Enhancement of seminal stains using background correction algorithm with colour filters

Area of Science:

• Forensic Science
• Biophotonics
• Image Processing

Background:

• Biological stains at crime scenes are often invisible to the naked eye.
• Fluorescence imaging aids detection but is hampered by surface material interference.
• Seminal stains fluoresce, presenting a challenge for clear visualization in forensic photography.

Purpose of the Study:

• To enhance the visibility of seminal stains using fluorescence imaging.
• To develop a background correction algorithm (BCA) for improving stain detection.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of common color filters with BCA for forensic applications.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a background correction algorithm (BCA) incorporating mean-based contrast adjustment.
• Employed commonly available yellow, orange, and red color filters for image capture.
• Applied BCA to enhance fluorescence images of seminal stains on various surfaces.
• Tested BCA with different dilutions of seminal stains.

Main Results:

• The proposed method significantly enhanced the visibility of seminal stains.
• BCA effectively corrected for background fluorescence interference from surface materials.
• Improved image contrast and stain distinctness were achieved using common color filters.
• The technique proved effective for seminal stains at varying dilutions.

Conclusions:

• The developed background correction algorithm (BCA) effectively enhances seminal stain visibility.
• Commonly available color filters combined with BCA offer a practical solution for forensic imaging.
• This approach improves the detection of crucial biological evidence in challenging forensic scenarios.