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Instruments and Apparatus Used in Questioned Document Examinations

This document describes various instruments and techniques used in questioned document examinations. It lists microscopes, lamps, plates, and other tools used to examine documents at different magnifications and wavelengths of light. Key examination techniques include microscopic analysis to detect alterations, transmitted and oblique light examinations to view erasures or outlines, and ultraviolet and infrared examinations to detect hidden writing or security features not visible to the naked eye. Photographic documentation is also an essential part of the examination process.

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39K views1 page

Instruments and Apparatus Used in Questioned Document Examinations

This document describes various instruments and techniques used in questioned document examinations. It lists microscopes, lamps, plates, and other tools used to examine documents at different magnifications and wavelengths of light. Key examination techniques include microscopic analysis to detect alterations, transmitted and oblique light examinations to view erasures or outlines, and ultraviolet and infrared examinations to detect hidden writing or security features not visible to the naked eye. Photographic documentation is also an essential part of the examination process.

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gracia
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© © All Rights Reserved
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INSTRUMENTS AND APPARATUS USED IN QUESTIONED DOCUMENT EXAMINATIONS

A. MAGNIFYING LENS – Bank personnel and other people involved in currency examinations
usually use and ordinary hand-lens; the maximum diameter of which is four inches, and this
appears big with its wide frame it has a magnifying power of two times the original only.
Magnifying lenses of five times or more magnifying power, with built-in-lighting are more useful.
B. SHADOWGRAPH – a pictorial image formed by casting a shadow, usually of the hands, upon a
rightful surface or screen.
C. STEREOSCOPIC BINOCULAR MICROSCOPE – a tri-dimensional (3D) enlargement is possible.
D. MEASURES AND TEST PLATES (TRANSPARENT GLASS) – those used for signatures and
typewritings.
E. TABLE LAMPS WITH ADJUSTABLE SHADES (Goose Neck Lamps) – used for controlled
illumination; needed in sidelight examination wherein light is placed at a low-angle in a position
oblique to plane or document.
F. TRANSMITTED LIGHT GADGET – a device where light comes from beneath or behind glass on
document is placed.
G. ULTRA VIOLET LAMP – this is usually used in the detection of counterfeited bills but can
actually be used to detect security features of qualified documents.
H. INFRARED VIEWER – primarily used to decipher writings in a charred document.
I. COMPARISON MICROSCOPE – similar to that of the bullet comparison microscope.

TECHNIQUES IN THE EXAMINATION OF QUESTIONED DOCUMENTS:


A. MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION - Any examination or study which is made with the microscope
in order to discover minute physical details. Stereoscopic 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 or illumination, 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.
B. TRANSMITTED LIGHT EXAMINATION-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.
C. OBLIQUE LIGHT EXAMINATION - 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.
D. PHOTOGRAPHIC EXAMINATION - This type of examination is very essential in every document
examination. Actual observations are recorded in the photographs.
E. ULTRA-VIOLET EXAMINATION - Ultraviolet radiation is invisible and occurs in the wave lengths
just below the visible blue-violet end of the spectrum (rainbow).  These visible rays react on some
substances so that visible light is reflected, a phenomenon known as FLOURESCENCE.
This type of examination is done in a darkroom after the lamp has been warmed up in order to
give a maximum output of the ultra-violet light. Exposure to the ultra-violet light should be to the
minimum duration in order to avoid fading of some writing ink and typewriter ribbon.
F. INFRARED EXAMINATION - 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.

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