Applying Specific Digital Enhancement Techniques To ESDA-Developed Impressions

The ESDA (Electrostatic Detection Apparatus), IMEDD (Indentation Materializer Electrostatic Document Device) and other instruments and techniques are employed routinely by Forensic Document Examiners (FDEs) in an effort to locate, decipher and preserve indented writings or impressions. The impressions developed on the polymer film sheet using the ESDA or IMEDD, regardless of technique, will frequently be less than optimum and defy successful decipherment and/or poor legibility. A study was conducted to determine whether the use of specific digital enhancement techniques significantly improved the legibility and decipherment of impressions developed by the ESDA on polymer film. The results of this study will be presented as well as the specific techniques that were utilized.