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Printing appears on the majority of documents we see, including those used for identity and financial purpose. Printed information can be created using commercial or security printing processes, or through readily accessible equipment such as desktop printers, photocopiers, typewriters or fax machines.

The detailed microscopic examination of printed information can identify:

• the type, or types, of printing process used to create a document
• whether printed security features appearing are genuine or not
• individual characteristics that link a series of documents
• that a document is produced using technology unavailable on the date it was purportedly created
• that a series of documents purportedly created contemporaneously have not been created at one time
• that a document has been created on a particular machine

Valuable documents, such as identity documents, can be created using highly secure printing processes and ink; adding significant quality to the end product. This secure printing on a genuine document is designed to be difficult or impossible to replicate, and examination of a document of concern can identify fraud.

The examination of printing is therefore critical to the identification of counterfeit or manipulated documents. The detailed examination can demonstrate that incorrect or inappropriate print processes have been used to create security features or other information.

As with any comparison, appropriate specimen material may be required to assist in determining the significance or otherwise of characteristics of printing observed on a document.

Occasions where this type of examination may be conducted include identity documents, educational qualifications, certificates, contracts, accounting records or bank statements.