Light

Light is one of a number of known forms of radiant electromagnetic energy which travel in wave
motion. Actually, there are other theories that explains the behavior of light (ex. Quantum theory) but for
our purpose, the wave theory is the only one considered. This form of energy travels at a speed of about
186,000 miles per second in air, but they differ in wavelength and frequency. Wavelength is the distance
from the crest to the wave to the next succeeding crest while frequency is the number of waves passing in
a given point in one second. The product of the two is the speed of travel.

The speed of the various radiant energy is constant at a given medium, but varies with other
media. For example, the speed of light in ordinary glass is only about two-third of its speed in air. Actually,
it is only the wavelength that changes, frequency remains constant. However, frequency is much more
difficult to measure, wavelength could be determined with accuracy. Hence, we identify a particular
radiation by its wavelength. Wavelength is measured by the angstrom unit or in terms of milli-microns
(English system of measure) or nanometer (metric system of measure) which is equivalent to one over one
millionth of a millimeter.
The energies that are capable of being recorded on sensitized materials are the X-rays, ultraviolet
rays, visible light, and infrared rays. They are sometimes referred to as the four photographic rays of
modern photography.

TYPES OF PHOTOGRAPHIC RAYS

X-rays- From .01 to 30 nanometers (Roentgen Rays, shadow method, Internal)
Ultraviolet rays -From 30 to 400 nanometers (Black light used for erasure, documents that are altered,
invisible writing, contact writing, semen, fibers and latent prints)
visible light -From 400 to 700 nanometers
infrared rays -From 700 to 1,000 nanometer (Heat rays used for addition, obliteration, insertion,
charred document)

Note: As an additional information, radio light waves have a wavelength ranges from 1,000 up nanometer.
Actually, the wavelength of infrared rays extends beyond 2,000 nanometers but the longest wavelength
that the sensitized materials (films) could record is only up to this limit.

Light is a radiant electromagnetic energy that can be seen by the naked eye. The scientific definition of
light is the aspect of radiant energy of which a human observer is aware through the visual sensations
which arise from the stimulation of the retina of the eye. (Webster Dictionary) Light rays with a wavelength
of 400 to 700 nanometer is referred to as visible light because it is only within these wavelengths that the
human eye is capable of perceiving. Those with shorter or longer wavelengths are commonly referred as
invisible radiations. Light energy has several effects on an object. It is either reflected, absorbed,
transmitted or converted. The varying combinations of this reflectance and absorption are what give us
the wide variety of colors which we able to perceive, at times, other light is neither reflected or absorbed
but is transmitted through the object. This transmitted light passing through the object and allows a viewer
on the other side of the object to perceive these light waves. The final effect a radiant energy may have on
an object it to be converted to another wavelength. This conversion is known as luminescence.
Luminescence is a general term for the emission of light from a cool object. There are many
examples of naturally occurring luminescence and most of these falls into the three categories

CATEGORIES OF LUMINESCENCE
 Fluorescence - is the ability of an object to convert one wavelength to another as long as the active
energy source is irradiating the object. The emission of electromagnetic radiation especially the visible
light, stimulated to the substance by the absorption of incident radiation and persisting only as long as
the stimulating radiation is continued
 Phosphorescence - the object not only converts the wavelength while being irradiated but continuous
to reflect the new wavelengths for a period of time after the energy source is removed. Process by
which the energy absorbed by the substance is released relatively slowly in the form of light. A
mechanism used for the glow in the dark materials which are charge by exposure to light.
 Chemiluminescence- is the generation of light by a chemical reaction. This is the most common form of
luminescene in living organism. Insects like fireflies use to chemilumiscene to attract their mates, deep
sea fish like the anglerfish use it to lure prey close to their mouth and microorganisms use it to signal
distress. Recent studies suggest that human may give off light too, although this is controversial.

White Light
When all the wavelengths between 400-700 nanometers are presented to the eye in nearly equal
quantity, we get the sensation or perception of colorless or white light. If a narrow beam of white light is
allowed to pass through a prism it will bend the light of shorter wavelength more than those with longer
wavelength thus spreading them out into visible spectrum. These are the colors of the rainbow – the red,
orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet.
If we divide the wavelength of visible light (400-700 nanometer) equally into three (from 400 to 500
nanometer from 500 to 600 nanometer, and from 600 to 700 nanometer) we will produce blue, green, and
red colors. These are known as the three primary colors of light.
Note:
 Blue= 400-500 milli-microns
 Green= 500-600 milli-microns
 Red= 600-700 milli-microns

ADDITIVE COLOR MIXTURE

If we get three projectors with beams of lights projecting individually blue, green and red and have the
three beams overlap over the other, we will note that the portion where the blue and green lights merged
over other, it will produce a cyan color, the green and red lights a yellow color, and the red and blue lights
a magenta color.
At the center where the blue, green and red lights were combined in proper ratio, we see white
light. In this aspect, cyan, yellow, and magenta are known as the three secondary colors of light.
For practical purpose, white is the presence of all colors while black is the absence of all colors or
the absence of light.
Note:
 Blue light + Green light = Cyan color
 Blue light + Red light = Magenta color
 Green light + Red light = Yellow color
White = the presence of all colors
Black light = the absence of all colors or the absence of light

SUBTRACTIVE COLOR MIXTURE

This time, the light beams of the three projectors will be covered each with cyan filter, yellow filter,
and magenta filter and have the beams of light projected one over the other. The cyan filter will transmit
blue and green light but absorbs red from white light. A yellow filter will transmit green and red light but
absorbs blue from white light.
Similarly, a magenta filter will transmit red and blue light but absorbs green from white light. At the
center where the three beams of light are merged together will produce black. In simple terms, cyan is the
complementary of red, yellow is the complementary of blue, and magenta is the complementary of green.
The range of colors which can be produced be subtractive mixture of three dyes is quite large and
makes it possible the modern processes of color photography which depends on the subtractive principle.

PRODUCTION OF COLORS
 Absorption- The colors of most ordinary objects are due to the fact that they do not absorb the same
amount of light at each wavelength.
 Scattering- The color of the blue sky is due to the scattering of light by the atmosphere. Variation in the
density of the atmospheric gases act in such a way that they scatter light of the shorter wavelength at
the blue end of the spectrum much more they scatter light of the longer wavelength of the red end of
the spectrum. Thus, the sky is bluest when it is clearest and white when it is less clear.
 Interference- Color can also be produced by interference of light waves in thin film like in soap bubbles
or a film of oil floating in water. The light reflected from the top surface of such a film undergoes a
reversal or phase but the light reflected from the bottom surface does not undergo this type of change.
This phenomenon is also responsible for the color pattern known a Newton’s ring” which sometimes
cause trouble in color printing work.
 Fluorescence- This happens when molecules of the fluorescent material absorb energy at one
wavelength and radiate it at another wavelength.
 Dispersion- Color may arise from differences in the refractive or bending power of a transparent
medium of light of different wavelength. The rainbow is a good example of this phenomenon.

Attributes of Colors
According to the modern scientific definition of color, it is not legitimate to ascribe color to an object
but only to the light reflected form it. This any color perception has three characteristics, any one of which
can be varied independently of the other two. These are hue, saturation, and brightness.

BENDING OF LIGHT
When traveling in open space, light travels in straight line. However, when light comes in contact with
an object, it may be bended in the following manner.
 Reflection is when light bounces off an object. If the surface is smooth and shiny, like glass, water or
polished metal, the light will reflect at the same angle as it hit the surface. This is called
specular reflection or regular reflection, one of types of reflection.
Types of Reflection
 Regular or Specular Reflection -it happens when light hits a flat, smooth and shiny surface.
 Irregular or Diffused Reflection it occurs when light hits a rough or uneven but glossy object.
 Refraction- is the movement of light from one medium into another medium. It can cause bending of
the light at the interfere between media and also causes a change in speed of light as it moves one
medium to another.
 Diffraction- refers to various phenomenon that occur when a wave encounters an obstacle or a slit. It is
defined as the bending of light around the corners of an obstacles or aperture into the region of
geometrical shadow of the obstacle.

KINDS OF OBJECT AS TO HOW THEY BEHAVE TO LIGHT

 Transparent objects – allows sufficient visible light to pass through them that the object on the other
side may be clearly seen.
 Translucent objects – allows light to pass, however diffuse it sufficiently that objects on the other side
may not be clearly distinguished. In some cases, the objects on the other side may be recognized but
the sharp detail and outline are obscured.
 Opaque objects -so greatly diffuse the light that recognizing the object on the other side is very difficult
if not possible.

SOURCES OF LIGHT
We are lucky to have so many sources of light available to us. In earlier times, once the sun had
set, people found their way around outside with torches and lanterns.
Today, we have so much light that light pollution can wash out our view of the skies at night.
Sources of light are things or devices that produce light, and the two general sources are natural and
artificial.
 Natural Light Source- Those coming from nature like the sun, moon, stars, other heavenly bodies,
lightning, fire, etc. While all of these sources could now be used for the photographic use, for practical
reasons, the discussion will be limited to sunlight only. With sunlight there are actually several
resources. Primarily those coming directly from the sun, secondarily those being reflected by clouds or
the sky. The intensity of sunlight falling on an object on open space varies depending in the weather
condition, time of the day or even time of the year. For a more accurate exposure setting at daylight,
only one characteristic is considered- the kind of shadow casted by an object in an open space.
Classification of Daylight According to its Intensity
 Bright sunlight- a lighting condition where objects in open space cast deep and uniform or distinct
shadow. The subject will produce a strong shadow, because the source of light is not covered and the
objects or subjects appear glossy in open space due to direct sunlight and reflected lights coming from
the sky which act as a reflector.
 Hazy sunlight- the objects in an open space cast transparent shadow. The sun is covered by the clouds
and the shadow appears bluish because of the decrease of light falling on the subject in open space.
The shadow cast is transparent to the eye and more details are visible under this lighting condition
than in bright sunlight.
 Dull sunlight- the objects in open space cast no shadow. The sun is totally covered by thick clouds.
Types of Dull Sunlight
 Cloudy bright- an object in open space cast no shadow but objects at far distance is clearly
visible.
 Cloudy dull an object in open space cast no shadow and visibility of distance objects are already
limited.

 Artificial Light Source

It came from in different sources such as candles, tungsten filaments and gas discharge lamps, etc.
and has different mix of frequency components which produce a different color of light. Light sources of
this category are man-made and is divided into the continuous radiation and the short duration.

Category of Artificial Lights

 Continuous duration- Are those that can give illumination continuously.
 Fluorescent lamp- Are tube lamps wherein the walls are coated by materials capable of
fluorescence. Each end has a terminal and commonly mounted into a holder that serves as the
reflector. This type of lamps is commonly used by anybody and not merely in photography.
 Incandescent lamp/ incandescent light bulb/ incandescent light globe- is an electric light with a wire
filament heated to such a high temperature that it glows with visible light. The filament is protected
from oxidation with a glass or fused quartz bulb that is fil led with inert gas or a vacuum.
 Photoflood lamp it is also known as reflectorized light or spot light because, this type of lamp needs
a reflector to focused the light on the subjects. It can be a bulb with a built-in reflector or bulb
which need a reflector. Usually the life span of this bulb is 7 to 8 hours when used in intermittently.
Its common wattages are 500 watts. Photofloods are incandescent bulbs with filaments thinner
than those used in ordinary light bulbs, provide continuous light. For normal color performance in
color photography, photofloods must be used with either tungsten-balanced film or a light-
balancing filter.
 Carbon arc lamp/ arc lamp- is a lamp that produces light by an electric arc also called a voltaic arc.
The carbon arc light which consists of an arc between carbon electrodes in air, invented by
Humphry Davy. It is now absolute for most of these purposes, but it is still used as a source of high
intensity ultraviolet light. The term is now used for gas discharge lamps, which produce light by an
arc between metal electrodes through an inert gas in a glass bulb.
 Gas lamp/ gas light- is a production of artificial light from combustion of a gaseous fuel, such as
hydrogen methane, carbon monoxide propane, butane, acetylene, ethylene or natural gas. The
light is produced either directly by the flame, generally by using special mixes of illuminating gas to
increase brightness or indirectly with other components such as the gas mantle or the limelight,
with the gas primarily functioning as a fuel source. Before electricity became sufficiently
widespread and economical to allow for general public use, gas was the most popular method of
outdoor and indoor lighting in cities and suburbs. Early gas light was ignited manually, but many
later designs are self-igniting. Gas lighting today is generally used for camping, where the high
energy density of a hydrocarbon fuel, combined with the modular nature of canisters (a strong
metal container) allows bright and long-lasting light to be produced cheaply and without complex
equipment.
 Short duration (Flash unit)- a flash unit gives a brief flash light produced by a burning metallic wire /
flash bulb or an electrical charge through a gas-filled tube/ electronic flash. At this time, the flash bulb
is no longer available in the market but the electronic flash remains very popular.
 Flash bulb- A disposable bulb filled with oxygen and a mass of fine magnesium alloy wire that fired
only once, is largely obsolete, having been replaced by inexpensive, economical electronic flash
unit.
 Electronic flash- it is made of a glass quartz tube filled with an inert gas—a halogen—at extremely
low pressure. Electronic flash produces light by an instantaneous electrical charge between two
electrodes in a gas filled glass bulbs. The electrical energy for the discharge is kept in capacitor or
condenser. The function of light of the electronic flash unit usually ranges between 1/300 second
and 1/500 second, and because of this, subject in fast motion can be arrested or stopped in the
photographs. When high voltage is applied to the electrodes sealed at the ends of the tube, the gas
ionizes and produces an intense rupture of light of very short duration referred to as a “flash”.
Harold Eugene Edgerton “papa flash”-inventor of electronic flash-1931

Forensic Light Sources

It is made up of a powerful lamp containing the ultraviolet, visible and infrared components of light.
It then filters down the light into individual color bands/ wavelengths that enhance the visualization of
evidence by light interaction techniques including fluorescence (evidence glow), absorption (evidence
darken) and oblique lighting (small particle evidence revealed. (retinol chemical-it is sprayed in order to
seen the latent image)

Types of Forensic Light Source

 Alternative Light Source (ALS) - Developed in mid-1980 as far more inexpensive alternative to forensic
LASER. The ALS uses a variety of band pass filters to provide high intensity beam of non- coherent
light. These multiple band pass filters allow the operator to match the LASER frequently available at
crime scene. Additional wavelength was included to allow the ALS to operate in the UV, near UV, and IR
spectrum. ALS technology had advanced to a point whereby using the combination of filter and an
adjustable iris to control the width of the transmission band, various wavelength from the UV to IR may
be digitally selected. This allows the operator to scan an almost endless variety of wavelength insisted
of being restricted to the specific band pass filter capabilities.
Without
 Forensic Lightflash With flash
Source (FLS) The FLS is a term applied to a wide variety of relatively light sources which
use filtered white light. A band of pass filters allows a fairly narrow band of light to pass through. The
object is then radiated with what is normally about 400-500 nanometer light source. The strobe shifts
of a specially developed luminescent fingerprint powder which also falls within the shift of most
biological powder. This will enable a criminalist to search latent fingerprints of rough surfaces. The
white light source used with the FLS is as simple as a Maglite type handheld flashlight or a spotlight
with the filter in place.
 Ultraviolet lamp - used in forensic work come in variety of shape, sizes, and power. Some units are
portable battery operated and easily carried and can meet the rugged and rigorous demand for field
work. The ultraviolet radiation is broken down into the long wave UV, the medium wave UV and the
short-wave UV. The long wave UV is used in wide variety of applications in medic and forensics. The
medium wave UV is often used in chemical analysis and in curing and hardening of different items for
industrial applications. The short-wave UV is used for variety purpose such as to sterilize air and place
of work. It is an effective germicide, destroying many biological contaminants.
 Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation (LASER)- Developed years earlier it was in
1970’s that it was discovered that by illuminating certain item in with LASER, they would fluoresce or
could be made to stand out in sharp contrast from their background. This was especially significant in
locating dried biological stains such as semen, urine, and saliva, as well as stains that had been
washed. The laser stimulation of these items provided a way for the criminalist to finally see, locate,
and visually record evidence that they know that they had been missing. The only drawback of LASER
is their cost, they are quite expensive. LASER is also known as coherent light.