Image intensity distributions have been calculated for the schlieren observation of Gaussian, unipolar acoustic pulses. The optical intensity distributions in both the Fourier transform plane (stop plane) and the image plane are discussed. Experimental observations are presented for Gaussian-like pressure transients generated by narrow voltage pulse excitation of thick piezoelectric plates. These observations are compared to the results of the calculations. It is suggested that this technique is ideally suited for the determination of transducer transfer functions.