U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

Adobe Photoshop for Demonstrating Latent Print Uniqueness

NCJ Number
202990
Journal
Journal of Forensic Identification Volume: 56 Issue: 6 Dated: November/December 2003 Pages: 707-721
Author(s)
Kasey Wertheim
Date Published
November 2003
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This article disusses using Adobe Photoshop software in order to demonstrate latent print uniqueness in court testimonies.
Abstract
Latent print examiners have traditionally presented identification testimony in court along with an explanation of the identification process. Adobe Photoshop software may now be used in order to demonstrate latent print uniqueness. After describing some of the features of Photoshop, the article contends that a large percentage of the program’s capabilities are not applicable to latent print examination. There are several features of this software, however, that allow an examiner to demonstrate the unique image detail that was considered when investigators followed the analysis, comparison, and evaluation process. A demonstration works most effectively when latent prints are placed side-by-side. The article describes the features of Adobe Photoshop, step-by-step, in order to illustrate the ways in which this software reveals latent print uniqueness. The author states that the possibilities for future Photoshop presentations of demonstrative forensic evidence in court are vast. 5 Figures, 3 references