Abstract: A method and apparatus for handwriting analysis wherein a signature or other writing can be subjected to comparison with a reference signature. The apparatus and method rely on the collection of measurements of the optical density of a plurality of elements in the specimen and selectively retaining said measurements and then comparing each density measurement to a threshold value. Ultimately, only those density measurements are retained which are located within a bounded locus. After the retained density measurements have been established, they are automatically compared to the measurements of the specimen signature to permit the apparatus to accept or reject the signature on the presented document.