COMPARISON OF CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF INKJET PRINTERS OF DIFFERENT MAKE AND MODEL USING VIDEO SPECTRAL COMPARATOR

The present study aims to identify and analyze the individualizing characteristics of documents printed using various inkjet printers through non-destructive examination with a Video Spectral Comparator (VSC-40). Printed samples were collected from twelve different inkjet printer models, primarily from the EPSON, HP, Canon, and Brother brands. Standardized A4 paper was used to ensure uniformity in analysis. Under VSC-40 magnification, several distinguishing features such as edge sharpness, dot roundedness, blooming effect, extraneous dots (satellite drops and overspray), directional artefacts, line defects, and banding patterns were systematically examined. The study observed that EPSON printers, utilizing piezoelectric technology, demonstrated superior edge sharpness and minimal blooming effects compared to other brands. Printers like Brother-DCP J140w exhibited pronounced blooming and banding defects. Features such as directional tailing and consistent line defects proved useful for determining the type of printing technology employed and for linking documents to their sources. The findings confirm that VSC-40 imaging provides a reliable, non-destructive means for the forensic differentiation of inkjet-printed documents, enhancing authenticity verification and source identification processes in questioned document examination.