The drop size distribution was measured by Newtonian liquid sprays produced by fan-jet pressure nozzles, operating in the pressure range 500 to nearly 3000 psig (3 450 to 20 680 kPa). The fluids used were water and a water-glycerin mixture. A collection device was constructed and droplets were captured on soot coated microscope slides. Subsequent sizing of the impacted particles with a microscope yielded drop size distribution data of accumulated volume per cent versus diameter. An experimental analysis was performed to relate the nozzle wall shear to the volume median diameter of the spray distribution. A linear correlation was found to exist on a semilog graph; for the Newtonian liquid sprays, it was determined that the volume median diameter could be predicted with: Dd=+8.5183−1.1113logτρQμσ