diff --git a/modules/ovis/include/opencv2/ovis.hpp b/modules/ovis/include/opencv2/ovis.hpp
index cd171a28e..d9f684c07 100644
--- a/modules/ovis/include/opencv2/ovis.hpp
+++ b/modules/ovis/include/opencv2/ovis.hpp
@@ -35,7 +35,11 @@ enum MaterialProperty
     MATERIAL_POINT_SIZE,
     MATERIAL_OPACITY,
     MATERIAL_EMISSIVE,
-    MATERIAL_TEXTURE
+    MATERIAL_TEXTURE0,
+    MATERIAL_TEXTURE = MATERIAL_TEXTURE0,
+    MATERIAL_TEXTURE1,
+    MATERIAL_TEXTURE2,
+    MATERIAL_TEXTURE3,
 };
 
 enum EntityProperty
@@ -281,6 +285,15 @@ CV_EXPORTS_W void createPointCloudMesh(const String& name, InputArray vertices,
  * @param segments number of segments per side
  */
 CV_EXPORTS_W void createGridMesh(const String& name, const Size2f& size, const Size& segments = Size(1, 1));
+
+/**
+ * updates an existing texture
+ *
+ * A new texture can be created with @ref createPlaneMesh
+ * @param name name of the texture
+ * @param image the image data
+ */
+CV_EXPORTS_W void updateTexture(const String& name, InputArray image);
 //! @}
 }
 }
diff --git a/modules/ovis/src/ovis.cpp b/modules/ovis/src/ovis.cpp
index bb798011f..44723c2cc 100644
--- a/modules/ovis/src/ovis.cpp
+++ b/modules/ovis/src/ovis.cpp
@@ -31,11 +31,28 @@ WindowScene::~WindowScene() {}
 
 void _createTexture(const String& name, Mat image)
 {
+    PixelFormat format;
+    switch(image.type())
+    {
+    case CV_8UC4:
+        format = PF_BYTE_BGRA;
+        break;
+    case CV_8UC3:
+        format = PF_BYTE_BGR;
+        break;
+    case CV_8UC1:
+        format = PF_BYTE_L;
+        break;
+    default:
+        CV_Error(Error::StsBadArg, "currently only CV_8UC1, CV_8UC3, CV_8UC4 textures are supported");
+        break;
+    }
+
     TextureManager& texMgr = TextureManager::getSingleton();
     TexturePtr tex = texMgr.getByName(name, RESOURCEGROUP_NAME);
 
     Image im;
-    im.loadDynamicImage(image.ptr(), image.cols, image.rows, 1, PF_BYTE_BGR);
+    im.loadDynamicImage(image.ptr(), image.cols, image.rows, 1, format);
 
     if (tex)
     {
@@ -323,7 +340,7 @@ public:
 
     void setBackground(InputArray image)
     {
-        CV_Assert(image.type() == CV_8UC3, bgplane);
+        CV_Assert(bgplane);
 
         String name = sceneMgr->getName() + "_Background";
 
@@ -700,20 +717,23 @@ void setMaterialProperty(const String& name, int prop, const Scalar& val)
 
 void setMaterialProperty(const String& name, int prop, const String& value)
 {
-    CV_Assert(prop == MATERIAL_TEXTURE, _app);
+    CV_Assert(prop >= MATERIAL_TEXTURE0, prop <= MATERIAL_TEXTURE3, _app);
 
     MaterialPtr mat = MaterialManager::getSingleton().getByName(name, RESOURCEGROUP_NAME);
     CV_Assert(mat);
 
     Pass* rpass = mat->getTechniques()[0]->getPasses()[0];
 
-    if (rpass->getTextureUnitStates().empty())
+    size_t texUnit = prop - MATERIAL_TEXTURE0;
+    CV_Assert(texUnit <= rpass->getTextureUnitStates().size());
+
+    if (rpass->getTextureUnitStates().size() <= texUnit)
     {
         rpass->createTextureUnitState(value);
         return;
     }
 
-    rpass->getTextureUnitStates()[0]->setTextureName(value);
+    rpass->getTextureUnitStates()[texUnit]->setTextureName(value);
 }
 
 static bool setShaderProperty(const GpuProgramParametersSharedPtr& params, const String& prop,
@@ -770,5 +790,13 @@ void setMaterialProperty(const String& name, const String& prop, const Scalar& v
     if(!set)
         CV_Error_(Error::StsBadArg, ("shader parameter named '%s' not found", prop.c_str()));
 }
+
+void updateTexture(const String& name, InputArray image)
+{
+    CV_Assert(_app);
+    TexturePtr tex = TextureManager::getSingleton().getByName(name, RESOURCEGROUP_NAME);
+    CV_Assert(tex);
+    _createTexture(name, image.getMat());
+}
 }
 }