Alterations: Erasures and Obliterations of Documents

Forensic document examiners (FDEs)

They are frequently tasked with the examination of a document to ascertain whether any erasures or entries have been altered, or to decipher any entries that have been overwritten and obscured.

Visible light spectrum

The range of light wavelengths that the human eye can normally see.

alternative wavelengths

It is possible to identify, analyze, and restore questioned entries by using ______ created by filters and light sources.

video spectral comparator (VSC)

Foster & Freeman Ltd. (UK) manufactures_____ instruments that are used in institutions ranging from banks to full-service crime laboratories.

Foster & Freeman Ltd. (UK)

They manufacture video spectral comparator (VSC) intruments.

DocuCenter / Docubox

* These tools give the examiner the ability to quickly and with a variety of wavelengths examine documents.
* It enables quick and simple documentation of the examination-related evidence.

Projectina AG

They produced the DocuCenter or Docubox

UV/IR camera

Fuji developed a ______ that enables an examiner to take direct digital pictures of effects visible in the UV and IR wavelengths.

LAB-Color Mode

A promising analytical tool for ink comparison is Photoshop's _____.

electrostatic detection devices (EDDs)

Indented impressions in paper are discovered using_____.

Additive alterations

made by adding content to a document.

visual inspection

A ____ of a document's obverse side might reveal entries that aren't lined up.

Line crossings

____ that don't occur in the expected order can indicate an alteration.

Oblique lighting

_____ is used to examine the reverse side of handwritten documents to see if there is any difference in the level of embossing from the obverse side.

special grids

Using _____ can demonstrate that the contested text was added later if the alteration was made by adding text after it was initially typewritten.

E-ruler

A type of ruler used in the graphics industry, is the measurement tool for font size and interlinear spacing.

Toner

A resinous material that sits on the paper and gives it an embossed appearance.

Tektronix

Most ink-jet printers use liquid ink that soaks into the paper, some are solid inks. _______ introduced these in 1991.

trash marks

These blemishes are caused by blemishes on the copying platen, rollers within the machine, the drum, and charging devices or cleaners.

Mechanical erasure

The entry is rubbed off using an abrasive substance.

Chemical erasures

These are typically used to remove ink lines or commercial printing. Bleach, acetone, brake fluid, and other chemical mixtures are examples of solvents.

IRR / IRL

______ examinations are frequently successful in filtering the obliterating ink to reveal the original.

Backlighting

It is usually enough to reveal the obliterated entry in the first instance.