© 2025 Journal of Forensic Science and Medicine | Published by Wolters Kluwer ‑ Medknow 26
Original Article
INTRODUCTION
The determination of the sequence of crossing ink lines means to
determine the order in which two ink lines intersect each other
while writing on a paper. It is an essential part of questioned
document examination when the document is in question of being
altered without the authentication of the owner.
[1]
Throughout the
years, researchers have segregated various aspects of it to study
the morphologic analysis of the ink lines. There is insufficient
knowledge concerning the physicochemical analysis of two
writing inks intersecting on a sheet of paper. A number of
influencing factors contribute to the complexity of this aspect,
including type and color of ink and paper, type of writing
instrument, and variety of cross‑combinations. Speed, pressure,
dragging of ink, direction or shape of stroke, or the time between
writing also plays a critical role in stroke formation.
[2]
There
are different techniques for the visualization of the sequence
of strokes. The most commonly used one is spectroscopy. The
order of line crossing has been successfully determined using
the combined technologies of focused ion beam and scanning
electron microscope/energy dispersive X‑ray instrument by
some researchers. Various spectroscopic and nondestructive
techniques such as absorption/reflectance spectra, docubox
dragon, electrostatic detection apparatus, stereomicroscope,
video spectral comparator, infrared spectroscopy, atomic force
microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscope with
energy‑dispersive X‑ray spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy
have been utilized for the sequence examination till date. There
are mainly two types of intersections, i.e., homogenous and
heterogeneous. A homogeneous line intersection is the result
from writing with two similar inks, and a heterogeneous line
intersection is the result of using two different writing inks.
Fluorescence spectroscopy is a promising analytical method for
analysis of ink since it combines light microscopy’s magnifying
capabilities with the ability to see the fluorescence. A fluorescence
microscope, in contrast to a regular microscope, uses a significantly
A Forensic Approach in the Determination of Sequence of
Strokes using Fluorescence Spectrometry
Vartika Khare
1
, Anu Singla
1
, Pawan Gupta
2
1
Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Institute of Forensic Science and Criminology, Bundelkhand University, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, India,
2
Uttar Pradesh State Institute of Forensic
Science, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
Background: Fluorescence Microscope is a promising analytical method for the examination of the sequence of strokes of writing inks of
different colours, brands, and models in a questioned document. Aims and Objectives: In the present article, an attempt has been made to
categorize the writing inks of different brands and colours on the basis of their fluorescence. Materials and Methods: A total of 36 writing inks
were used to make the different intersections on a standard A4 sheet which were then analyzed under the excitation filters of the Fluorescence
Microscope. Results: The results indicated that the different inks can be characterized optically based on the luminescent components of the
ink present in crossed lined intersections. Conclusions: Fluorescence Microscopy is a relatively simple, fast, inexpensive, and non‑destructive
technology that can be used in conjunction with other, more complex, and expensive technologies to identify the sequence of line crossing. It can
provide a novel way of analysis based on the assessment of microelement analysis and the characteristics of diverse ink handwriting samples.
Keywords: Fluorescence microscope, forensic science, handwriting, ink discrimination, questioned documents, sequence of strokes
Access this article online
Quick Response Code:
Website:
https://journals.lww.com/jfsm
DOI:
10.4103/jfsm.jfsm_43_23
Address for correspondence: Miss. Vartika Khare,
Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Institute of Forensic Science and Criminology,
Bundelkhand University, Kanpur Road, Jhansi ‑ 284 128, Uttar Pradesh,
India.
E‑mail: vartikakhare22@gmail.com
This is an open access journal, and arcles are distributed under the terms of the
Creave Commons Aribuon‑NonCommercial‑ShareAlike 4.0 License, which allows
others to remix, tweak, and build upon the work non‑commercially, as long as
appropriate credit is given and the new creaons are licensed under the idencal terms.
For reprints contact: WKHLRPMedknow_reprints@wolterskluwer.com
How to cite this article: Khare V, Singla A, Gupta P. A forensic approach
in the determination of sequence of strokes using fluorescence spectrometry.
J Forensic Sci Med 2025;11:26‑31.
Abstract
Submitted: 09‑Apr‑2023 Revised: 07‑Jul‑2023
Accepted: 02‑Aug‑2023 Published: 28‑Feb‑2025