Handwriting Analysis

The Summary of Handwriting Analysis

Questioned Document

-Any document about which some issue has been raised or that is the subject of an investigation.

Examination of questioned document :

• Verifying handwriting and signature
• Authenticating documents
• Characterizing papers, pigments and inks used in writing instruments and copying machines
• Restoring erased and obliterated writing
• Determine the relative age of documents and inks

Basic principle of handwriting :

1. No two individuals write exactly the alike
2. All writing contains natural variation so that no writing samples by the same writer will be exactly the same.

There are NO hard and fast rules for judgement on the number of characters for positive conclusion !

How to determine whether a signature or writing sample is authenticated ? 

You always can close-up to these 12 characteristics to determined whether a signature or writing sample has been authenticated :

1. Line quality
2. Spacing of words and letters
3. Ratio of relative height, width and size of letters
4. Pen lift and separations
5. Connecting strokes
6. Beginning and ending strokes
7. Unusual letter formation
8. Shading or pen pressure
9. Slant
10. Baseline habits
11. Flourishes or embellishment
12. Placement of diacritics

Forgery

There are 3 types of forgery :

-Blind forgery

The forger uses his or her own handwriting, does not even try to copy the original signature looks like. Investigators have the highest success rate in identifying this type of forger.

-Simulated forgery

Copying a genuine signature by carefully drawing it. Often the forger practices the signature so much that he can avoid many of the hesitations and pen lifts usually seen in forgery. The forger is often unable to duplicate all the victim's individual handwriting habits.

-Traced forgery

Tracing a genuine signature onto a document. Stereo microscope examination can disclose this type of forgery, because the line quality may be inconsistent.