Facial composites are traditionally created with the assistance of a sketch artist,
and the resulting image is then circulated in the police force as well as the public
community. However, with the advance of computer technologies and a better
understanding of how facial composites are created, composite software systems have
developed greatly.
EvoFIT, an abbreviation for Evolutionary Facial Imaging Technique, is a
computer program used to create composites based on the Darwinian concept. It allows a
witness to select for global features of the face, that will in turn be combined together to
create new faces that have a greater likeness to the offender. The EvoFIT program aims
to boost the low recognition values of facial composite methods currently used. The
purpose of this study is to evaluate production of two composites from the same person
as a mechanism for improving performance. The use of a second composite, paired
composites, and morphed composites is examined as mechanisms for boosting
recognition.
Ten sets of composites representing ten different volunteers (targets) were created
using EvoFIT. The first composite in each set was named correctly 8.3% of the time, the
second composites at 18.3%, the paired composites at 20%, and the morphed composites
at 23.33%. The results support the theory that use of a second composite, a pair of
composites, and morphed composites increases the number of instances in which namers
correctly identify the target. This research suggests that it is valuable for a witness to
construct a second composite using EvoFIT or similar software
