A method and apparatus for performing shearography where the shear length and direction can be set in image processing, thus allowing all shear sizes to be computed and tested from a single data set, which can be collected in a single pass over a test surface or test object. The present process assures that a single data set can be processed with optimal shear length for multiple target types, thus reducing or eliminating the chance of missing a target detection while additionally enhancing target shape analysis by allowing the calculation of target response versus shear length and shear direction.