A method for measuring localized stretching of a manufactured part or in a test sample of various materials to identify the fracture strain or strain distribution. The method begins by etching or printing a grid of a plurality of cells on a surface of a blank. Dots of paint are then applied to the surface of the blank that are measured in a pre-forming condition and identified as to the location of the dots relative to the grid. The blank is then formed into a formed part and the dots are measured in one or more cells in a post-forming condition. The size of the dots in the pre-forming condition is compared to the size of the dots in the post-forming condition to determine the extent of stretching in localized areas of the formed part. The method may be repeated for successive operations with different colored dots.