03/09/2026
There are a lot of tools in forensic science that help us find and document important information. One of the coolest ones is the forensic light source kit. 🔦
At first glance, it might just look like a collection of really colorful flashlights. But each color represents a different wavelength of light, and changing that wavelength can change what we’re able to see.
Certain materials can absorb light and fluoresce, while others become easier to distinguish from the surface around them. That can help investigators visualize evidence like biological fluids, hair, fibers, fingerprints and even bruising that may be difficult to see under normal lighting.
So what are all those colors doing?
⬜️ White: General illumination and an initial look at an area or item.
⬛️ Ultraviolet: Visualizing biological fluids, fibers and other fluorescent materials.
🟥 Red: Examining documents and identifying for differences that may not be obvious under normal light.
🟨 Amber: Viewing or barrier filtering to improve contrast and make fluorescence easier to see.
🟩 Cyan + Green: Enhancing treated latent fingerprints and reducing distracting background patterns.
🟦 Blue: Searching for biological fluids and other fluorescent evidence.
🟪 Violet: Enhancing certain biological stains, hair, fibers and some injuries such as bruising.
So yes, they may look like really fun colored flashlights, but changing the light can reveal details our eyes might otherwise miss. And when you’re working with potential evidence, seeing those details can make all the difference.
Have you ever worked with a forensic light source? What did you think?
