Macro vs Micro
Definition
Macro is the scene from a step back (room, intersection, field). Micro is a focused subset within it (the body, the weapon, the point of entry).
- Macro level
- Scene viewed as a whole (room, intersection, field)
- Micro level
- A focused subset within the scene
- Micro examples
- The body, the weapon, the point of entry
- Typical sequence
- Macro documented before micro
Common questions
Why is the macro-to-micro sequence a standard scene documentation order?+
Recording the wide view first fixes the spatial relationship of items before they are approached or disturbed, so later micro-level examination can be tied back to where each item originally sat.
Can a single scene contain more than one micro-level focus?+
Yes. One macro scene, such as a room, can contain multiple micro subsets, for example the body, a weapon, and a point of entry, each documented and processed as its own focused unit.
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