diff --git a/mris_diff/mris_diff.cpp b/mris_diff/mris_diff.cpp
index cb5b2a501f5..de931b1d2d1 100644
--- a/mris_diff/mris_diff.cpp
+++ b/mris_diff/mris_diff.cpp
@@ -1087,11 +1087,11 @@ static int parse_commandline(int argc, char **argv) {
       printf("Use Exact = %d\n",UseExact);
       MRI *mindist;
       if(UseExact){
-	MRISdistanceBetweenSurfacesExact(surf2, surf1);
-	mindist = MRIcopyMRIS(NULL, surf2, 0, "curv");
+        MRISdistanceBetweenSurfacesExact(surf2, surf1);
+        mindist = MRIcopyMRIS(NULL, surf2, 0, "curv");
       }
       else 
-	mindist = MRISminDist(surf1, surf2);
+        mindist = MRISminDist(surf1, surf2);
       if(mindist==NULL) exit(1);
       printf("Writing mindist to %s\n",pargv[3]);
       MRIwrite(mindist,pargv[3]);
diff --git a/python/bindings/utils/surface.cpp b/python/bindings/utils/surface.cpp
index 7a624610113..3c5a4788b28 100644
--- a/python/bindings/utils/surface.cpp
+++ b/python/bindings/utils/surface.cpp
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 #include "mrisurf_base.h"
 #include "surface.h"
 #include "xform.h"
+#include "mrisurf_metricProperties.h"
+
 
 namespace surf {
 
@@ -169,6 +171,21 @@ int computeEulerNumber(Bridge surf)
 }
 
 
+/*
+  Count number of face intersections.
+*/
+int countIntersections(Bridge surf)
+{
+  MRIS *mris = surf.mris();
+  mrisMarkIntersections(mris);
+  int nintersections = 0;
+  for(int n = 0; n < mris->nvertices; n++) {
+    if (mris->vertices[n].marked) nintersections++;
+  }
+  return nintersections;
+}
+
+
 /*
   Smoothes an overlay along mesh vertices.
 */
@@ -178,6 +195,16 @@ py::object smoothOverlay(Bridge surf, vol::Bridge overlay, int steps)
 }
 
 
+/*
+  Smoothes an overlay along mesh vertices.
+*/
+py::object surfaceDistance(Bridge surf1, Bridge surf2)
+{
+  MRISdistanceBetweenSurfacesExact(surf2, surf1);
+  return vol::Bridge(MRIcopyMRIS(NULL, surf2, 0, "curv"));
+}
+
+
 /*
 
 namespace vec {
diff --git a/python/bindings/utils/surface.h b/python/bindings/utils/surface.h
index 50e454e2562..c25f6b6894a 100644
--- a/python/bindings/utils/surface.h
+++ b/python/bindings/utils/surface.h
@@ -41,13 +41,15 @@ void write(Bridge surf, const std::string& filename);
 void computeNormals(Bridge surf);
 void computeTangents(Bridge surf);
 int computeEulerNumber(Bridge surf);
+int countIntersections(Bridge surf);
+
+py::object surfaceDistance(Bridge surf1, Bridge surf2);
 
 // overlay utils
 py::array parameterize(Bridge surf, const arrayf<float>& overlay, int scale, std::string interp);
 py::array sampleParameterization(Bridge surf, const arrayf<float>& image, std::string interp);
 py::object smoothOverlay(Bridge surf, vol::Bridge overlay, int steps);
 
-
 // surface submodule binding
 inline void bind(py::module &m)
 {
@@ -59,9 +61,11 @@ inline void bind(py::module &m)
   m.def("compute_normals", &computeNormals);
   m.def("compute_tangents", &computeTangents);
   m.def("compute_euler", &computeEulerNumber);
+  m.def("count_intersections", &countIntersections);
   m.def("parameterize", &parameterize);
   m.def("sample_parameterization", &sampleParameterization);
   m.def("smooth_overlay", &smoothOverlay);
+  m.def("distance", &surfaceDistance);
   // m.def("read_directly", &read_directly);
 }
 
diff --git a/python/freesurfer/surface.py b/python/freesurfer/surface.py
index 3a08a655fb8..c46d1a91149 100644
--- a/python/freesurfer/surface.py
+++ b/python/freesurfer/surface.py
@@ -79,6 +79,10 @@ def compute_euler(self):
         '''Computes euler number of the mesh.'''
         return bindings.surf.compute_euler(self)
 
+    def count_intersections(self):
+        '''Counts the number of face intersection in the mesh.'''
+        return bindings.surf.count_intersections(self)
+
     def neighboring_faces(self, vertex):
         '''List of face indices that neighbor a vertex.'''
         return np.where(self.faces == vertex)[0]
@@ -216,3 +220,16 @@ def get_vertex_normals(self):  # TODEP
     def get_vertex_faces(self):  # TODEP
         '''Deprecated - use Surface.neighboring_faces instead'''
         raise DeprecationWarning('get_vertex_faces has been removed! Use Surface.neighboring_faces or email andrew if you get this!!!!')
+
+
+def distance(a, b):
+    return bindings.surf.distance(a, b)
+
+
+def read_label(filename, nvertices):
+    mask = np.zeros(nvertices, dtype=bool)
+    with open(filename) as f:
+        lines = f.read().splitlines()[2:]
+    vertices = np.array([int(l.split()[0]) for l in lines])
+    mask[vertices] = True
+    return Overlay(mask)
diff --git a/python/freesurfer/transform.py b/python/freesurfer/transform.py
index f360589bfef..0054fce209f 100644
--- a/python/freesurfer/transform.py
+++ b/python/freesurfer/transform.py
@@ -231,6 +231,9 @@ def transform_to_midspace(a, b, transform=None, resample=True, interp_method='li
         target: Resampling target geometry. If None, the target is determined
             by a secondary midspace computed between the *aligned* images. In this
             case, the target shape and resolution is determined by `b`.
+
+    Returns:
+        mid_a, mid_b: Midspace-transformed images.
     """
     from scipy.linalg import sqrtm