Documenting bloodstain patterns concealed beneath architectural paint layers using multi-spectral forensic photography techniques

Abstract

The development of forensic photography techniques can aid agencies in the documentation of information regarding crime scene cleanup. This study compared reflective infrared, reflective ultraviolet, and fluorescence photography in the documentation of bloodstain patterns that had been concealed beneath layers of architectural paint. High Dynamic Range (HDR) photography, as well as a chemical analysis of all four paint types using Raman, Fibre Optic Reflectance, and Attenuated Total Internal Reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy was performed. The photography results for reflective infrared were negative; reflective ultraviolet for two of the four paint types were positive. Fluorescence photography had the most definitive visual information for the two white paints but were concluded negative for black and maroon. HDR was concluded to be negative for reflective infrared and reflective ultraviolet; however, results for fluorescence were positive. Finally, spectroscopy results supported visual information as well as providing spectral data relevant for understanding specific chemical observations.