. We characterize a novel imaging technique for velocity measurements in particle laden flows. The technique, Particle Vaporization Velocimetry (PVV), is a form of flow tagging based on laser vaporization of absorbing particles at defined locations in the flow. The locations of these tagged regions are then interrogated after a known delay to determine the convective velocity. Results are presented for vaporization of carbonaceous particles in a heated, nonreacting gas jet and a hydrocarbon-air diffusion flame. While the flame produces its own carbon particles (soot), the nonreacting gas get is seeded with submicron-sized, carbon black particles. Interrogation is provided by either elastic scattering or laser-induced incandescence from the soot. The results are similar for the two very different flows, indicating that the PVV technique should be applicable to a wide range of environments. The laser fluence required to produce the tagged region for soot is on the order of the threshold fluence required for laser-induced incandescence measurements, though with a somewhat lower value for scattering detection. The tag lifetime for the current systems exceeds 10 ms, and should be limited only by turbulent mixing in practical flows.