diff --git a/sigal/gallery.py b/sigal/gallery.py
index 9a0036e..8f7ce0f 100644
--- a/sigal/gallery.py
+++ b/sigal/gallery.py
@@ -95,6 +95,9 @@ class Media(UnicodeMixin):
         """
         if self.settings['keep_orig']:
             s = self.settings
+            if s['use_orig']:
+                # The image *is* the original, just use it
+                return self.filename
             orig_path = join(s['destination'], self.path, s['orig_dir'])
             check_or_create_dir(orig_path)
             copy(self.src_path, join(orig_path, self.src_filename),
diff --git a/sigal/image.py b/sigal/image.py
index 9ef65e0..bcb7231 100644
--- a/sigal/image.py
+++ b/sigal/image.py
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ from PIL import ImageOps
 from pilkit.processors import Transpose
 from pilkit.utils import save_image
 
-from . import compat, signals
+from . import compat, signals, utils
 from .settings import get_thumb, Status
 
 
@@ -61,6 +61,11 @@ def generate_image(source, outname, settings, options=None):
     """
 
     logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+    if settings['use_orig']:
+        utils.copy(source, outname, symlink=settings['orig_link'])
+        return
+
     img = PILImage.open(source)
     original_format = img.format
 
diff --git a/sigal/settings.py b/sigal/settings.py
index 5b55f8e..83efad4 100644
--- a/sigal/settings.py
+++ b/sigal/settings.py
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ _DEFAULT_CONFIG = {
     'thumb_size': (200, 150),
     'thumb_suffix': '',
     'title': '',
+    'use_orig': False,
     'video_size': (480, 360),
     'webm_options': ['-crf', '10', '-b:v', '1.6M',
                      '-qmin', '4', '-qmax', '63'],
diff --git a/sigal/templates/sigal.conf.py b/sigal/templates/sigal.conf.py
index 0d27dff..69832f6 100644
--- a/sigal/templates/sigal.conf.py
+++ b/sigal/templates/sigal.conf.py
@@ -9,6 +9,10 @@
 # The priority order is: cli option > settings file > index.md file
 # title = "Sigal test gallery"
 
+# ---------------------
+# General configuration
+# ---------------------
+
 # Source directory. Can be set here or as the first argument of the `sigal
 # build` command
 source = 'pictures'
@@ -21,6 +25,16 @@ source = 'pictures'
 # - colorbox (default), galleria, or the path to a custom theme directory
 theme = 'galleria'
 
+# Use originals in gallery (default: False). If True, this will bypass all
+# processing steps (resize, auto-orient, recompress, and any plugin-specific
+# step).
+# Originals will be symlinked if orig_link = True, else they will be copied.
+# use_orig = False
+
+# ----------------
+# Image processing (ignored if use_orig = True)
+# ----------------
+
 # Size of resized image (default: (640, 480))
 img_size = (800, 600)
 
@@ -32,6 +46,19 @@ img_size = (800, 600)
 # - None: don't resize
 # img_processor = 'ResizeToFit'
 
+# Autorotate images
+# Warning: this setting is not compatible with `copy_exif_data` (see below),
+# because Sigal can't save the modified Orientation tag (currently Pillow can't
+# write EXIF).
+# autorotate_images = True
+
+# If True, EXIF data from the original image is copied to the resized image
+# copy_exif_data = False
+
+# --------------------
+# Thumbnail generation
+# --------------------
+
 # Generate thumbnails
 # make_thumbs = True
 
@@ -50,6 +77,10 @@ thumb_size = (280, 210)
 # Crop the image to fill the box
 # thumb_fit = True
 
+# -------------
+# Album options
+# -------------
+
 # Keep original image (default: False)
 # keep_orig = True
 
@@ -76,6 +107,10 @@ thumb_size = (280, 210)
 ignore_directories = []
 ignore_files = []
 
+# -------------
+# Miscellaneous
+# -------------
+
 # Jpeg options
 # jpg_options = {'quality': 85,
 #                'optimize': True,
@@ -110,15 +145,6 @@ ignore_files = []
 # zip_gallery = False   # False or 'archive.zip'
 # zip_media_format = 'resized'  # 'resized' or 'orig'
 
-# Autorotate images
-# Warning: this setting is not compatible with `copy_exif_data` (see below),
-# because Sigal can't save the modified Orientation tag (currently Pillow can't
-# write EXIF).
-# autorotate_images = True
-
-# If True, EXIF data from the original image is copied to the resized image
-# copy_exif_data = False
-
 # Specify a different locale. If set to '', the default locale is used.
 # locale = ''
 
diff --git a/tests/test_gallery.py b/tests/test_gallery.py
index 1bd86ec..559f0c9 100644
--- a/tests/test_gallery.py
+++ b/tests/test_gallery.py
@@ -95,6 +95,11 @@ def test_media_orig(settings, tmpdir):
     assert m.big == 'original/stallman software-freedom-day-low.ogv'
     assert os.path.isfile(join(settings['destination'], m.path, m.big))
 
+    settings['use_orig'] = True
+
+    m = Image('21.jpg', 'dir1/test2', settings)
+    assert m.big == '21.jpg'
+
 
 def test_image(settings, tmpdir):
     settings['destination'] = str(tmpdir)
diff --git a/tests/test_image.py b/tests/test_image.py
index b3aa079..5d3a488 100644
--- a/tests/test_image.py
+++ b/tests/test_image.py
@@ -25,6 +25,30 @@ def test_generate_image(tmpdir):
         assert im.size == size
 
 
+def test_generate_image_passthrough(tmpdir):
+    "Test the generate_image function with use_orig=True."
+
+    dstfile = str(tmpdir.join(TEST_IMAGE))
+    settings = create_settings(use_orig=True)
+    generate_image(SRCFILE, dstfile, settings)
+    # Check the file was copied, not (sym)linked
+    st_src = os.stat(SRCFILE)
+    st_dst = os.stat(dstfile)
+    assert st_src.st_size == st_dst.st_size
+    assert not os.path.samestat(st_src, st_dst)
+
+
+def test_generate_image_passthrough_symlink(tmpdir):
+    "Test the generate_image function with use_orig=True and orig_link=True."
+
+    dstfile = str(tmpdir.join(TEST_IMAGE))
+    settings = create_settings(use_orig=True, orig_link=True)
+    generate_image(SRCFILE, dstfile, settings)
+    # Check the file was symlinked
+    assert os.path.islink(dstfile)
+    assert os.path.samefile(SRCFILE, dstfile)
+
+
 def test_generate_image_processor(tmpdir):
     "Test generate_image with a wrong processor name."