Freehand Simulation
Definition
A forgery produced by visually studying the target signature and reproducing it from memory, without mechanical tracing; characterised by slow pen speed, irregular tremor, and retouching.
Related terms
- Auto-Forgery
- A genuine signature executed by the legitimate signer on a document they later deny, undetectable by handwriting comparison alone; requires document-dating and...
- ESDA
- Electrostatic Detection Apparatus; detects latent indentations in paper by charging the surface and cascading toner particles, revealing tracing stylus pressure and writing...
- Exemplar Set
- The collection of known genuine signatures used as the comparison baseline; SWGDOC and ENFSI guidelines specify a minimum of 20-30 exemplars spanning...
- Indented Tracing
- A tracing method in which a stylus or pen presses the genuine signature outline through to a blank beneath, leaving physical indentations...
- Line Quality
- The overall fluency, rhythm and pressure variation of a stroke. Genuine writing has smooth, rhythmic, pressure-modulated lines; forgeries show tremor, blunt starts...
- Motor Programme
- The stored neuromuscular sequence that controls handwriting execution. Once stable in adulthood, it runs largely automatically, making handwriting consistent and individuating.
- Natural Variation
- The normal within-writer fluctuation in individual features across repetitions of the same letter or writing task; an examiner assesses whether questioned-writing variation...
- Retouch
- A second application of ink to a stroke by the forger, correcting a perceived error; produces double ink-layer detectable by oblique lighting...
- Video Spectral Comparator (VSC)
- A multispectral imaging instrument combining UV, visible, and near-infrared illumination with selectable emission filters and a calibrated digital camera; the primary bench...
Explained in
- Signature Examination: Genuine, Simulated, Traced and Auto-ForgeryA forgery produced by visually studying the target signature and reproducing it from memory, without mechanical tracing; characterised by slow pen speed, irreg...