The digital image correlation (DIC) technique is a global field optical technique that consists in the analysis of images taken from the surface of a specimen before and after being subjected to a load, in order to determine displacement and strain fields. In the current work, both conventional 3D stereoscopic and micro-stereoscopic DIC systems were used, the former for applications in macroscopic fields of view (of the order of 200mm x 200mm), and the latter for applications in surface areas as small as 1mm square. For strain analysis in fields with such varied dimensions, the development of a methodology to control some parameters of the technique was required. Among the parameters to be controlled were dimensions of speckles printed on the specimen and size of the subsets and steps used in the image correlation procedure. The selection of structural problems to be analyzed by the DIC technique took into account not only diversity, but also the pioneering aspect in terms of DIC application to problems which can generate results that lead to a better comprehension of its specific issues. Hence, the technique was applied to the measurement of global strain fields in defective tubes, due to the advantages in measuring large strains and visualizing the regions of interest in such cases. For determination of the mechanical properties of composite materials, measurements were performed in non-conventional specimens made of epoxy resin and reinforced by carbon or glass fibers for evaluation of its elastic properties. Finally, measurements in a cracked Compact Tension Specimen (CTS) with degree of steel API 5LX60 and in specimens with deep notches (stress concentration) consisting of different materials (polycarbonate and aluminum) were carried out for estimation of displacement fields and elastoplastic strains. For those applications, the results were compared with those obtained from finite element models, from strain gages, and also with analytical results from the literature. Taking into account such comparisons, it can be said that the great majority of the experimental measurements was satisfactory. Throughout the current manuscript, the required adaptations, good practices needed to achieve reliable results from the different types of measurement and experimental apparatus, as well as other considerations, were carefully described. These recommendations will be quite useful for future measurements, or even to assist in the evaluation of the reliability of certain results presented in the specialized literature.