writing analysis, and forgery analysis can all ensue. Another important discipline in the examination of questioned documents is ink and paper analysis. The type of pen used and the type of ink are often incriminating evidence revealed through chemical analysis. Ink can also be dated to accuracy within six months through ink dating techniques. When documents are questioned regarding the use of a laser printer or photocopier, chemical analysis of the toner used can provide beneficial evidence. Counterfeiting of money or official documents is also detectable through ink analysis, as special colors and dyes are used on these to prevent counterfeiting. For example, the new U.S. currency makes use of shifting inks which are difficult to reproduce and testing to reveal phony reproduction of the inks is a simple process. The same is true for documents like a passport, “Printed as a background in the paper is an intricate pattern of polygons, gradually shifting color through blues, reds and purples. The intricacy of the design itself a security measure, as is the shifting ink color” (Forensic Science Web 5).
There are those who believe that chemical testing and ink dating techniques are inferior to prove a docu
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