This article presents an overview of the methods and techniques used to analyze the order in which graphic elements are applied to the surface of paper. This is one of the aspects of forensic document examination that allows to determine which handwritten entries or prints were made primarily and which were secondary. The study begins with a discussion of the microscopic methods that dominated in the 1960s, then presents spectroscopic techniques, as well as the use of the ESDa electrostatic apparatus. Finally, the latest achievements in the analysis of intersecting graphic lines using 3D modelling techniques are presented. The constant development of this field of research shows an increasing demand for finding the best methods. The results presented by many scientists are supported by numerous blind tests and attempts to identify all possible factors influencing the result. However, despite the predominance of non-destructive techniques, the most effective method has not yet been identified.
