Photoshop CS3 for Forensics Professionals: A Complete Digital Imaging Course for Investigators [Paperback]

George Reis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 30, 2007 | ISBN-10: 0470114541 | ISBN-13: 978-0470114544

Digital imaging technology has been used in forensics since at least 1992, yet until now there?has been?no practical instruction available to address the unique issues of image processing in an everyday forensic environment. Photoshop CS3 for Forensics Professionals serves the everyday, real-world needs of law enforcement and legal personnel dealing with digital images (including both photos and video stills). This book is an excellent tool for:

Law enforcement personnel, from crime scene and arson investigators, detectives, and patrol officers to forensic photographers, fingerprint examiners, video analysts, tool mark and footwear examiners, and criminalists.

Security pros in such fields as private investigation, insurance, fraud detection, and loss prevention.

Scientific and technical users of Photoshop with workflows similar to law enforcement, such as medical photographers, research imaging experts, engineering and architecture staff, and industrial photographers.

Staff responsible for maintaining a photo archive or printing images for court.

Photoshop CS3 for Forensics Professionals is the only book to provide forensics professionals with specific answers to their imaging questions. This is the perfect resource for those who want to move from simple theory to the essential skills needed to be more effective. This resource is dividied into three parts:

Part I: The Essentials is about setting up your workflow, archiving your images, and familiarizing yourself with Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Bridge, including the setting up of preferences. Also covered are the best practices in writing reports and providing courtroom testimony.

Part II: The Digital Darkroom teaches how to use Photoshop to accomplish what traditionally was done in the darkroom, from correcting color casts to making prints and exhibits for courtroom use.

Part III: Image Analysis & Enhancement covers techniques for clarifying images so that details can be better viewed and used for analysis or comparison, from contrast enhancement and pattern removal to even forensic video analysis.

The companion CD-ROM provides sample images—including various accident and crime scenes—you can use to practice the techniques from the book while?following along with the tutorials. It also includes several scripts, plug-ins, and actions so you can work more effectively.

In addition, instructor's materials are available so you can use book in workshops and training seminars.

Order this one-of-a-kind resource today!

Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The First Practical Guide to the Use of Photoshop in Forensics Investigations

This timely book is the first to take the forensic use of digital imaging out of the classroom and into the real world for law enforcement, legal, and other forensics professionals. How do you show the exact position or size of a fluorescing blood stain in a crime scene? How do you analyze and enhance stills from security video? How do you explain your Photoshop efforts in court?

From metadata and sharpening methods to using the History log and accurately evaluating scale within a scene, this serious guide from one of the most highly sought trainers in imaging forensics outlines the processes you need for using Adobe® Photoshop® in a forensics environment. Whether you're working with the newest features of Photoshop CS3 or using an earlier version of the software, these clear, step-by-step tutorials will help you:

• Follow and apply legal rules of digital evidence and master best practices

• Maintain an audit trail for non-standard enhancements to an image

• Evaluate metadata to determine if an image is what it purports to be

• Measure objects and scale in a photograph

• Take advantage of non-destructive image enhancement techniques

• Extract fingerprints from backgrounds using color isolation techniques

• Take advantage of Adobe Camera Raw file formats in a forensic workflow

• Correct bad exposures and color shifts in crime scene, evidence, and traffic collision photos

• Perform frame averaging natively in Photoshop for image noise reduction

• Get great prints for use in court by following good color-management policies

CD-ROM Included
The companion CD contains all the images used in each tutorial, allowing readers to practice along with the tutorials and compare their results, plus valuable scripts and links to many more resources.

About the Author

George Reis provides training and consulting services in photography, image analysis, and digital imaging through his company, Imaging Forensics. He worked for the Newport Beach Police Department for fifteen years as a forensic photographer, fingerprint examiner, and crime scene investigator and introduced that agency to digital imaging in 1992. With prior experience as a photojournalist, freelance photographer, and commercial photo lab processor, Reis is uniquely qualified to teach imaging forensics and is in great demand as both a trainer and an image-analysis expert witness.

Product Details

• Paperback: 268 pages
• Publisher: Sybex (July 30, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470114541
• ISBN-13: 978-0470114544
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #791,517 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

George Reis is the owner/president of Imaging Forensics, Inc. - and provides consulting, training, and expert witness services in forensic image analysis, forensic video analysis, and forensic photography. In 2004, Reis took an early retirement from the Newport Beach Police Department where he worked as a forensic photographer, fingerprint examiner and crime scene investigator. He is currently on the forensic photography and imaging certification board of the International Association for Identification.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Have for Forensic Imaging!!!, August 6, 2007

By 

John Laycock (Maryland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Photoshop CS3 for Forensics Professionals: A Complete Digital Imaging Course for Investigators (Paperback)

I bought this book recently to add to my library of image processing books. I have been "in the field" for almost ten years now and am always excited to learn new skills. This book will benefit the person just getting into the field as well as the seasoned pro.

The author, George Reis from Imaging Forensics, walks you through many processes using several different image processing techniques. There are side by side comparisons of tools native in Photoshop as well as third party applications.

Also of great importance is the discussion of best practices as well as court room preparation. In addition there is a companion CD included with the book that has some trial software and some very useful scripts.

The price isn't too bad and this book will help out Photoshop users of all levels. I am very happy with the book and am glad I bought it. I rate it a must have for anyone interested in forensic imaging using Photoshop.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Informative and Easy to Read, September 18, 2007

By 

Mike Ornelas (Fort Worth, Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Photoshop CS3 for Forensics Professionals: A Complete Digital Imaging Course for Investigators (Paperback)

George Reis has done a fabulous job in the writing of this book. I recently purchased this book and found it not only informative, but easy to read (a far cry from the normal techie manual). This book is a must have for anyone using Adobe Photoshop for image analysis or forensic video analysis. I especially appreciated George's references to CS2 and the changes/improvements with CS3. Thanks for not throwing all of us who are too poor to upgrade to the curb!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Resource, August 23, 2007

By 

Jason D. Latham - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Photoshop CS3 for Forensics Professionals: A Complete Digital Imaging Course for Investigators (Paperback)

I would list this as a "must have" in your forensic library. George has done a great job at breaking down image processing using PhotoShop CS3 (and other plug-ins) for the type of work we do. He has provided a bunch of useful techniques/processes. The companion CD which comes with the book allows you to reinforce the teaching points with hands on practical exercises. Lots of bang for your buck.