NCJ Number
220226
Journal
Journal of Forensic Identification Volume: 57 Issue: 5 Dated: September/October 2007 Pages: 658-671
Date Published
September 2007
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This paper discusses an enhancement method that uses the perspective control lens for the recording of difficult-to-capture, two-dimensional footwear impressions.
Abstract
The enhancement technique was tested on different types of footwear impressions on different type substrates where photographic recovery by ambient lighting and oblique forensic lighting was not feasible. A footwear impression is a common type of evidence found at crime scenes. Photography is the primary, and often the best, method to document and record footwear impressions. However, impressions may be difficult to recover using normal photography when the impressions are faint, are in a wet substance, or appear as colors and tones similar to that of the recipient surface. In this paper, photographic enhancement using the combined effect of overhead lighting and the use of the tilt and shift lens was studied to develop an additional technique for the recovery of difficult-to-capture, two-dimensional footwear impressions. 1 table, 1 reference, 11 figures