The present work is aimed at studying the effect of two solvents on the shape of racemic ibuprofen crystals. Growth experiments on an ibuprofen single crystal were carried out in a Row cell and its evolution was followed using a video camera and an image analysis system. Growth rate measurements on the (1 0 0), (0 0 2) and (0 1 1) faces were used to build the ibuprofen crystal growth morphology. A rather isometric form (hexagonal prism built on the (1 0 0) face) was found for the crystal grown from ethanol, whereas a thin platelet, elongated along the [0 1 0] axis, was obtained from ethyl acetate. Qualitative interpretations are given in terms of molecular interactions.