Printing is one of the greatest inventions, touching practically every aspect of business and daily life. Besides the printed text and images on documents, books, newspapers and magazines, we can also find them on food and pharmaceutical packaging, sticker labels etc. Different technologies are used for printing different types of products. Offset lithography is widely used for printing books, magazines, newspapers while intaglio printing is associated with currency and security documents. Flexography and gravure printing are observed on packaging materials, while inkjet and toner printing are found on computer-generated documents. Different printing technologies impart different types of printing characteristics to the printed product.
VALUE OF FORENSIC ANALYSIS
In cases of cheating and fraud, forensic analysis can play an important role in resolving disputes involving the authenticity or source of a document though the examination of the printed materials. Examination of the printing on the packaging material of suspected counterfeit products can also help to address concerns of patent infringement.
DOCUMENTS
Forensic document examiners are sometimes given documents purported to be originals. However, upon further examination, these “original” documents turn out to be printed reproductions that possess sufficiently high resolution to convince the untrained eye that the signatures have been physically signed in ink. Sometimes, being able to show through forensic examinations that a signature had been reproduced or manipulated may be sufficient to resolve a dispute or win a settlement. Two documents can also be compared to determine if one was reproduced from the other, or if both sets of documents are reproductions of a master copy. Forensic examinations of the printed contents can also be used to associate various documents, and in some cases, lead one to a specific printer.
PACKAGING MATERIALS
Besides 
documents, packaging materials of many consumer products such as food and medication also bear printed words or images. When the products are suspected of being counterfeits, these unobtrusive printed materials can prove crucial to determining the authenticity of the products. It is a common misperception that the content of a product determines its authenticity (e.g. presence of the active ingredients in medication). However, packaging materials should not be overlooked as they can provide vital information. Ironically, the finishes and quality of print in the counterfeit product may sometimes appear to be better than that of the genuine product.
HOW WE CAN HELP YOU
If you suspect that the documents you possess (e.g. wills, housing deeds, insurance policies, cheques, payment vouchers) may be fraudulent, a product to be a counterfeit, or if you have a case related to patent infringement, do not hesitate to approach our forensic experts with your queries.
Please call us at 6459 0494 or email us at enquiries@forensicexperts.com.sg.