Annotated Overlays Explained

What an annotated overlay is

An annotated overlay is a marked version of the source image that highlights the objects, areas, or clues tied to the analysis. It acts like a visual index for the case file, giving you a way to move from written output back to the original evidence.

Instead of reading a deduction and guessing which part of the frame it refers to, you can inspect the region that supported the finding. That does not mean the interpretation is automatically correct. It means the report is reviewable.

What markers are meant to do

Markers are anchors. They point to the part of the image that the report is discussing: a damaged corner, a shifted object, a stain, a blocked access point, a label, a reflection, or a spatial relationship. The most useful markers make the written analysis easier to challenge as well as easier to understand.

When a marker is precise and the visible detail is clear, you can move faster. When a marker is broad, partly hidden, or attached to an ambiguous detail, you should read the related deduction with more caution.

Why overlays matter

Good overlays make the analysis reviewable. They show whether a finding is anchored to something concrete in the frame or whether the interpretation may be stretching beyond what is visible.

How to read overlays alongside the narrative

The best way to use overlays is to move back and forth between the written narrative, the individual deductions, and the marked image. The narrative tells you what Probe thinks the scene may show. The overlay shows what visual evidence supports that claim.

If a strong claim points to a weak or unclear area in the frame, that is a sign to slow down and review more carefully. The web platform is useful here because the larger screen makes it easier to compare small markers, surrounding context, and confidence scores without rushing.

A simple overlay review routine

What overlays do not mean

A marker is not a guarantee that the interpretation is final. It only shows where the system sees evidence worth calling out. Context still matters, and some regions can support more than one explanation.

That is why overlays work best as part of the full case output, not as isolated screenshots. An overlay alone should not be treated as proof, a legal conclusion, an authenticity decision, or a substitute for expert review. It is a map for reviewing visible evidence.

How to get cleaner overlays

Common overlay mistakes

The first mistake is reading the marker as the conclusion. The marker shows location; the deduction explains the interpretation; the confidence score tells you how strongly the visible material supports that interpretation. You need all three.

The second mistake is ignoring unmarked areas. Probe may highlight the most relevant regions for a finding, but the rest of the image can still contain context that changes how you read the scene. A nearby object, shadow, sign, floor edge, or reflection may make a deduction stronger or weaker.

The third mistake is sharing only the marked image without the surrounding report. For collaboration, the useful unit is the visual evidence report: source image, overlay, narrative, deductions, confidence, and any notes about uncertainty or missing angles.

How Probe uses overlays in the web platform

Probe uses overlays to make case history more usable. When you reopen a report, the annotations let you remember why a scene was flagged and which visual details mattered. They also help another reviewer understand the path from photo to finding without relying only on prose.

This is part of the web-first positioning: the platform is not just an upload box. It is a review surface for visual evidence reports, where marked images and written findings can be checked together before any next action is taken.

When an overlay should prompt a retake

Retake the photo when the marker lands on glare, blur, deep shadow, a clipped edge, or a region hidden by another object. The issue may not be the analysis; it may be that the photo does not give any reviewer enough information. A cleaner source image often produces a cleaner overlay and a more useful case report.