SummaryThis paper discusses a method that provides the direct identification of constitutive model parameters by intimately integrating the finite element method (FEM) with digital image correlation (DIC), namely, directly connecting the experimentally obtained images for all time increments to the unknown material parameters. The problem is formulated as a single minimization problem that incorporates all the experimental data. It allows for precise specification of the unknowns, which can be, but are not limited to, the unknown material properties. The tight integration between FEM and DIC enables for identification while providing necessary regularization of the DIC procedure, making the method robust and noise insensitive. Through this approach, the versatility of the FE method is extended to the experimental realm, enhancing the analyses of existing experiments and opening new experimental opportunities. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.