Аннотация:The paper is devoted to the measurement of the vortex flow characteristics and visualization of its structure by introducing marks (solid and soluble markers with different properties) in the flow. The technique of automatic processing of the displacements of markers registered in the experiments on the free surface of the vortex flow, based on the transformation of the raster image into a vector representation, allows to significantly quicken data processing. The taken experiments with a complex vortex flow with a free surface in a vertical cylindrical container show pronounced dependence of the parameters characterizing the movement of the marker on the vortex surface on the physical properties, shape and size of the marker. Solid-state markers revolve around the center of the surface cavern and simultaneously rotate around their own mass center. The angular velocities of rotation and revolution are related by a functional connection, the form of which is also determined by the flow parameters and marker properties (such as volume, mass, size and shape). The measured velocities of the flow central column filling with suspended particles introduced as a solution on the free surface are compared with earlier measurements of the soluble dye penetration velocities in a wide range of flow parameters, which showed a satisfactory agreement of the obtained data.