
+CFeatures* CJediSep::apply(CFeatures* features, bool inplace)
 {
 	REQUIRE(features, "features is null");
 	SG_REF(features);
diff --git a/src/shogun/converter/ica/JediSep.h b/src/shogun/converter/ica/JediSep.h
index 6d8a6cc1331..68f24299a06 100644
--- a/src/shogun/converter/ica/JediSep.h
+++ b/src/shogun/converter/ica/JediSep.h
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ class CJediSep: public CICAConverter
 		/** apply to features
 		 * @param features features to embed
 		 */
-		virtual CFeatures* apply(CFeatures* features);
+		virtual CFeatures* apply(CFeatures* features, bool inplace = true);
 
 		/** getter for tau parameter
 		 * @return tau vector
diff --git a/src/shogun/converter/ica/SOBI.cpp b/src/shogun/converter/ica/SOBI.cpp
index 9bff3cf5080..f326bad1499 100644
--- a/src/shogun/converter/ica/SOBI.cpp
+++ b/src/shogun/converter/ica/SOBI.cpp
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ SGNDArray<float64_t> CSOBI::get_covs() const
 	return m_covs;
 }
 
-CFeatures* CSOBI::apply(CFeatures* features)
+CFeatures* CSOBI::apply(CFeatures* features, bool inplace)
 {
 	ASSERT(features);
 	SG_REF(features);
diff --git a/src/shogun/converter/ica/SOBI.h b/src/shogun/converter/ica/SOBI.h
index 4a4dd9475de..3af0663765e 100644
--- a/src/shogun/converter/ica/SOBI.h
+++ b/src/shogun/converter/ica/SOBI.h
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ class CSOBI: public CICAConverter
 		/** apply to features
 		 * @param features features to embed
 		 */
-		virtual CFeatures* apply(CFeatures* features);
+		virtual CFeatures* apply(CFeatures* features, bool inplace = true);
 
 		/** getter for tau parameter
 		 * @return tau vector
diff --git a/src/shogun/converter/ica/UWedgeSep.cpp b/src/shogun/converter/ica/UWedgeSep.cpp
index 1bc06ea0418..3445e0c4aa4 100644
--- a/src/shogun/converter/ica/UWedgeSep.cpp
+++ b/src/shogun/converter/ica/UWedgeSep.cpp
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ SGNDArray<float64_t> CUWedgeSep::get_covs() const
 	return m_covs;
 }
 
-CFeatures* CUWedgeSep::apply(CFeatures* features)
+CFeatures* CUWedgeSep::apply(CFeatures* features, bool inplace)
 {
 	REQUIRE(features, "features is null");
 	SG_REF(features);
diff --git a/src/shogun/converter/ica/UWedgeSep.h b/src/shogun/converter/ica/UWedgeSep.h
index 2c09a8ecc99..b3880e285f9 100644
--- a/src/shogun/converter/ica/UWedgeSep.h
+++ b/src/shogun/converter/ica/UWedgeSep.h
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ class CUWedgeSep: public CICAConverter
 		/** apply to features
 		 * @param features features to embed
 		 */
-		virtual CFeatures* apply(CFeatures* features);
+		virtual CFeatures* apply(CFeatures* features, bool inplace = true);
 
 		/** getter for tau parameter
 		 * @return tau vector
diff --git a/src/shogun/preprocessor/DensePreprocessor.cpp b/src/shogun/preprocessor/DensePreprocessor.cpp
index 550e3d49a23..f8c9831d687 100644
--- a/src/shogun/preprocessor/DensePreprocessor.cpp
+++ b/src/shogun/preprocessor/DensePreprocessor.cpp
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ EPreprocessorType CDensePreprocessor<ST>::get_type() const
 }
 
 template <class ST>
-CFeatures* CDensePreprocessor<ST>::apply(CFeatures* features)
+CFeatures* CDensePreprocessor<ST>::apply(CFeatures* features, bool inplace)
 {
 	REQUIRE(features->get_feature_class()==C_DENSE, "Provided features (%d) "
 			"has to be of C_DENSE (%d) class!\n",
diff --git a/src/shogun/preprocessor/DensePreprocessor.h b/src/shogun/preprocessor/DensePreprocessor.h
index 5ac7f0d7d58..689501e814a 100644
--- a/src/shogun/preprocessor/DensePreprocessor.h
+++ b/src/shogun/preprocessor/DensePreprocessor.h
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ template <class ST> class CDensePreprocessor : public CPreprocessor
 		 * @param features the dense input features
 		 * @return the result feature object after applying the preprocessor
 		 */
-		virtual CFeatures* apply(CFeatures* features);
+		virtual CFeatures* apply(CFeatures* features, bool inplace = true);
 
 		/// apply preproc on feature matrix
 		/// result in feature matrix
diff --git a/src/shogun/preprocessor/FeatureSelection.cpp b/src/shogun/preprocessor/FeatureSelection.cpp
index be96bfcb7ca..aa54e9b7163 100644
--- a/src/shogun/preprocessor/FeatureSelection.cpp
+++ b/src/shogun/preprocessor/FeatureSelection.cpp
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ CFeatures* CFeatureSelection<ST>::apply_backward_elimination(CFeatures* features
 }
 
 template <class ST>
-CFeatures* CFeatureSelection<ST>::apply(CFeatures* features)
+CFeatures* CFeatureSelection<ST>::apply(CFeatures* features, bool inplace)
 {
 	SG_DEBUG("Entering!\n");
 
diff --git a/src/shogun/preprocessor/FeatureSelection.h b/src/shogun/preprocessor/FeatureSelection.h
index b0cd9e58dd3..ca6049fec8d 100644
--- a/src/shogun/preprocessor/FeatureSelection.h
+++ b/src/shogun/preprocessor/FeatureSelection.h
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ template <class ST> class CFeatureSelection : public CPreprocessor
 	 * @param features the input features
 	 * @return the result feature object after applying the preprocessor
 	 */
-	virtual CFeatures* apply(CFeatures* features);
+	virtual CFeatures* apply(CFeatures* features, bool inplace = true);
 
 	/**
 	 * Abstract method that is defined in the subclasses to compute the
diff --git a/src/shogun/preprocessor/Preprocessor.h b/src/shogun/preprocessor/Preprocessor.h
index 937ae865b3e..79958f203f4 100644
--- a/src/shogun/preprocessor/Preprocessor.h
+++ b/src/shogun/preprocessor/Preprocessor.h
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ class CPreprocessor : public CTransformer
 	 * @param features the input features
 	 * @return the result feature object after applying the preprocessor
 	 */
-	virtual CFeatures* apply(CFeatures* features)=0;
+	virtual CFeatures* apply(CFeatures* features, bool inplace) = 0;
 
 	/** clean-up. should be called (if necessary) after processing */
 	virtual void cleanup()=0;
diff --git a/src/shogun/preprocessor/StringPreprocessor.h b/src/shogun/preprocessor/StringPreprocessor.h
index 3490c526a12..14d47689c05 100644
--- a/src/shogun/preprocessor/StringPreprocessor.h
+++ b/src/shogun/preprocessor/StringPreprocessor.h
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ template <class ST> class CStringPreprocessor : public CPreprocessor
 		 * @param features the string input features
 		 * @return the result feature object after applying the preprocessor
 		 */
-		virtual CFeatures* apply(CFeatures* features);
+		virtual CFeatures* apply(CFeatures* features, bool inplace = true);
 
 		/// apply preproc on feature matrix
 		/// result in feature matrix
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ template<> inline EFeatureType CStringPreprocessor<floatmax_t>::get_feature_type
 }
 
 template <class ST>
-CFeatures* CStringPreprocessor<ST>::apply(CFeatures* features)
+CFeatures* CStringPreprocessor<ST>::apply(CFeatures* features, bool inplace)
 {
 	REQUIRE(features->get_feature_class()==C_STRING, "Provided features (%d) "
 			"has to be of C_STRING (%d) class!\n",
diff --git a/src/shogun/transformer/Transformer.h b/src/shogun/transformer/Transformer.h
index 72ce253c311..c62b2d3cb6f 100644
--- a/src/shogun/transformer/Transformer.h
+++ b/src/shogun/transformer/Transformer.h
@@ -48,6 +48,14 @@ namespace shogun
 		{
 			SG_SNOTIMPLEMENTED;
 		}
+
+		/** Apply transform to features. If transform is performed in place,
+		 *  underlying data of input features will be reused if possible.
+		 *	@param features features to transform
+		 *	@param inplace whether transform in place
+		 *	@return the result feature object after applying the transformer
+		 * */
+		virtual CFeatures* apply(CFeatures* features, bool inplace = true) = 0;
 	};
 }
 #endif /* TRANSFORMER_H_ */