What is examined
Determining whether photographic or video images are suitable for facial identification, taking account of quality, viewing angle, lighting, resolution, facial obstruction and distortion.
Examination is based on the submitted photographs, video frames, video recordings, comparison images and case documents. Image quality, viewing angle, lighting, resolution, availability of originals and sufficiency of comparison materials matter.
Possible questions
- whether the submitted images show the same person;
- whether the images are suitable for facial comparison examination;
- which matching appearance features have been identified;
- which differing appearance features have been identified;
- whether the materials are sufficient for a categorical conclusion;
- whether conclusions from a previous examination are substantiated.
What to provide
- original photograph and video files;
- frames of the best quality;
- comparison photographs of the person being checked;
- information about the image source;
- the time boundaries of the relevant video fragment;
- an appointment order, court ruling or draft questions.
Pricing
from RUB 40,000. The exact price depends on the number of images, material quality, video duration, comparison complexity, the need for a report review and urgency.
Why suitability is assessed for a specific comparison
An image may show a person overall while lacking sufficient detail for the required comparison. Suitability is determined relative to the question and available comparison materials. Clear visibility of one side of the face in the first photograph provides little help if that same area is obscured or indistinguishable in the second.
What matters in a pair of images
- Which areas of appearance are depicted in both materials.
- Whether details relevant to the question posed can be distinguished.
- How much the camera direction, lighting and facial expression differ.
- Whether the capture period is known and documented changes in appearance are reflected.
- Whether original files are available instead of reduced images from a document or correspondence.
Limitations may concern one image, a particular area or the pair as a whole. It is therefore useful to accompany the answer “the materials are insufficient” with an explanation of exactly what is missing and whether another existing photograph or the original recording could help. Merely increasing the number of similar photographs does not necessarily close the gap.
File size, pixel count and visual sharpness do not in themselves guarantee reliable features. An enlarged copy does not become a new independent image. For preliminary consideration, preserve the available original and identify separately which copies were processed or obtained from a publication.
The agreed assignment may initially be limited to a suitability assessment. This separates the question of whether comparison is possible from the later answer about the same person or different people, and identifies in advance which data are available for each stage.