Analysis of Signature Patterns: Consistency and Distinctiveness in Handwritten Signatures for Forensic Authentication

Abstract

Handwritten signatures are unique behavioural attributes that serve as a distinct form of identification forindividuals. This study focuses on the analysis of signature patterns using various parameters, including aspect ratio, angle of the first letter with respect to the baseline, and the ratio of the area of a circle to its radius within the signature. A dataset consisting of 1200 genuine and 1200 simulated (English) signature samples from 12 individuals were examined using an image analysis tool to record measurements for these parameters. The primary objectives were to investigate the consistency of signatures within the same person and to compare genuine signatures with simulated ones. This study contributes to the field of forensic investigations by offering insights into the authentication of signatures and the measurement of dissimilarities between signatures of the same and different individuals based on their patterns. The findings aid in identifying most influential parameter in distinguishing genuine signatures from counterfeits and enhance the evidential value of handwritten signature samples. Additionally, the simplified approach employed in this study allows for universal applicability across languages. Future research endeavours could expand the dataset and explore additional parameters to further improve the accuracy and reliability of signature verification methods in forensic analysis.