diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index dee09b6..055658a 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 Fast Largest Interior Rectangle calculation within a binary grid.
 
-![sample1](https://github.com/lukasalexanderweber/lir/blob/main/ext/readme_imgs/sample1.png?raw=true) ![sample2](https://github.com/lukasalexanderweber/lir/blob/main/ext/readme_imgs/sample2.png?raw=true) ![sample4](https://github.com/lukasalexanderweber/lir/blob/main/ext/readme_imgs/sample5.png?raw=true)
+![sample1](https://github.com/lukasalexanderweber/lir/blob/main/ext/readme_imgs/sample1.png?raw=true)
 
 :rocket: Through [Numba](https://github.com/numba/numba) the Python code is compiled to machine code for execution at native machine code speed!
 
@@ -53,6 +53,32 @@ then calculate the rectangle.
 lir.lir(grid, contour) # array([2, 2, 4, 7])
 ```
 
+You can also calculate the lir from a list of polygon coordinates. 
+
+```python
+import numpy as np
+import cv2 as cv
+import largestinteriorrectangle as lir
+
+polygon = np.array([[[20, 15], [210, 10], [220, 100], [100, 150], [20, 100]]], np.int32)
+rectangle = lir.lir(polygon)
+
+img = np.zeros((160, 240, 3), dtype="uint8")
+
+cv.polylines(img, [polygon], True, (0, 0, 255), 1)
+cv.rectangle(img, lir.pt1(rectangle), lir.pt2(rectangle), (255, 0, 0), 1)
+
+cv.imshow('lir', img)
+cv.waitKey(0)
+cv.destroyAllWindows()
+```
+
+![from_polygon](https://github.com/lukasalexanderweber/lir/blob/main/ext/readme_imgs/from_polygon.png?raw=true)
+
+In the background, a grid is created with `cv.fillPoly` (OpenCV is needed as optional dependency), on which the contour is computed and the lir based on contour is used.
+
+See also my [answer in this SO question](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/70362355/finding-largest-inscribed-rectangle-in-polygon/74736411#74736411).
+
 ## Contributing
 
 Pull requests are welcome. For major changes, please open an issue first to discuss what you would like to change.
diff --git a/ext/readme_imgs/from_polygon.png b/ext/readme_imgs/from_polygon.png
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diff --git a/largestinteriorrectangle/__init__.py b/largestinteriorrectangle/__init__.py
index a19dcaa..a1a8c9a 100644
--- a/largestinteriorrectangle/__init__.py
+++ b/largestinteriorrectangle/__init__.py
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
-from .lir import lir
+from .lir import lir, pt1, pt2
 
-__version__ = "0.1.1"
+__version__ = "0.2.0"
diff --git a/largestinteriorrectangle/lir.py b/largestinteriorrectangle/lir.py
index 6b38ddb..1ca30b0 100644
--- a/largestinteriorrectangle/lir.py
+++ b/largestinteriorrectangle/lir.py
@@ -1,19 +1,39 @@
 from .lir_basis import largest_interior_rectangle as lir_basis
 from .lir_within_contour import largest_interior_rectangle \
     as lir_within_contour
+from .lir_within_polygon import largest_interior_rectangle \
+    as lir_within_polygon
 
 
-def lir(grid, contour=None):
+def lir(data, contour=None):
     """
-    Returns the Largest Interior Rectangle of a binary grid.
-    :param grid: 2D ndarray containing data with `bool` type.
-    :param contour: (optional) 2D ndarray with shape (n, 2) containing
-        xy values of a specific contour where the rectangle could start
-        (in all directions).
+    Computes the Largest Interior Rectangle.
+    :param data: Can be
+        1. a 2D ndarray with shape (n, m) of type boolean. The lir is found within all True cells
+        2. a 3D ndarray with shape (1, n, 2) with integer xy coordinates of a polygon in which the lir should be found
+    :param contour: (optional) 2D ndarray with shape (n, 2) containing xy values of a specific contour where the rectangle could start (in all directions). Only needed for case 1.
     :return: 1D ndarray with lir specification: x, y, width, height
     :rtype: ndarray
     """
+    if len(data.shape) == 3:
+        return lir_within_polygon(data)
     if contour is None:
-        return lir_basis(grid)
+        return lir_basis(data)
     else:
-        return lir_within_contour(grid, contour)
+        return lir_within_contour(data, contour)
+
+
+def pt1(lir):
+    """
+    Helper function to compute pt1 of OpenCVs rectangle() from a lir
+    """
+    assert lir.shape == (4,)
+    return (lir[0], lir[1])
+
+
+def pt2(lir):
+    """
+    Helper function to compute pt2 of OpenCVs rectangle() from a lir
+    """
+    assert lir.shape == (4,)
+    return (lir[0] + lir[2] - 1, lir[1] + lir[3] - 1)
diff --git a/largestinteriorrectangle/lir_within_polygon.py b/largestinteriorrectangle/lir_within_polygon.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a029f03
--- /dev/null
+++ b/largestinteriorrectangle/lir_within_polygon.py
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+import numpy as np
+
+from .lir_within_contour import largest_interior_rectangle as lir_contour
+
+cv = None  # as an optional dependency opencv will only be imported if needed
+
+
+def largest_interior_rectangle(polygon):
+    check_for_opencv()
+    origin, mask = create_mask_from_polygon(polygon)
+    contours, _ = cv.findContours(mask, cv.RETR_TREE, cv.CHAIN_APPROX_NONE)
+    contour = contours[0][:, 0, :]
+    mask = mask > 0
+    lir = lir_contour(mask, contour)
+    lir = lir.astype(np.int32)
+    lir[0:2] = lir[0:2] + origin
+    return lir
+
+
+def create_mask_from_polygon(polygon):
+    assert polygon.shape[0] == 1
+    assert polygon.shape[1] > 2
+    assert polygon.shape[2] == 2
+    check_for_opencv()
+    bbox = cv.boundingRect(polygon)
+    mask = np.zeros([bbox[3], bbox[2]], dtype=np.uint8)
+    zero_centered_x = polygon[:, :, 0] - bbox[0]
+    zero_centered_y = polygon[:, :, 1] - bbox[1]
+    polygon = np.dstack((zero_centered_x, zero_centered_y))
+    cv.fillPoly(mask, polygon, 255)
+    origin = bbox[0:2]
+    return origin, mask
+
+
+def check_for_opencv():
+    global cv
+    if cv is None:
+        try:
+            import cv2
+            cv = cv2
+        except Exception:
+            raise ImportError('Missing optional dependency \'opencv-python\' to compute lir based on polygon. Use pip or conda to install it.')
diff --git a/tests/context.py b/tests/context.py
index 86ca1d7..9bf15ce 100644
--- a/tests/context.py
+++ b/tests/context.py
@@ -2,4 +2,4 @@
 import os
 sys.path.insert(0, os.path.abspath(os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), '..')))
 
-from largestinteriorrectangle import lir_basis, lir_within_contour
\ No newline at end of file
+from largestinteriorrectangle import lir, pt1, pt2, lir_basis, lir_within_contour, lir_within_polygon
diff --git a/tests/test_lir.py b/tests/test_lir.py
index 4ff891c..753b3a7 100644
--- a/tests/test_lir.py
+++ b/tests/test_lir.py
@@ -2,81 +2,86 @@
 import os
 
 import numpy as np
-import cv2 as cv
 
-from .context import lir_basis as lir
+from .context import lir, pt1, pt2
 
 TEST_DIR = os.path.abspath(os.path.dirname(__file__))
 
+GRID = np.array([[0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0],
+                 [0, 0, 1, 0, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0],
+                 [0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 0],
+                 [0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0],
+                 [0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0],
+                 [0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 0],
+                 [0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0],
+                 [0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0],
+                 [1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0],
+                 [1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1],
+                 [0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0]], "bool")
+
 
 class TestLIR(unittest.TestCase):
 
-    def test_lir(self):
-
-        grid = np.array([[0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0],
-                         [0, 0, 1, 0, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0],
-                         [0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 0],
-                         [0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0],
-                         [0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0],
-                         [0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 0],
-                         [0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0],
-                         [0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0],
-                         [1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0],
-                         [1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1],
-                         [0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0]])
-        grid = grid > 0
-
-        h = lir.horizontal_adjacency(grid)
-        v = lir.vertical_adjacency(grid)
-        span_map = lir.span_map(grid, h, v)
-        rect = lir.biggest_span_in_span_map(span_map)
-        rect2 = lir.largest_interior_rectangle(grid)
+    def test_lir_polygon(self):
+        polygon = np.array([[
+            [10,10],
+            [150,10],
+            [100,100],
+            [-40,100]]
+            ], dtype=np.int32 )
+
+        rect = lir(polygon)
+        np.testing.assert_array_equal(rect, np.array([10, 10, 91, 91]))
 
+
+    def test_lir_binary_mask(self):
+        
+        rect = lir(GRID)
+        np.testing.assert_array_equal(rect, np.array([2, 2, 4, 7]))
+        
+    def test_lir_binary_mask_with_contour(self):
+        contour = np.array([[2, 0],
+               [2, 1],
+               [2, 2],
+               [2, 3],
+               [2, 4],
+               [1, 5],
+               [2, 6],
+               [2, 7],
+               [1, 8],
+               [0, 8],
+               [0, 9],
+               [1, 9],
+               [2, 8],
+               [3, 8],
+               [4, 8],
+               [5, 9],
+               [6, 9],
+               [7, 9],
+               [8, 9],
+               [7, 9],
+               [6, 9],
+               [5, 8],
+               [5, 7],
+               [5, 6],
+               [6, 5],
+               [7, 4],
+               [7, 3],
+               [6, 2],
+               [5, 1],
+               [4, 1],
+               [3, 2],
+               [2, 1]], dtype=np.int32)
+
+
+        rect = lir(GRID, contour)
         np.testing.assert_array_equal(rect, np.array([2, 2, 4, 7]))
-        np.testing.assert_array_equal(rect, rect2)
-
-    def test_spans(self):
-        grid = np.array([[1, 1, 1],
-                         [1, 1, 0],
-                         [1, 0, 0],
-                         [1, 0, 0],
-                         [1, 0, 0],
-                         [1, 1, 1]])
-        grid = grid > 0
-
-        h = lir.horizontal_adjacency(grid)
-        v = lir.vertical_adjacency(grid)
-        v_vector = lir.v_vector(v, 0, 0)
-        h_vector = lir.h_vector(h, 0, 0)
-        spans = lir.spans(h_vector, v_vector)
-
-        np.testing.assert_array_equal(v_vector, np.array([6, 2, 1]))
-        np.testing.assert_array_equal(h_vector, np.array([3, 2, 1]))
-        np.testing.assert_array_equal(spans, np.array([[3, 1],
-                                                       [2, 2],
-                                                       [1, 6]]))
-
-    def test_vector_size(self):
-        t0 = np.array([1, 1, 1, 1], dtype=np.uint32)
-        t1 = np.array([1, 1, 1, 0], dtype=np.uint32)
-        t2 = np.array([1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 0], dtype=np.uint32)
-        t3 = np.array([0, 0, 0, 0], dtype=np.uint32)
-        t4 = np.array([0, 1, 1, 1], dtype=np.uint32)
-        t5 = np.array([], dtype=np.uint32)
-
-        self.assertEqual(lir.predict_vector_size(t0), 4)
-        self.assertEqual(lir.predict_vector_size(t1), 3)
-        self.assertEqual(lir.predict_vector_size(t2), 2)
-        self.assertEqual(lir.predict_vector_size(t3), 0)
-        self.assertEqual(lir.predict_vector_size(t4), 0)
-        self.assertEqual(lir.predict_vector_size(t5), 0)
-
-    def test_img(self):
-        grid = cv.imread(os.path.join(TEST_DIR, "testdata", "mask.png"), 0)
-        grid = grid > 0
-        rect = lir.largest_interior_rectangle(grid)
-        np.testing.assert_array_equal(rect, np.array([4, 20, 834, 213]))
 
+    def test_rectangle_pts(self):
+        rect = np.array([10, 10, 91, 91])
+        self.assertEqual(pt1(rect), (10, 10))
+        self.assertEqual(pt2(rect), (100, 100))
+    
 
 def starttest():
     unittest.main()
diff --git a/tests/test_lir_basis.py b/tests/test_lir_basis.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..41aea8c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_lir_basis.py
@@ -0,0 +1,86 @@
+import unittest
+import os
+
+import numpy as np
+import cv2 as cv
+
+from .context import lir_basis as lir
+
+TEST_DIR = os.path.abspath(os.path.dirname(__file__))
+
+
+class TestLIRbasis(unittest.TestCase):
+
+    def test_lir(self):
+
+        grid = np.array([[0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0],
+                         [0, 0, 1, 0, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0],
+                         [0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 0],
+                         [0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0],
+                         [0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0],
+                         [0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 0],
+                         [0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0],
+                         [0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0],
+                         [1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0],
+                         [1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1],
+                         [0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0]])
+        grid = grid > 0
+
+        h = lir.horizontal_adjacency(grid)
+        v = lir.vertical_adjacency(grid)
+        span_map = lir.span_map(grid, h, v)
+        rect = lir.biggest_span_in_span_map(span_map)
+        rect2 = lir.largest_interior_rectangle(grid)
+
+        np.testing.assert_array_equal(rect, np.array([2, 2, 4, 7]))
+        np.testing.assert_array_equal(rect, rect2)
+
+    def test_spans(self):
+        grid = np.array([[1, 1, 1],
+                         [1, 1, 0],
+                         [1, 0, 0],
+                         [1, 0, 0],
+                         [1, 0, 0],
+                         [1, 1, 1]])
+        grid = grid > 0
+
+        h = lir.horizontal_adjacency(grid)
+        v = lir.vertical_adjacency(grid)
+        v_vector = lir.v_vector(v, 0, 0)
+        h_vector = lir.h_vector(h, 0, 0)
+        spans = lir.spans(h_vector, v_vector)
+
+        np.testing.assert_array_equal(v_vector, np.array([6, 2, 1]))
+        np.testing.assert_array_equal(h_vector, np.array([3, 2, 1]))
+        np.testing.assert_array_equal(spans, np.array([[3, 1],
+                                                       [2, 2],
+                                                       [1, 6]]))
+
+    def test_vector_size(self):
+        t0 = np.array([1, 1, 1, 1], dtype=np.uint32)
+        t1 = np.array([1, 1, 1, 0], dtype=np.uint32)
+        t2 = np.array([1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 0], dtype=np.uint32)
+        t3 = np.array([0, 0, 0, 0], dtype=np.uint32)
+        t4 = np.array([0, 1, 1, 1], dtype=np.uint32)
+        t5 = np.array([], dtype=np.uint32)
+
+        self.assertEqual(lir.predict_vector_size(t0), 4)
+        self.assertEqual(lir.predict_vector_size(t1), 3)
+        self.assertEqual(lir.predict_vector_size(t2), 2)
+        self.assertEqual(lir.predict_vector_size(t3), 0)
+        self.assertEqual(lir.predict_vector_size(t4), 0)
+        self.assertEqual(lir.predict_vector_size(t5), 0)
+
+    def test_img(self):
+        grid = cv.imread(os.path.join(TEST_DIR, "testdata", "mask.png"), 0)
+        grid = grid > 0
+        rect = lir.largest_interior_rectangle(grid)
+        np.testing.assert_array_equal(rect, np.array([4, 20, 834, 213]))
+
+
+def starttest():
+    unittest.main()
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    starttest()
diff --git a/tests/test_lir_within_contour.py b/tests/test_lir_within_contour.py
index 7dbf3da..b4e4632 100644
--- a/tests/test_lir_within_contour.py
+++ b/tests/test_lir_within_contour.py
@@ -26,8 +26,7 @@ def test_grid(self):
 
         grid = np.uint8(grid * 255)
 
-        contours, _ = \
-            cv.findContours(grid, cv.RETR_TREE, cv.CHAIN_APPROX_NONE)
+        contours, _ = cv.findContours(grid, cv.RETR_TREE, cv.CHAIN_APPROX_NONE)
         contour = contours[0][:, 0, :]
 
         grid = grid > 0
@@ -39,8 +38,7 @@ def test_grid(self):
     def test_img(self):
         grid = cv.imread(os.path.join(TEST_DIR, "testdata", "mask.png"), 0)
 
-        contours, _ = \
-            cv.findContours(grid, cv.RETR_TREE, cv.CHAIN_APPROX_NONE)
+        contours, _ = cv.findContours(grid, cv.RETR_TREE, cv.CHAIN_APPROX_NONE)
         contour = contours[0][:, 0, :]
 
         grid = grid > 0
@@ -56,8 +54,7 @@ def test_multiple_shapes(self):
         grid = cv.imread(os.path.join(TEST_DIR, "testdata", "two_shapes.png"),
                          0)
 
-        contours, _ = \
-            cv.findContours(grid, cv.RETR_TREE, cv.CHAIN_APPROX_NONE)
+        contours, _ = cv.findContours(grid, cv.RETR_TREE, cv.CHAIN_APPROX_NONE)
         contour1 = contours[0][:, 0, :]
         contour2 = contours[1][:, 0, :]
 
diff --git a/tests/test_lir_within_polygon.py b/tests/test_lir_within_polygon.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8aa0895
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_lir_within_polygon.py
@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+import unittest
+import os
+
+import numpy as np
+import cv2 as cv
+
+from .context import lir_within_polygon as lir
+
+TEST_DIR = os.path.abspath(os.path.dirname(__file__))
+
+
+class TestLIRwithinPolygon(unittest.TestCase):
+    
+    def test_create_mask_from_polygon(self):
+        polygon = np.array([[
+            [10,10],
+            [150,10],
+            [100,100],
+            [-40,100]]
+            ], dtype=np.int32)
+        
+        origin, mask = lir.create_mask_from_polygon(polygon)
+        
+        self.assertEqual(origin, (-40, 10))
+        self.assertEqual(mask.shape, (91, 191))
+        self.assertEqual(np.count_nonzero(mask == 255), 12831)
+            
+    def test_polygon(self):
+        polygon = np.array([[
+            [10,10],
+            [150,10],
+            [100,100],
+            [-40,100]]
+            ], dtype=np.int32 )
+
+        rect = lir.largest_interior_rectangle(polygon)
+        np.testing.assert_array_equal(rect, np.array([10, 10, 91, 91]))
+        
+    def test_polygon2(self):
+        polygon = np.array([[
+                [9,-7],
+                [12,-6],
+                [8,3],
+                [10,6],
+                [12,7],
+                [1,9],
+                [-8,7],
+                [-6,6],
+                [-4,6],
+                [-6,2],
+                [-6,0],
+                [-7,-5],
+                [-2,-7],
+                [1,-3],
+                [5,-7],
+                [8,-4],
+            ]], dtype=np.int32 )
+
+        rect = lir.largest_interior_rectangle(polygon)
+        np.testing.assert_array_equal(rect, np.array([-5, -3, 14, 12]))
+    
+    
+    def test_img(self):
+        grid = cv.imread(os.path.join(TEST_DIR, "testdata", "two_shapes.png"), 0)
+
+        contours, _ = \
+            cv.findContours(grid, cv.RETR_TREE, cv.CHAIN_APPROX_NONE)
+        polygon = np.array([contours[0][:, 0, :]])
+
+        rect = lir.largest_interior_rectangle(polygon)
+        np.testing.assert_array_equal(rect, np.array([162,  62,  43,  44]))
+        
+
+def starttest():
+    unittest.main()
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    starttest()