One of our areas of expertise is surface and colloid chemistry which is related to the chemical relationships and interactions between the surface properties of a sheet of paper and the inks and toners that are printed on the paper. This expertise is invaluable in document dating and identifying paper sources.

​Years of working with companies like Xerox, HP, Cannon and Deluxe Check has given us the understanding of this interface of paper and printing properties. Our paper scientists have developed papers for laser, inkjet and micr printing purposes and understands the unique properties of each of these technologies and how they interact with the surface of a sheet of paper.

As technology advances, so do the methods that fraudsters use to alter documents. With a degree in Paper Science & Engineering Doug has the expertise to apply scientific methodologies to examine and report his forensic document analysis.

​Doug also has an understanding of how printers work and can explain why printers often exhibit unique properties to the text they print. An example would be why a laser printer leaves toner specs around some of the letters. These are clues to identify if all pages within a document were printed on the same printer or not. Most printers have some unique properties that can be identified through examination, as long as you understand what to look for.

​The utilization of scientific analysis and reporting provides objective evidence versus subjective. Science and data provide the hard facts for juries and judges to come to the proper judgements in cases.

The importance of having the proper equipment for a forensic document examination cannot be overstated. Many examinations take place within a courthouse or law office, you must be prepared to do everything you need to do to properly examine a document.

At DocuDNA we have a fully equipped, portable lab with up-to-date equipment to handle most needs for any examination. We use the latest software and technology in our examinations. We continually upgrade our analytic equipment and are developing new methodologies for forensic examinations and document security.

Our patent pending methodology of identifying paper from different sources is a specialized service that only DocuDNA offers. ScanRitePaper ID Technology utilizes a portable color spectrophotometer to measures the color reflectance spectral data of the paper.

Since the pulping and water chemistry of each specific paper mill, along with the specific color dyes and optical brighteners added to the paper during manufacturing, are the factors that determine the color spectral data of each sheet of paper. Utilizing my patent pending methodology, we can measure the DE*, referred to as DE or (delta E), a measurement of the total difference in color between a comparable reference standard and the questioned paper. The examination protocol involves establishing a statistically significant normal population using the standard reference paper source. If the resulting DE falls within the specified DE tolerance, it is statistically the same paper, containing the same chemistry and part of the normal distribution.

Fraud involving legal documents cost American’s billions of dollars every year in lost business, property, time, and litigation costs. Your important documents are one of the most vulnerable assets. For instance, nobody ever thinks that a family member would every take your Will or Trust and change it, but it happens all of the time.

​Much of the fraudulent activity conducted on documents involves altered text and cut & paste signatures. It is important to hire a forensic document examiner who understands current technologies that are being used to alter documents. We know and understand these software programs and how to identify  alterations. Conducting forensic handwriting analysis, document dating and forensic paper analysis along with thorough understanding of various forgery techniques is what makes a paper expert necessary. 

With a degree in Paper Science & Engineering, and having spent over 30 years working and consulting in the paper industry, Doug has the expertise in understanding how paper is made and what unique properties that can be identified in altered documents. There is an untold story of evidence ready to be uncovered within the paper of altered documents.