Bubble characteristics are very important in the design of fluidized beds because they govern hydrodynamics and efficiency of the operation for which the bed is used. In this work, a digital image analysis technique has been developed to study the fluidization dynamics of a lab-scale two-dimensional bubbling bed. Digital image analysis may supply a great quantity of information; it is non-intrusive, capable of securing several properties simultaneously and cost effective. The image analysis method here developed allows for the simultaneous measurements of various significant bubble properties, i.e. bubble size and bubble velocity distributions, bed height and bubble-phase hold-up, by means of a purposely in-house developed software. Present results were compared with relevant literature correlations and resulted in sound agreement, thus confirming the large potential of the technique here developed. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.