A noninterferometric method for obtaining profiles of axially symmetri
c transparent liquid droplets is described. The drops are illuminated
along the symmetry axis by a uniform parallel beam whose intensity dis
tribution is recorded at the focal plane of a lens placed behind the d
rop. In some conditions and within the geometrical optics approach, it
is possible to reconstruct the profile of the drop from this intensit
y distribution except for the length scale factor, which, if necessary
, may be provided by an additional simple measurement. Because of CCD
cameras and digital image processing, this method is an interesting al
ternative technique for measuring drop profile shapes with considerabl
e accuracy when interferometry is unwieldy. We also analyze the diffra
ction features of the intensity distribution to clarify the extent tha
t they affect the approach that we used and to establish additional in
formation that they may provide.