This is FREE webinar thanks to the generous support of Foray Technologies.
Adobe Photoshop has become a ubiquitous part of the forensic science community, and has cemented itself as an essential tool for processing (enhancement) of impression evidence. The clarity of ridge detail can be improved significantly by suppressing background color noise as well as by adjusting contrast following proper techniques. The improper use of certain processing methods can degrade image clarity and quality, and more importantly it can negatively impact the value of the impression for analysis and comparison. After participating in this three-hour webinar, participants will have a better understanding of the functions and tools in Adobe® Photoshop® CC/CS that are used for forensic digital image processing.
The following is a brief outline of the topics that will be taught in this webinar.
- Configuring Adobe Photoshop Preferences
- Calibrating images for 1:1 output/AFIS
- Background suppression
a. Using color modes to suppress background noise
b. Additional techniques to suppress background noise
i. Hue/Saturation
ii. Black & White
iii. Camera RAW as a filter
c. Suppressing color background noise with Calculations
4. “Best Practices” for adjusting contrast
a. Selecting an “area of interest” for processing
b. Enhancement Techniques for creating contrast:
i. Levels
ii. Curves
iii. Shadows/Highlights
iv. Apply Image
c. Using filters to suppress noise
i. Noise > Dust and Scratches feature
ii. Sharpen > Sharpen and Unsharp Mask options
d. Adjusting image orientation (rotation) while mitigating artifacts
NOTE: Digital images used for webinar will be available upon request (via WeTransfer.com) to allow participants to work with the images during the webinar as well as use the images for refresher training after the webinar. Please send email request to ski@foray.com.
About The Instructor:
David Witzke
Vice President, Program Management, Foray Technologies
With more than 20 years of AFIS and digital imaging experience, David Witzke (better known as Ski) is Vice President, Program Management for Foray Technologies, is considered one of the foremost experts in forensic digital image processing technologies. His background includes software development, systems installation and integration, technical support, and training. Because of his established reputation in forensic digital image processing, Ski has been asked to speak at hundreds of regional, national and international conferences. Ski was also a guest instructor of the Digital Imaging of Evidentiary Photography training program at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia for nearly eight years, and was the instructor for the Forensic Digital Image Processing program at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) in Vancouver, BC for more than six years. Ski is a contributing writer for three well-known books: Crime Scene Photography (Third Edition, published 2016 by Academic Press), Introduction to Crime Scene Photography (published 2012 by Academic Press) and Footwear, The Missed Evidence (Third Edition, Published 2013 by Staggs Publishing). (Crime Scene Photography has been chosen by the IAI certification committees for the Certified Crime Scene Investigator (CCSI) Certification Test, the Certified Crime Scene Analyst (CCSA) Certification Test, the Certified Senior Crime Scene Analyst (CSCSA) Certification Test, and the Forensic Photography Certification Test.) Ski has also been the chairperson of the Digital Imaging Subcommittee of both the Chesapeake Bay and Florida Divisions of the IAI, and is an associate member of the European Network of Forensic Science Institutes Fingerprint Working Group (ENFSI-FWG), a member of the NIST Video Imaging and Technology Analysis (VITAL) Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science, and an Adjunct Professor at George Washington University in Washington, DC.
