[1] This type of forensic examination is done in an attempt to determine which of two events occurred first in the preparation of a document.
The primary means of evaluation involves direct visual examination using microscopy and various lighting options.
The intersection point may involve subtle deviations from the normal manner of deposition or production that can be observed on microscopic examination (e.g. extraneous ink deposits, skipping, misalignments, embossing, etc.).
The underlying concept is that each of the sequences will produce a distinctive result that can be visualized or measured.
In other situations, the results may be less definite in that the observed features may permit more than one interpretation of the original sequence.