CLPEX Chat Board

Who out there is working upright, as opposed to being bent over a glass and what equipment is being used?

Never used one, but I've talked to others who like the Wacom.
http://www.wacom.com/products/pen-displays/cintiq

Almost always work upright. Have been for years.

If you are working on-screen, how are you capturing the latents when working with latent lifts?

Flatbed scanner.

Camera

If you use a camera, do so with the knowledge that you're sacrificing quality for speed.

I use a flatbed scanner, GLScan or a camera depending on the evidence. Two 27" screens, Photoshop and a Bamboo to trace ridge paths. I'll use my glass to do searches but the actual comparisons and tracings are done on the screen.

A lot of good information being presented, but I am wondering if you are talking about the ‘old fashion’ technique of looking and comparing latents using the 5X magnifiers. I once had an examiner that was in some physical distress in the back/neck from having to bend over while doing comparisons. We came up with a partially inclined viewing platform that alleviated the bending over.

The platform had a metal backing so that record prints and photographs would be held in vertical positions with magnets. A string fashioned in a loop at the top permitted the magnifier to be suspended by its pedestal frame and the glass moved from side to side along the loop in a pendulum motion to facilitate the comparisons.

Once the examiner got accustomed to the ‘technique’ and worked through some adjustments, it was fine and no more pain.

If this was not your area of interest, just set it aside as ‘tales from the pit’.

I worked with someone who was tired of bending over the bench and he designed a vertical work surface. He used a desktop artists stand and added a spring clip to hold the work and a goose neck arm to hold his magnifier. It worked well for him and he remained productive until retirement
Of course we also have available tilted work surfaces. I think these are more common in many shops

Here we have two who use elevated work tables and one (me!) who either scans and does them on the computer and/or I just pick them up and hold them. I've actually never understood how anyone can go through the day all hunched over. Plus, the lighting is always better when I pick them up.

My two cents.

We are neanderthals here...barely standing upright. Certainly not working prints upright

ER wrote:If you use a camera, do so with the knowledge that you're sacrificing quality for speed.

Can you elaborate a little more on this? Are you referring to a camera vs. a flatbed scanner, camera vs. magnifying glass?

Teresa, while I don't have a Wacom to do comparisons standing (you may want to talk with Tucson PD) but an easy solution for me is to completely lower my chair to its lowest position when doing comparisons. Instead of bending my back I simply look down, keeping my back straight. Really helped me.

Has any one tried using a video microscope? Live video viewed on a monitor. It allows you to remain upright and your latents to stay on the desktop. Computer board manufacturers have used these for years. It should allow you to continue working just as you do with a glass, just not bent over. I have demo'ed one, but was wondering if anyone has any working experience with one.