​Instructor:  Aaron Matson
​Course length: 6 hours

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Introduction to Forensic Image Clarification

Course Description: 

Have you heard of the signal-to-noise ratio? Did you know there is often more information available in an image than what you initially see? Did you know that you can use multiple images to generate even more detail?

This webinar is designed for examiners who rely on digital image and digital image clarification for analysis. Students will learn best practices in image acquisition, image workflow, clarification techniques, and the creation of demonstrative exhibits. This webinar may be of special interest to forensic photographers, latent print and footwear examiners, or other pattern evidence examiners who are interested in clarifying analytical details within a digital image. The majority of course examples will be focused on Latent Print and Footwear imagery, although the techniques demonstrated would be applicable to those in forensic disciplines where image clarification plays a key role.

While there are countless image editing programs available for both general and very specialized use, Adobe Photoshop will be the primary focus of this course due to its accessibility, versatility, and the powerful toolsets that can be used in a nondestructive and repeatable workflow. Some additional programs will be demonstrated and utilized (programs with download links listed below).

Students will benefit most from the webinar using a laptop or desktop computer with the following programs installed prior to the course:

• Adobe Photoshop (7-day free trial available)
• Adobe Bridge -Free
• Image J - Free
• MD5 Summer - Free

Recommended minimum computer requirements can be found here: https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/system-requirements.html

General Outline:

• 1.  Image Acquisition (30 mins)
  • Analogue vs Digital
  • Capture Methods
    • Camera
      • Lighting Techniques
    • Scanner
  • File types and Compression
  • Color Modes (Part 1)
  • Bit-Depth
• 2.  Image Integrity (30 mins)
  • Federal Rules of Evidence
  • Best Practice for Digital Image Management
    • Authenticity
    • Storage
    • File Workflows
      • File Naming/Archiving
      • Generating Hash sums
    • Original v Working Copies
    • History Logs / Note Taking
    • Resources (IAI, SWG’s, OSAC)
• 3.  Software and Setup (60 mins)
  • Generating/Verifying Hash Sums
  • Pattern Removal software
  • Plugins
  • Alternatives to Photoshop
  • Adobe Bridge
    • Overview
      • Tools
      • Preferences
      • General Uses
  • Adobe Photoshop
    • History Log
    • Workspaces
    • Shortcuts
    • Tools
    • Preferences
• 4.  Image Analysis and Techniques (120 mins)
  • Image assessment
  • Histograms
    • Levels / Curves
    • Contrast
    • Gamma
  • Local v global adjustments
    • Selection
  • Layers
    • Adjustment Layers
    • Masks
  • Color Modes (Part II)
  • Color Channels
    • Mixer
    • Black and White Tool
  • Calculations
    • Single Image
    • Multiple Images
  • Pattern Removal (FFT)
  • Subtraction
    • Erasure
  • Substitution
  • Actions
    • Creating
    • Exporting/Importing (provided)
  • Image Stacking
    • Registration
    • Frame averaging
    • Focus
    • HDR
  • Sharpening
    • Deconvolution
  • Scripts
  • Image Calibration
    • Sizing 1:1
    • Perspective Correction
  • Clarification Workflows/Sequence
  • Enlargements
    • Interpolation
  • Charting
• 5.  Courtroom (90 mins)
  • Terminology
  • Case History
  • Preparation and Considerations
    • Demonstrative Exhibits
• 6.  Review Q&A (30 mins)
  • Final Exam

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*This course has been approved for 6 hours of certification/re-certification credits by the following IAI certification boards: Forensic Video, Tenprint, Latent Print, & Bloodstain Pattern Analysis, plus 6 hours of re-certification credits by the Crime Scene & Footwear certification boards.
(*1 hour of credit for testimony credit due to terminology and preparation of aids.)

See our IAI certification page for more details.

Aaron Matson

Aaron Matson began his career as a Forensic Imaging Specialist with the Wisconsin Department of Justice in 2001 and currently serves as the Forensic Imaging Unit Technical Lead for the State. He obtained his degree in Photography and has a background in color management and lithography. With over 20 years of experience in Forensic Photography and Forensic Image/Video analysis, he enjoys educating others in the classroom, as well as the courtroom, in all aspects of Forensic Imaging.
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Aaron currently serves on the Photography task groups for both OSAC (Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science) and SWGDE (Scientific Working Group on Digital Evidence). 

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