Document Forensics aims to verify the integrity of physical and digital documents, examining possible tampering, grafting, forgery, signature transplants, and chemical or technological alterations.

At ZR2 Forensics, we perform everything from conventional visual analyses to advanced document forensics, such as chemometrics (Q+ Document Forensics), which can identify the type of printing, ink composition, and even estimate the production date of a document or signature—with minimal impact on the examined document.

We use state-of-the-art equipment, such as 3D scanners, microscopes, and special software, allowing us to detect forgeries, sophisticated forgeries, and alterations invisible to the naked eye.

We also perform preliminary evaluations of copies, issuing a report or technical opinion on the limits and feasibility of the analysis, depending on the purpose and condition of the material presented.

IT’S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE

Document Forensics: This is the analysis of documents in general, unrelated to handwriting forensics.

Forensic Document Analysis: This is the analysis of physical or digital documents to determine their integrity or falsification (tampering).

DOCUMENTOSCOPIC EXPERTISE:

Conventional Document Analysis:
General visual analysis of the document’s latent characteristics, often applied to paper money and other official documents with security mechanisms, such as holographic seals.

Advanced Document Analysis:
Microscopic analysis of paper fibers, as well as chemical baths, ink analysis, and grafts, common in more sophisticated tampering.

Q+ Document Analysis (Chemometrics):
Analysis of the dating of paper and ink using a reference method. In this case, it is possible to assign an approximate date to the paper or ink, in addition to determining when it was signed, printed, or written. By analyzing the printing or writing ink, it is also possible to determine its date. Q+ Document Analysis is the technique that causes the least damage to the document being examined and has the lowest forensic cost.

IS IT POSSIBLE TO PERFORM DOCUMENTOSCOPY EXAMINATION ON A COPY?
The correct answer is: it depends. As a rule, when the examination aims to determine the integrity of the document, the answer is no. However, if the objective is to determine the authorship of the writing, the examination must take into account several requirements to ensure the expert report is conclusive or merely indicative. Therefore, it is crucial that the expert perform a preliminary analysis and indicate the detrimental effects of analyzing a copy, depending on the specific case.

WHAT IS ADVANCED DOCUMENTOSCOPY?
It is an examination capable of identifying document assemblies and banknotes, as well as examining printing ink and writing.

The analysis can only be performed on physical copies, using high-resolution equipment such as microscopes, stereoscopes, and special scanners (such as 3D or orbital) to identify possible alterations.