WRITING INK AND WRITING INSTRUMENTS
Inks appearing on questioned documents may be examined for the purpose of comparing with other inks on those documents, with ink on other documents or with ink in seized pens. Sequence of entry can sometimes be determined.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Non-destructive techniques used in the analysis of inks involve microscopic examinations and the use of various wavelengths of radiation (e.g., visible light, infrared and ultraviolet radiation, filters, etc.). Although useful in the elimination of some inks, these techniques are not as definitive as destructive techniques, in which small discs are removed from the ink lines.
By utilizing destructive techniques, it is possible to determine if two inks on the same or different documents are of the same formulation or if the ink on a document and the ink in a seized pen are of the same formulation. By comparing with a library of ink standards it is possible to determine the manufacturer of the ink and the date it was introduced (useful in detecting backdated documents).
SUBMITTER'S RESPONSIBILITIES
All evidence should be inventoried and submitted with the request letter outlining the writing ink analysis. Specify the entries in question and include a notation to indicate that a comparison is to be made between certain inks or between inks on documents and inks in writing pens.