Nanofibers can be prepared from a polymer solution utilizing electrospinning, a method exploiting an electrostatic field. In this work the electric field of the electrospinning process was modeled for better understanding and controllability of the fiber deposition in the electrospinning process. The model of the electric field was compared with experimental observations. The model of the electric field explained many phenomena in electrospinning, but did not provide an exclusive control tool for the process. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 47:2065-2074, 2007. (C) 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers.