Photographic Rays – Its Nature and Characteristics

Light

Light is one of a number of known forms of radiant electromagnetic energy which travel in
wave motion. Actually, there are other theories that explains the behavior of light (ex. Quantum
theory). But for our purpose the wave theory is the only one considered. This form of energy
travels at a speed of about 186 000 miles per second in air, but they differ in wavelength and
frequency. Wavelength is the distance from the crest (highest point) to the wave to then next
succeeding crest while frequency is the number of waves passing in a given point in one second.
The product of two is the speed of travel.

THEORIES OF LIGHT

1. The WAVE Theory (Huygens)

 It is the theory that was transcribed from the motion of the water that if we
observe a piece of log floating in the ocean and with the force of the air would naturally will
make the log move up and down.

2. Corpuscular Theory (Newton)

 This later opposed the wave theory stating that light has its effect by the motion of
very small particles such as electrons.

3. Modified Wave Theory (Maxwell and Hertz)

 Based on electromagnetics

The speed of the various radiant energy is constant at a given medium, but varies with other
media. For example, the speed of light in ordinary glass is only about two-third of its speed in air.
Actually, it is only the wavelength that changes, frequency remains constant. However, frequency

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is much more difficult to measure, wavelength could be determined with accuracy. Hence, we
identify a particular radiation by its wavelength. Wavelength is measured by the angstrom unit or
in terms of millimicrons (English system measure) or nanometer (metric system of measure).

• Millimicron/ nanometer is the units of light wavelength which is equivalent to one-

millionth part of a millimetre.

• Angstrom is relatively smaller for it has an equivalent measurement of ten (10)

millionth part of a millimetre.

• Micron equivalent to one thousand part of millimicron.

The different energies in electromagnetic spectrum are the following: Cosmic rays, Gamma
rays, X-rays, Ultraviolet ray, Visible light, Infrared rays, Heat rays, Hertzian waves, and
alternating current oscillations.

The energies that are capable of being recorded on sensitized materials are X-rays,
Ultraviolet ray, Visible light, and Infrared rays. They are sometimes referred to as the four
photographic rays of modern photography. The wavelength of X-ray is from 01-30 nanometers,
Ultraviolet rays from 30-400 nanometers, Visible light from 400-700 nanometers, and Infrared rays
from 700-1000+ nanometers. In fact, the infrared rays extend beyond 2000 nanometers but the
longest wavelength that present sensitized materials (film) could record is only up to this limit.

The Webster Dictionary defines light as a radiant electromagnetic energy that can be seen
by the naked eye. The scientific definition of light is the aspect of radiant energy of which a human
observer is aware through the visual sensations which arise from the stimulation of the retina of
the eye.

Photographic Rays

X-ray

Light with the wavelength between .01 to 30 millimicrons.

It was incidentally discovered by Conrad Welhelm Roentgen.

This type of light works in the principle of shadow photography.

Ultra-violet ray

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 Having a wavelength of 30 to 400 nanometers designed to photograph fingerprints in
multi colored background, documents that are altered, decipherment of erase writing and
developing invisible writing.

Visible Light

It refers to the type of radiation having a wavelength of 400 to 700 millimicrons designed
for ordinary photographing purposes.

Infra-red

Considered as the photographic rays with the longest wavelength ranging from 700 to 1000
millimicrons. It is designed to take photograph of over-written documents, obliterated writing, and
charred documents or for black out photography.

Visible light

Is the type of light that produces different sensation when reach the human eye. It is the
type of light, which is capable of exciting the retina of the human eye.

Invisible light

Lights in which their wavelength are either too short or too long to excite the retina of the
human eye.

By definition all lights are visible. For this reason, the word “visible” is superfluous in that
common expression “visible light”. What the eye cannot see are referred to as radiations.

Light energy has several effects on an object. It is either reflected, absorbed, transmitted or
converted. The varying combinations of this reflectance and absorption are what gives us the wide
variety of colors which we are able to perceive, at times, other light are neither reflected or
absorbed but is transmitted through the object. This transmitted light passing through the object
and allows a viewer on the other side of the object to perceive these light waves.

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 The final effect of radiant energy may have on an object is to be converted to another
wavelength. This conversion is known as luminescence. There are two types of luminescence:
the fluorescence and phosphorescence.

Fluorescence – is the ability of an object to convert one wavelength to another as long as

the active energy source is irradiating the object.

Phosphorescence – the object not only converts the wavelength while being irradiated but
continuous to reflect the new wavelengths for a period time after the energy source is removed.

White Light

When all wavelengths between 400-700 nanometers are presented to the eye in nearly
equal quantity, we get the sensation or perception of colorless or white light. If a narrow beam of
white light is allowed to pass through a prism it will bend the light of shorter wavelength more than
those with longer wavelength thus spreading them out into the visible spectrum. These are colors
of the rainbow- the red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet.

If we divide the wavelength of visible light (400-700 nanometer) equally into three (from
400-500 nanometer, 500-600 nanometer, 600-700 nanometer) we will produce blue, green, and
red colors. These are known as the three primary colors of light as differentiated from the three
primary colors of paints, dyes, and coloring matters which are the blue, yellow, and red.

Additive Color Mixture

When three projectors with beams of lights projecting individually blue, green and red and
have the three beams overlap over the other, we will note that the portion where the blue and
green lights merged over the other, it will produce cyan color, the green and red lights a yellow
color, and the red and blue lights a magenta color. At the center where the blue, green and red
light where combined in proper ratio, we see white light. In this aspect, cyan, yellow, and magenta
are known as the secondary colors of light. For practical purpose, white is the presence of all
colors while black is the absence of all colors or the absence of light.

Additive color mixture

B+G=C

B+R=M

G+R=Y

Subtractive Color Mixture

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 This time, the light beams of the three projectors will be covered each with cyan filter,
yellow filter, and magenta filter and have the beams of light projected one over the other.

The cyan filter will transmit blue and green light but absorbs red from white light.

A yellow filter will transmit green and red light but absorbs blue from white light.

Similarly, a magenta filter will transmit red and blue light but absorbs green from white light.

Subtractive color mixture

Cyan filter=blue and green light

Magenta filter=blue and red light

Yellow Filter=green and red light

Action of light

Reflected = once the light hits a mirror and it is bounce back.

Absorbed = when the light is block by the surface where it falls(opaque).

Transmitted = light that passed through usually in the transparent object such as plain glass.

Bending of Light

When travelling in open space, light travels in straight line. However, when light comes in
contact with an object, it may be bended in the following manner.

1. Reflection – is the deflection or bouncing back of light when hits a surface.

a. Regular reflection – happens when light hits a flat, smooth and shiny surface.
b. Irregular or diffused reflection – occurs when light hits a rough or uneven but glossy
object.

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 2. Refraction – the bending of light when passing from one medium to another.

3. Diffraction – the bending of light when it hits a sharp edge of an opaque object.

4. Dispersion

Color may arise from differences in the refractive or bending power of a transparent
medium of light of different wavelength. The rainbow is a good example of this
phenomenon.

Kinds of object as to how they behave to light

1. Transparent object
Allows sufficient visible light to pass through them that the object on the other side
maybe clearly seen.
2. Translucent object
Allows light to pass, however diffuse it sufficiently that object on the other side may
not be clearly distinguish.
3. Opaque
Greatly diffuse the light that recognizing the object on the other side is very difficult.

Sources of light

1. Natural light source

Those coming from nature like the sun, moon, stars, other heavenly bodies,
lightning, fire, etc. While all of these sources could now be used for photographic
use, for practical reasons, the discussion will be limited to sunlight only. With sunlight
there are actually several sources. Primarily those coming directly from the sun,

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 secondarily those being reflected by clouds or the sky. The intensity of sunlight
falling on an object in open space varies depending on the weather condition, time of
the day, or even time of the year. For a more accurate exposure setting at daylight,
only one characteristic is considered – the kind of shadow casted by an object in
open space.

a. Bright sunlight – a lighting condition where objects in open space cast a deep and
uniform or distinct shadow.
b. Hazy sunlight – objects in open space cast a transparent shadow.
c. Dull sunlight – objects in open space cast no shadow.
c.1. Cloudy bright – objects in open space cast no shadow but objects at far
distance are clearly visible.
c.2. Cloudy dull – objects in open space cast no shadow and visibility of
distant objects are already limited.
2. Artificial light source
Light sources of this category are man-made and is divided into continuous radiation
and the short duration.
a. Continuous radiation – are those that can give illumination continuously. The
common light sources of this kind are the fluorescent lamp, incandescent lamp,
carbon arc lamp, photoflood lamp, gas lamp, etc.

b. Short duration (Flash unit) - gives a brief flash of light produced by a burning
metallic wire (flash bulb) or an electrical discharge through a gas-filled tube
(electronic flash).

Forensic Light Sources

1. Ultraviolet lamps
Ultraviolet lamps used in forensic work come in variety of shape, sizes, and power.
Some units are portable battery operated and are easily carried and can meet the rugged
and rigorous demand for wield work.
The ultraviolet radiation is broken down into the longwave U.V., the medium U.V.
and the short wave U.V.

a. Long wave UV –is used in a wide variety of applications in medical and forensics.

b. Medium wave UV – used in chemical analysis and in curing and hardening of

different items for industrial applications.

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 c. Short wave UV – used for variety of purpose such as sterilize air and place of
work. An effective germicide, destroying many biological contaminants.

2. LASER – Light Amplification through Simulated Emission of Radiation

Although developed years earlier it was in 1970’s that it was discovered that by
illuminating certain items with LASER, they would fluoresce or could be made to stand out
in sharp contrast from their background. This was especially significant in locating dried
biological stains such as semen, urine and saliva, as well as stains that had been washed.
The LASER stimulation of these items provided a way for the criminalist to finally see,
locate, and visually record evidence that they know that they had missing. The only
drawback of LASER is their cost, they are quite expensive.

LASER is also known as coherent light.

Concurrent – scattered

3. Alternative Light Source

The alternative light source was developed in mid-1980’s as a far more inexpensive
alternative to forensic LASER. The ALS uses a variety of band pass filters to provide a high
intensity beam of non-coherent light. These multiple band filters allow the operator to match
the LASER frequency available at crime scene. Additional wavelength was included to
allow the ALS to operate in the UV, near UV and IR Spectrum. ALS technology had
advance to a point whereby using the combination of filter and an adjustable iris to control
the width of the transmission band, various wavelength from UV to IR may be digitally
selected. This allows the operator to scan an almost endless variety of wavelength instead
of being restricted `to the specific band pass filter capabilities.
4. Forensic Light Source

The FLS is a term being applied to a wide variety of relatively inexpensive light
sources which use filtered white light. A band of pass filters allows fairly narrow band of
light to pass through.

The white light source used with the FLS is a simple as a maglight type handheld
flashlight or a spotlight with the filter in place.

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