INSTRUMENTS, TOOLS, AND APPARATUS USED IN QUESTIONED DOCUMENTS

NO QD INSTRUMENT, TOOL & FORENSIC USE

APPARATUS
1. Measuring Rulers and Grids determine the precise measurement of the
questioned documents.
2. DSLR 35mm/Medium Format used for documenting evidence
Camera
3. Duplicating Devices used to replicate the detailing on physical
paper and digitally.
4. Microspectrophotometer used to define different colors on an object.
5. Spectrophotofluorometer extensively used in the characterization of
inks and special security papers
6. Paper Brightness Tester (TAPPI &, determine the brightness of paper
ISO)
7. Glossmeter used to determine the glossiness of a paper
8. Opacimeter determine how much a paper is translucent.
9. Analytical Weighing Machine used to calculate the grammage value of
paper
10. Dead Weight Thickness used to measure the thickness of paper
Micrometer
11. Infrared image conversion provides instant comparison of inks and
microscope their ability to absorb to reflect infrared light
and is a valuable tool for the detection of
alterations and comparison of inks
12. Typewriting Protractor designed to show the exact abnormal slant
of certain letters in typewriting
13. Infrared Spectroscope based on the wavelengths of light that each
type of ink absorbs and reflects, infrared
spectroscopes can identify the presence of
multiple ink types.
14. Stereo Microscope It is especially adapted for the examination
of inks, colors, erasures, interlineations, and
overwriting; compact and portable stereo
microscope is the first choice in modern
crime scene investigation kits.

15. Comparison Microscope has a side-by-side view to analyze two

samples, the questioned and known
samples through a single lens
16. Scanning Electron Microscope uses an array of electrons to scan the
(SEM) document line by line (or frame).
17. Magnifying lens used in currency examinations
18. Optical Watermark Detector designed to analyze and detect forgeries in
stamp watermarks
19. Video Spectral Comparator (VSC) used for detecting alteration, security
features, optical ink properties,
differentiating pencil with ink writing,
restoration, secret writings, etc.
20. Electrostatic Detection Apparatus used for questioned document examination
(ESDA) to reveal the indentations or impressions
which may be present on paper.
21. Raman Spectrometer provides a fast and selective chemical
analysis of ink.
22. Olfactory Port Detector detects volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
for age estimation and has been mostly
used for the authentication of paper and old
books for a century.
23. X-ray Diffraction Techniques identifies the paper additives and fillers with
pigmented crystalline structures
 24. Fourier Transform Infrared used for the determination of some paper
Spectroscopy additives
25. Mass Spectroscopy employed for trace elemental analysis
26. Accelerator Mass Spectrometry instrument specifically used for age
(AMS) estimation by carbon dating
27. Ultraviolet lamp used in the detection of counterfeited bills
but can actually be used to detect security
features of qualified documents
28. Table lamps with adjustable used for controlled illumination; it is needed
shades (Goose Neck Lamps) in sidelight examination, wherein light is
placed at a low angle in a position oblique
to a plane or document.
29. Infrared viewer primarily used to decipher writings in a
charred document
30. Ultra Violet Viewer ideal for bank and border control-type
applications as well as the forensic
examination of documents for erasures and
solvent staining

Chromatography is a family of techniques used for separating mixtures. It involves a

small cut from the questioned document being dissolved in a solvent and then analyzed. This
is one of the few destructive techniques employed by the document examiner.

TECHNIQUES IN THE EXAMINATION OF QUESTIONED DOCUMENTS

NO EXAMINATION
1 MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION
2 TRANSMITTED LIGHT
EXAMINATION
3 OBLIQUE LIGHT EXAMINATION
4 PHOTOGRAPHIC EXAMINATION
5 ULTRA-VIOLET EXAMINATION
DEFINITION
Any examination or study that is made with
the microscope in order to discover minute
physical details. Microscopic examination
with low- and high-power objectives is used
to detect retouching, patching, and
unnatural pen lift in signature analysis. With
proper angle and intensity, it aids in the
decipherment of erasures, some minute
manipulations not perfectly pictured to the
unaided eye, and the sequence of entries
done by different writing instruments.
In this examination, the document is viewed
with the source of illumination behind it and
the light passing through the paper.
Documents are subjected to this type of
examination to determine the presence of
erasures, matching of serrations, and some
other types of alterations.
An examination with the illumination so
controlled that it grazes or strikes the
surface of the document from one side at a
very low angle. Decipherment of faded
handwriting, determination of outlines in
traced forgery, embossed impressions, etc.
are subjected to this type of examination.
This type of examination is essential for
every document examination. Actual
observations are recorded in the
photographs.
Ultraviolet radiation is invisible and occurs
at wave lengths just below the visible blue-
violet end of the spectrum (rainbow). These
visible rays react with some substances so
that visible light is reflected, a phenomenon

6 INFRARED EXAMINATION
known as fluorescence. This type of
examination is done in a darkroom after the
lamp has been warmed up in order to get
the maximum output of the ultraviolet light.
Exposure to ultra violet light should be
limited to the minimum duration in order to
avoid the fading of some writing ink and
typewriter ribbon.
This examination of documents employs
invisible radiation beyond the red portion of
the visible spectrum (rainbow), which is
usually recorded on a specially sensitized
photographic emulsion.

PROCEDURES IN THE PREPARATION AND PRESENTATION OF DISPUTED DOCUMENT

IN COURT

PHOTOGRAPHS OF DOCUMENTS AS EVIDENCE

Generally, photographing documents is vital to the establishment of proofs in questioned
document cases. A permanent record of it can be considered indispensable to the successful
examination and presentation of the case in court. To meet this requirement, the document
photographer should have a wide range of photographic knowledge, training, and experience.
General Guide to the Correct Lighting for Erasures
Experimentation is necessary to determine the ideal lighting for reading erasures. As a
general guide, these steps should be tried:
1. Ordinary Lighting. Obviously, the first step is to look at the document with ordinary
reflected light.

2. Side Lighting. Try lighting from various angles. An extremely oblique angle will often
be found useful. If some particular light and viewing angle make the erasure visible,
duplicate the setup for the camera.

3. Transmitted Light. Look at the document with the light coming through it. Turn the
document over and repeat.

4. Magnification. Examine the paper with a magnifier, such as a hand glass or a low-
power binocular microscope. Magnifications up to about 10x are most useful.

5. Polarized Light. Light the document with polarized light, using a Kodak Pola-Light, for
example. Examine it through a Kodak Pola-Screen.

6. Filters. Look at the document through various filters—either separate filters or the
viewing filters in the Kodak Master Photo guide.

Different methods in document photography

1. Transmitted Light Photography

It used in the examination of watermarks and furnishes a method of determining the

identity or the difference in paper by showing the arrangement of the fibers and the markings of
the wire gauze and dandy-roll. A photograph taken by transmitted light will also clearly show the
uneven distribution of ink in interrupted strokes and the presence of the added ink in retouched
strokes.
2. Photomicrography

The process of obtaining photographs of magnified images of small subjects is known as

photomicrography. It has a wide application in many fields where minute scrutiny of an object is
necessary and a court exhibit of a magnified image is needed.

a. Low-power photomicrography, also called macrophotography or Photomicrography is

normally carried out by simply using a short focal length lens on a camera with a long
extension tube or below.
b. High-Power Photomicrography: Ordinary photomicrography requires the use of a lens-
less camera attached to a compound microscope. The lens system of the microscope
simply projects the image onto the film in the camera.

3. Ultra-Violet Photography

In the radiant energy spectrum between the x-ray band and the visible light band and
adjoining the latter at its violet end is a band of rays known as ultraviolet. Photographs made by
using ultraviolet rays as the light source sometimes reveal physical or chemical differences in
subjects that are undetectable by any other type of photography.

A. Straight ultraviolet photography is a method of taking a picture in which a camera

is used to record the difference in a subject's reflection, transmission, or absorption of
ultraviolet rays in much the same manner as in light photography.

B. Ultraviolet luminescence photography is the process of taking a picture of a

subject that is emitting or giving out invisible radiation in the long-wave ultraviolet
region (3500A to 4000) while it is being irradiated by external short-wave ultraviolet
rays (2500 to 3500A).

C. Ultraviolet Fluorescence Photography: Basically, fluorescence photography is

almost as simple as many other kinds of visible-light photography. All black and white
films and all colour films can be used, and generally speaking, colour is better than
black and white for fluorescence photography.

4. Infra-Red Photography

Defined as taking a picture with infrared rays by means of a camera loaded with film
sensitive to infrared radiation. However, infrared pictures are often produced without a camera,
and they are also taken with films that are not sensitive to infrared radiation.

A. Straight infrared photography means "straight" to mean exhibiting no deviation from

what is accepted as usual or normal photographs undertaken using infrared film in an
ordinary camera with an infrared filter over the camera lens or any light source.

B. Indirect Infrared Photography: It is possible to take infrared pictures indirectly that are
very similar to those obtained by straight techniques using infrared film. One method
uses a device called an image converter. The image is transformed into a visible light
image on the fluorescent screen of the converter, which can be observed visually and
photographed with any camera loaded with fast panchromatic film; it is not necessary to
use infrared film.

5. Infrared luminescence photography

Luminescence is the process of taking pictures of a subject that is emitting or giving out
invisible radiation at a long wavelength extending into the infrared region.

6. Digital Photography: Digital photography is defined by storing images on computer memory

or a floppy disc instead of film; digital cameras bypass film processing by displaying images
immediately when connected to a computer. As the digital photography phenomenon gains
momentum, the number of digital camera manufacturers has increased. This category of digital
camera would include the Apple, QuickTake, Casio, Chinon, and Kodak.
IMPORTANCE OF PHOTOGRAPHY FOR COURT PRESENTATION

1. The writing in question can be accurately enlarged so that every quality and characteristic
of it can be clearly and properly interpreted, whether the facts so shown point to
genuineness or to forgery.

2. To provide any number of accurate reproductions of the writing in question, thus affording
unlimited opportunity for study, comparison, and investigation by any number of
examiners, which would not be possible by using the original document in question.

3. The court and jury can also understand and consider an expert's technical testimony
regarding their finding thanks to photographic duplicates, particularly enlargements.

4. Photographs can be cut apart as may be desirable and the various parts classified for
comparison.

5. Photographs are also useful in showing delicate discolorations due to chemical erasures
or other fraudulent changes that otherwise might be overlooked, denied, or
misinterpreted.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF FORENSIC EXAMINER

The forensic examiner has various responsibilities and duties during judicial proceedings.

1. In criminal cases, review the prosecution memorandum.

2. In criminal cases, review the charge filed, which sets forth the specific allegations of the
criminal act.

3. Review the anticipated evidence available to prove and disprove the charge or
information in criminal cases, or support or deny the plaintiffs or respondents' position in
a civil case.

4. Check the evidence to be presented in court, whether criminal or civil.

5. Inform the lawyer of a potential technical problem.

6. Determine the clearest manner to present the testimony in terms that the judge will
understand.

7. Prepared a tentative summary based on the evidence that is expected to be admitted.

8. Supply the lawyer with a written statement of your qualifications as a forensic examiner or
a current resume.

9. Only speak to the issues that the lawyers have brought up in court.

10. Take notes regarding the evidence that is presented and marked as exhibits and prepare
a list of documentary exhibits from both sides, whether in a criminal or civil case.