Paper & Ink Examination

FDS also undertakes non-invasive forensic examinations of papers as well as writing and printing inks.  It is necessary to do so in matters where a question arises as to: whether a document has been altered; when an entry was written and/or a document created; the order in which entries were written; whether a document is genuine or counterfeit; recovering and deciphering faded/bleached/obliterated/erased entries; whether documents or entries thereon are original or reproduction; the method of production of a document; whether multiple documents have a common source; and so on.

In those cases where non-invasive examination is unable to provide sufficient information to address the questions raised, it may be necessary to consider invasive paper and/or ink analysis and FDS can put you in contact with specialists in those fields.  Invasive examination techniques require samples to be taken from the document.  Therefore, it is important to remember that all non-invasive forensic examinations and comparisons must be completed prior to invasive examinations in order to avoid loss of potential evidence.