ABSTRACT
Visible microscopical spectrophotometry is an essential tool in the evaluation and comparison of traces of colored materials. The sciences of microscopy, color perception, spectrophotometry, dye and pigment analysis, and trace materials transfer mechanisms are well established and accepted by courts throughout the world. The task of the forensic trace materials expert is to bring these sciences together in a reliable and defendable manner that will assist jurors in their evaluation of evidence. This chapter focuses on the spectrographic analysis of materials in the visible wavelength range of 380–780 nm, a branch of molecular spectroscopy. The composition of a known sample may or may not be determined during the comparison depending upon the conclusions to be drawn.
