This specialized course focuses on the software processing tools and the management of your agency’s forensic digital images. Through “hands-on” exercises, you will learn court approved techniques for processing images with software prior to printing photographs for court. We will also show you how to authenticate any changes to an original image, archive departmentally recorded images, database all of your agency’s digital photos and create standard operating procedures for a proper chain of custody.
You will learn how to use the image software processing tools available in Adobe Photoshop CC, while we explain the do’s and don’ts of the software. We will present the DOJ “SWIGIT” approved best practices for fingerprint pattern enhancements, certifying that your work will stand up to any possible challenges by the court. You will also learn image calibration, including how to scale a photograph of patterned evidence with Adobe Photoshop, and the printing procedures needed to meet the requirements for the expert comparison process.
As part of the class, you will take part in numerous exercises that will build knowledge and confidence through repetition from one practical to the next. Upon completion of the exercises, you will print the project, adjusting scale, resolution and print size. These comprehensive individual enhancement exercises will serve as a final exam and will be reviewed and critiqued by IPTM instructors.
In addition to enhancement techniques, we will teach you methods for managing and archiving the photos that are taken by your agency’s personnel on a daily basis. Best practices for the development of daily work flow, storage requirements, and a database for image management will be demonstrated and discussed. In addition, we will show you how to develop standard operating procedures for governing image management and maintaining a proper chain of custody in compliance with judicial guidelines.
Topics include
- Introduction to Adobe Photoshop
- Image management systems
- Current approaches to digital imaging
- Image database systems
- Standard operating procedures
- Enhancing fingerprints and footwear patterns for investigative comparison and courtroom display presentation
- Printing photographs: scale, resolution, and print size
- Pre-trial preparation, courtroom presentations and testimony
Audience
Forensic or crime scene image management personnel, officers, newly assigned and seasoned detectives, investigations supervisors, crime scene technicians, medical examiner and coroner investigators, military investigative personnel, law enforcement members who are responsible for archiving digital photographs for their agency as well as those who are charged with the task of processing photographs for courtroom display and preparing photographed patterned evidence for comparison purposes
Course length
24 hours
Note(s)
This course is IAI Crime Scene Certification approved.
Prerequisite(s)
You should have a minimal working knowledge of digital camera photography, and the Microsoft Windows platform.
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What Our Students Are Saying
- “Great course and awesome instruction. I learned a lot and enjoyed every minute of it!.” – C.M., Pentagon
- “Good course!” I will share what I’ve learned with my co-workers.” – Cpl. J.C.
- “The hands-on and continuous building on each skill is a game changer.” – Sgt. N.L.
- “Great instructors for this complicated course. I really appreciated how you made the elements of this class much easier to understand in this short time.” – M.W.