Characteristics of Handwriting

Verify that handwriting belongs to a person

Characterize ink to see if someone changed a document

Determine personality by handwriting style

Restore documents that have been damaged

Class

Individual

Placement of diacritics = Crossing of t's and dotting of i's

Line Quality = smooth or shaking handwriting

Spacing between words or letters

Flourishes or embellishments - fancy letters, curls, and loops

Ratio of relative height, width, and size of letters

Baseline habits - the writing is straight across or moves up or down

Slant - letters may slant to the left or right

Pen lifts and separations - how words begin or end

Connecting Strokes - how letters are connected

Pen pressure - writing is darker or lighter

Letter completion - beginning and ending strokes of letters

Cursive and printed

Letter completion - beginning and ending strokes of letters

Cursive and printed

Connecting Strokes - how letters are connected

Pen pressure - writing is darker or lighter

Slant - letters may slant to the left or right

Pen lifts and separations - how words begin or end

Ratio of relative height, width, and size of letters

Baseline habits - the writing is straight across or moves up or down

Spacing between words or letters

Flourishes or embellishments - fancy letters, curls, and loops

Placement of diacritics = Crossing of t's and dotting of i's

Line Quality = smooth or shaking handwriting

Blind Forgery

Simulated Forgery

Traced Forgery