Facial composite production: A comparison of mechanical and computer-driven systems

Computer-driven systems for constructing composite faces of suspects (E-fit ; Mac-a-Mug) have largely replaced mechanical systems (Photofit; the Identi kit) in police use, yet little is known of their comparative effectiveness in rendering an accurate likeness. Participants (N = 24) constructed 2 of 4 familiar or unfamiliar faces, for one of which they used Photofit and for the other, E-fit. A likeness of each face was made first under target-absen t conditions and then with photographs of the target present. The accuracy of the resulting composites was assessed by familiarity ratings, names elic ited, and matching accuracy. The computer-driven system showed consistent s uperiority only when a familiar face was constructed in the presence of pho tographs; when participants worked from memory, E-fit was no better than Ph otofit. The implications of these findings for theories of face retrieval a nd the operational use of composites are discussed.