Hey, can anyone help with this? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

purple rose · 02-03-2007, 04:04 PM

In trying to solve my sister's death (Cindy James) I came across some paperwork that has erasures on it, and I need to figure out how to see the erased information. It could be important. I've tried changing the lighting conditions that cause reflection onto the paper...and looked at the item from different angles...but I can only decipher some of the words in a few cases and in some cases nothing but faint imprints.
There has to be a way to see it!!

crystaldawn · 02-03-2007, 04:16 PM

Hmm thats a tough one. You might try putting a uv light behind the paper and see if that helps any. I know that can help when ink has been erased.

purple rose · 02-03-2007, 04:21 PM

Thanks for the suggestion. These are pencil erasures, and I was wondering if there is something that can be added to the paper (without destroying it) that would bring out the scratchings?

AVERMAN · 02-03-2007, 10:42 PM

What about looking at the engravings the pencil made on the paper as the information was written. Wouldn't there still be the impression of what was written on the paper?

purple rose · 02-03-2007, 11:04 PM

I had thought of that, averman, but the problem is that the paper is thick calendar paper (with pictures on the backside) and no scratches show on the back so I can't get anything there. Very frustrating!
I just tried using tracing paper and gently rubbing with a pencil over the erased patches in front, but nothing shows through!
There has to be a way!

Mr. Fuji · 02-04-2007, 02:26 AM

http://www.amazon.com/Detecting-Deci.../dp/0398057230

purple rose · 02-04-2007, 03:01 AM

Well I had no idea such a book existed!

Dislimb · 02-04-2007, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by purple rose

Well I had no idea such a book existed!

Neither did I, but I guess there is a book or two on just about any subject these days.

purple rose · 02-04-2007, 01:52 PM

Has anybody read the book Detecting and Deciphering Erased Pencil Writing?

purple rose · 02-11-2007, 08:19 PM

Great news everyone...I've been able to decipher some of the erasures. Thanks to everyone who contacted me at my website to pass on their suggestions. With the help of Averman's idea of looking at impressions, combined with a link from rk, which put me in touch with a site about ESDA testing (Electro-Statis Document Analysis, a forensic technique which allows a scientist to read indentations on paper) I had an idea and was able to come up with an experiment on my own using my son's magnetism project kit -- Using tracing paper, iron filings, and a magnet. Wow...who knew it could work!

AVERMAN · 02-11-2007, 09:50 PM

Glad I could be of assistance.

02-03-2007, 04:04 PM	#1
purple rose Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Feb 02, 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 32	Hey, can anyone help with this? In trying to solve my sister's death (Cindy James) I came across some paperwork that has erasures on it, and I need to figure out how to see the erased information. It could be important. I've tried changing the lighting conditions that cause reflection onto the paper...and looked at the item from different angles...but I can only decipher some of the words in a few cases and in some cases nothing but faint imprints. There has to be a way to see it!!

02-03-2007, 04:16 PM	#2
crystaldawn Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 17, 2002 Location: Illinois Posts: 4,261	Hmm thats a tough one. You might try putting a uv light behind the paper and see if that helps any. I know that can help when ink has been erased.

02-03-2007, 04:21 PM	#3
purple rose Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Feb 02, 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 32	Thanks for the suggestion. These are pencil erasures, and I was wondering if there is something that can be added to the paper (without destroying it) that would bring out the scratchings?

02-03-2007, 10:42 PM	#4
AVERMAN Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 12, 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 241	What about looking at the engravings the pencil made on the paper as the information was written. Wouldn't there still be the impression of what was written on the paper?

02-03-2007, 11:04 PM	#5
purple rose Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Feb 02, 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 32	I had thought of that, averman, but the problem is that the paper is thick calendar paper (with pictures on the backside) and no scratches show on the back so I can't get anything there. Very frustrating! I just tried using tracing paper and gently rubbing with a pencil over the erased patches in front, but nothing shows through! There has to be a way!

02-04-2007, 02:26 AM	#6
Mr. Fuji Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 23, 2004 Posts: 235	http://www.amazon.com/Detecting-Deci.../dp/0398057230

02-04-2007, 03:01 AM	#7
purple rose Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Feb 02, 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 32	Well I had no idea such a book existed!

02-04-2007, 01:52 PM	#9
purple rose Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Feb 02, 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 32	Has anybody read the book Detecting and Deciphering Erased Pencil Writing?

02-11-2007, 08:19 PM	#10
purple rose Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Feb 02, 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 32	Great news everyone...I've been able to decipher some of the erasures. Thanks to everyone who contacted me at my website to pass on their suggestions. With the help of Averman's idea of looking at impressions, combined with a link from rk, which put me in touch with a site about ESDA testing (Electro-Statis Document Analysis, a forensic technique which allows a scientist to read indentations on paper) I had an idea and was able to come up with an experiment on my own using my son's magnetism project kit -- Using tracing paper, iron filings, and a magnet. Wow...who knew it could work!

02-11-2007, 09:50 PM	#11
AVERMAN Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 12, 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 241	Glad I could be of assistance.