ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses some of the microscopical aspects of colour on fibres which will help to ensure that only the best candidates are chosen for spectrophotometry and chromatography. Microscopy is the essential element in almost all aspects of the forensic examination and comparison of fibres. On the most fundamental level, microscopes are necessary to see fibrous evidence no matter what observations or tests are being performed. Thus, microscopical observation is used to detect fibres, to characterize them, and in most cases to compare them to a suspect source. Once the microscope has been optimized for the particular type of observation, it is then necessary to be certain that sample preparation is optimal. Several types of microscope are necessary in any laboratory in which forensic fibre analyses are to be conducted. A stereo microscope and a polarizing microscope should be regarded as a minimum, and other microscopes are highly desirable for some types of observations and essential for others.
