An evaluation of line quality in photocopied signatures

Qualified forensic document examiners from Canada, USA, Great Britain and Australia participated in this study. They were sent one photocopied signature, together with a set of original known standards to evaluate the line quality of the photocopied signature and compare these characteristics with the standards. They were asked to assess the photocopies for the presence of tremor, hesitation, pen lifts, patching, blunt initial or terminal strokes, and abrupt changes in direction. The authors compared the assessments with the corresponding original signatures. It was possible to determine which line quality characteristics were the most difficult to detect, which indicia of simulation were concealed and what anomalies were introduced by the photocopying process. Results indicated that line quality characteristics can be identified in average quality photocopies. Furthermore, accurate judgements can be made regarding similarities and differences in line quality when comparing a photocopied signature with original known standards. In a few instances, ink line morphology was problematic when striation patterns and ink gooping were misinterpreted as pen lifts, hesitation and patching on the photocopies.