UV Scanner

Examination of documents under ultraviolet radiation has become an important aid in determining possible modifications, substitutions, and/or alterations to documents. Forensic analysis of documents often involves creating illustrations of findings. It has not been uncommon to use ultraviolet film for this purpose. Ultraviolet film requires careful handling, special illumination, and occasional trial and error to obtain a good result. In addition, use of ultraviolet film is time consuming and expensive. In late 2000, experiments were undertaken to change a flatbed scanner into an ultraviolet (UV) scanner. The light tubes in several flatbed scanners were replaced, first with a short-range UV tube, then a longrange UV tube. Ultimately, excellent focused images resulted using 1 particular scanner. The UV scanner operates conventionally, although it acts on the radiation, intensity, and frequency band of the tube installed.