A comparative research of two lifting methods: electrostatic lifter and gelatin lifter

Area of Science:

• Forensic Science
• Trace Evidence Analysis

Background:

• Two-dimensional dust shoeprints possess high resolution and unique identifying features.
• Effective lifting techniques are crucial for preserving the fine details of these prints.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the effectiveness of gelatin lifters and electrostatic lifters for dust shoeprint recovery.
• To determine the optimal sequence for applying these lifting methods.

Main Methods:

• Dry dust shoeprints were created on various substrates.
• Wet dust shoeprints were created on paper.
• Gelatin lifters and electrostatic lifters were used to recover prints from each substrate.
• The quality of lifted prints was evaluated based on detail preservation.

Main Results:

• Gelatin lifters demonstrated superiority on most tested substrates and for wet prints.
• The sequential application of electrostatic lifting followed by gelatin lifting yielded the best results for print recovery.

Conclusions:

• Gelatin lifters are highly effective for preserving details in dust shoeprints.
• A combined approach using electrostatic and gelatin lifters offers the most comprehensive method for shoeprint recovery.