diff --git a/pdfminer/converter.py b/pdfminer/converter.py
index f5261da..7b1f54f 100644
--- a/pdfminer/converter.py
+++ b/pdfminer/converter.py
@@ -144,9 +144,10 @@ class PDFConverter(PDFLayoutAnalyzer):
 class TextConverter(PDFConverter):
 
     def __init__(self, rsrcmgr, outfp, codec='utf-8', pageno=1, laparams=None,
-                 showpageno=False):
+                 showpageno=False, imagewriter=None):
         PDFConverter.__init__(self, rsrcmgr, outfp, codec=codec, pageno=pageno, laparams=laparams)
         self.showpageno = showpageno
+        self.imagewriter = imagewriter
         return
 
     def write_text(self, text):
@@ -162,19 +163,25 @@ class TextConverter(PDFConverter):
                 self.write_text(item.get_text())
             if isinstance(item, LTTextBox):
                 self.write_text('\n')
+            elif isinstance(item, LTImage):
+                if self.imagewriter is not None:
+                    self.imagewriter.export_image(item)
         if self.showpageno:
             self.write_text('Page %s\n' % ltpage.pageid)
         render(ltpage)
         self.write_text('\f')
         return
 
-    # Some dummy functions to save memory/CPU when all that is wanted is text.
-    # This stops all the image and drawing ouput from being recorded and taking
-    # up RAM.
+    # Some dummy functions to save memory/CPU when all that is wanted
+    # is text.  This stops all the image and drawing ouput from being
+    # recorded and taking up RAM.
     def render_image(self, name, stream):
-        pass
+        if self.imagewriter is None: return
+        PDFConverter.render_image(self, name, stream)
+        return
+    
     def paint_path(self, gstate, stroke, fill, evenodd, path):
-        pass
+        return
 
 
 ##  HTMLConverter
diff --git a/pdfminer/image.py b/pdfminer/image.py
index c8ed4fd..87e6523 100644
--- a/pdfminer/image.py
+++ b/pdfminer/image.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python2
 import sys
 import struct
-import os.path
+import os, os.path
 from pdftypes import LITERALS_DCT_DECODE
 from pdfcolor import LITERAL_DEVICE_GRAY, LITERAL_DEVICE_RGB
 
@@ -54,6 +54,8 @@ class ImageWriter(object):
 
     def __init__(self, outdir):
         self.outdir = outdir
+        if not os.path.exists(self.outdir):
+            os.makedirs(self.outdir)
         return
 
     def export_image(self, image):
diff --git a/tools/pdf2txt.py b/tools/pdf2txt.py
index a0c1a51..2d233f9 100755
--- a/tools/pdf2txt.py
+++ b/tools/pdf2txt.py
@@ -80,7 +80,8 @@ def main(argv):
     else:
         outfp = sys.stdout
     if outtype == 'text':
-        device = TextConverter(rsrcmgr, outfp, codec=codec, laparams=laparams)
+        device = TextConverter(rsrcmgr, outfp, codec=codec, laparams=laparams,
+                               imagewriter=imagewriter)
     elif outtype == 'xml':
         device = XMLConverter(rsrcmgr, outfp, codec=codec, laparams=laparams,
                               imagewriter=imagewriter)