Automation Designs & Solutions

AutoTRIS™

Guide for the Demo version

What is AutoTRIS?

AutoTRIS is a computer program that incorporates many general graphical features and some special functions for the purposes of a simple comparison procedure of two arbitrary images. AutoTRIS has tools to compose and print output illustrations. Most frequently, this is an actual task for forensic images like traces on bullets and cases, traces of tools, tire-prints, shoeprints, microscopic sections of fabric, a hair and many others. It is why this forensic imaging software is named AutoTRIS - Automated Forensic Traces Investigation System.

In addition, AutoTRIS can be used as ordinary graphical software because of the following features.

Input images via any scanner, video camera, or photo camera.
Transform and manipulate images in many ways.
Print output document reports including images.

The most common procedure for AutoTRIS includes forensic or other images input, their comparison using manipulations and automatic processing and matching functions, concluding whether images match, and composing and printing an output worksheet.

AutoTRIS can handle separate image files, or store images in the database with additional descriptive data. Using the database considerably simplifies the saving and loading of images.

AutoTRIS was designed in the Russian Federal Center of Forensic Science using a graphical tool-kit that was developed at Automation Designs & Solutions, Inc. for other software products. Accordingly to the Agreement between Russian Federal Center of Forensic Science and AD&S, AutoTRIS is copyrighted and licensed to AD&S in the USA and other countries of America. AD&S supports AutoTRIS software in this area. European users have to contact the Russian Federal Center of Forensic Science with all questions regarding AutoTRIS. Other countries may contact AD&S for information.

Hardware and software recommendations

The following is the minimum computer system configuration required for the operation of the AutoTRIS software.

Pentium 120 MHz processor or better.
Microsoft Windows 95/98/2K/NT.
A VGA adapter capable of displaying at least 800 * 600 pixels at 256 colors.
At least 32 Megabytes of RAM.
At least 5 Megabyte free space on the hard drive for the AutoTRIS installation.

How to install

Run the downloaded self-extracting and self-installing file. The software will be installed in С:\ATISDemo folder. The icon will be created on the desktop. To start demo double-click the mouse on that icon, or run С:\ATISDemo\ATISDemo.exe file.

Demo version tips

The Demo software will guide you through a series of steps in some strict order. On many steps you will be able operate with full system capabilities in order to feel all convenience and simplicity of AutoTRIS tools. AutoTRIS was developed in accordance with real forensic examiners’ specifications. This is why a lot of convenient techniques for low prepared users are incorporated in AutoTRIS software. Even totally unprepared users will feel comfortable themselves with AutoTRIS.

On each demonstration step you will see a yellow window with explanation about actions you may take on this step and what you have to press after that in order to continue.

In the main user interface, each button shows a hint that briefly explains the button’s purpose. For better references during Demo session, in the Table 1 below you will find detailed buttons’ descriptions.

Table 1. Available buttons in the Demo version

Button face	Button name	Button description
	Load from disk	Opens the standard dialog for the file opening. The user selects any file name and opens the file in accordance with Windows standard rules. NOTE: In the AutoTRIS demo-version, only demo-files will be loaded.
	Store in DB	Stores the image in the database with the current attributes (position, rotation angle, brightness, contrast, scale factor, negative/positive). The user creates the new or selects the existing record in the list of "examinations" then creates the new or selects the existing record in the list of graphical objects (images). The user is free to fill in the records any descriptive data.
	Precise move left/right/up/down	Provides an accurate image movement in any of four possible directions (left, right, up, down) for one screen pixel.
	Precise rotation counterclockwise/ clockwise	Provides an accurate image rotation (counterclockwise, clockwise) for the smallest possible angle.
	Fast move	Enters the image fast movement mode. After that, the button remains in the pressed state. The image is shrunk and fits into an appropriate image panel. A green frame is superimposed on the shrunk image. The size and the position of the frame correspond to the image panel, i. e. the user sees inside the frame the fragment that was shown in the image panel. The user positions the mouse cursor inside the frame and then uses drag-and-drop mouse movement to position the frame on the desired fragment. Then the user releases this button. On the appropriate panel the user will see the full-scaled image fragment he selected using the frame.
	Brightness Contrast	Use the brightness and contrast track-bars to adjust images brightness and contrast.
	Scale figure	Drops down the list of pre-set scale factors. The user selects the value that he needs. The range of pre-specified scale figures is large enough to meet most of the user's needs in scaling.
	Scaling ratio	Opens the edit box that allows the user to change the scaling ratio, i.e. the ratio of the vertical scale factor to the horizontal scale factor.
	Negative/positive	Toggles between negative and positive representations of the image.
	Flip horizontal Flip vertical	Flips the original image in the horizontal direction Flips the original image in the vertical direction
	Fragmentation	Enters the fragmentation mode. After that, the button remains in the pressed state. The user can select the fragment and save it either to disk or in the database as a standalone image. The standard drag-and-drop mouse movement is used to draw the fragment. In order to exit from the fragmentation mode this button must be released.
	Lock	«Locks» or «synchronizes» both left and right images. After that, the button remains in the pressed state. The "images synchronization" means that they are «pasted» together and look as one unit. Any movements, rotations and scaling of one of them will result in the same transformations of the other one. In order to «unlock» images the user releases the button.
	Image filtering	Enters image's filtering mode. After that, the button remains in the pressed state. The user selects the fragment he wants to process. To start processing the user must release this button. NOTE: In the AutoTRIS demo-version, the fragment and filtering option selections will be done with no user intervention. Nevertheless, the processing will be real.
	Filtered image	If the original image has the processed (enhanced) copy, this button toggles between enhanced and original images.
	Automatic alignment	Enters images automatic comparison and alignment mode. After that, the button remains in the pressed state. The user selects the informative fragment he wants to find the similar pattern on the opposite image. When the fragment is selected, the user releases this button in order to start the automatic comparison procedure. NOTE: In the AutoTRIS demo-version, the fragment selection will be done with no user intervention. Nevertheless, the automatic comparison and alignment will be real.
	Image equalizing	Automatically equalizes image’s brightness and improves the contrast.
	Equalized image	If the original image has the equalized copy, this button toggles between equalized and original images.
	Fingerprint mode	Enters the mode where specific tools and capabilities exist for working with fingerprint images.
	Fingerprint encoding	Automatically encodes fingerprint images in batch mode in accordance with user’s selection.
	Smoothed image	If the fingerprint was encoded the smoothed copy of the image will be created. This button can be used to toggle between smoothed and original images.
	Fingerprint mask	If the fingerprint was encoded the mask will be created that designates bad quality portions of the fingerprint image. This button can be used to toggle masked and un-masked images currently displayed on the screen.
	Show/hide minutiae	Switches between modes where minutiae points are visible or not.
	Show numbers/circles	Switches between modes where minutiae points are displayed as numbers or circles.
	Map minutiae	Finds the best possible mapping of minutiae points from the left fingerprint to the right one.
	Find fingerprint	Among fingerprints loaded to the right side finds the closest match for the left image.
	Synchronize minutiae	Synchronizes corresponding minutiae points on both images in the way when both images are displayed in the same position independent on any manipulations on each of them.
	Print	Opens window for composing and printing output documents. NOTE: In the AutoTRIS demo-version, two exemplary worksheets will be shown with no user's intervention: for bullets and for indexed fingerprints. Nevertheless the user can print those worksheets on his printer. On the fingerprint worksheet minutiae points are enumerated and indexed automatically.
	Settings	In Demo version is used only for some imaging settings. In Full version is used also for TWAIN and Video for Windows settings.
	Exit	Quits the AutoTRIS session.