When you are viewing the enhanced image in it’s full size, you can see a pattern consisting of a series of a yellow discolorations in the background which form circles between the cipher-text, it looks Like he had a "grid" device over the paper while drawing out the cipher sheet…

I tried to up the saturation once again, here was the result…

…And while I am not sure if this means anything at all, it is kind of cool, I was hoping it could give some insight on how he actually made the thing

…right now it is looking like an anomalous feature due to the photo I used, rather than the filters, saturation, contrast, etc…

Bummer.

I’m working with a better photo now, I’ll post when I am done.

What size of image are you manipulating? It’s always the best to use the largest and least compressed version available. The smaller and the more compressed the image, the more mess and distorting artifacts there’ll be. The largest one I found was here: http://zodiackillerciphers.com/wiki/images/7/7d/340-cipher-hi-resolution.jpg.

Looking through the version above, I can’t notice anything special from a digital image point of view. I would guess that the symbol alignment was achieved by placing a graph paper under the stationery paper, on a transparent surface such as a professional drafting light table or even a glass coffee table with a lamp under it.

What size of image are you manipulating? It’s always the best to use the largest and least compressed version available. The smaller and the more compressed the image, the more mess and distorting artifacts there’ll be. The largest one I found was here: http://zodiackillerciphers.com/wiki/images/7/7d/340-cipher-hi-resolution.jpg.

Looking through the version above, I can’t notice anything special from a digital image point of view. I would guess that the symbol alignment was achieved by placing a graph paper under the stationery paper, on a transparent surface such as a professional drafting light table or even a glass coffee table with a lamp under it.

Yeah, this was a total dead end.

It was an anomaly produced by the photo I used, nothing more.

I thought I could reproduce something similar with a better photo, but found that this was not a fruitful venture.

I still think there is no harm in exploring something that you found interesting, even if it turns out to be nothing or a dead end, and that is what this was, I thought I noticed something, but it turned out to be nothing.

Mea culpa, this one was a waste.

(While this was a dead end for me, perhaps professionals with state of the art equipment could photograph the original copy of the cipher and use special filters and software to perhaps see something that was missed by the naked eye, until then I am letting this one go )

Probably right about the lamp…

On second thought, that paper looks pretty thick.

The paper itself may be a better clew than what’s written on it…

Was there ever analysis of the paper type zodiac used for his letters and ciphers?

I mean, was it typewriter paper? Drawing paper? And what was its source? Do you obtain this paper at the store? Is it only found somewhere specific?

I’m sure these are all answered questions, but as I am still very new to this case I can not recall ever going over the type and source of the paper…

Z340’s paper has a "Fifth Avenue" watermark on it. Based on its dimensions, it appears to be the 7.25" x 10.5" stationery sold by Woolworth’s:

The "Fifth Avenue" watermark is, in fact, viewable in the 340 hi-res image. Some years ago, I made this animation that shows where it can be found:

https://media.giphy.com/media/l0HU0rl4V … /giphy.gif

That watermark can absolutely be seen in the 340 hi-res image, if you adjust the saturation, balance and contrast just right.

-glurk

Z340’s paper has a "Fifth Avenue" watermark on it. Based on its dimensions, it appears to be the 7.25" x 10.5" stationery sold by Woolworth’s:

So was Zodiac’s the "dainty" or "man-sized"?

Thank you! Great stuff.

Sorry it took me so long to respond, I apologize that I must take small breaks from time to time. I think it’s bad mental hygiene to dedicate too much of my head space to teasing apart the work of a serial killer.

Any way, great stuff.

5th avenue? Is there a Woolworths on 5th avenue in the bay area? Or was this stamp placed on all papers sold at any general location?

I’m sure this was all looked into, right?

Is there a good link on the topic that you would recommend?

I feel that following the hard evidence is probably the best chance at revealing the identity of zodiac. The information in the letters and ciphers is automatically suspect as we cannot be sure of zodiac’s true intentions, was he placing information in the papers to lead someone to him? Or was the information specifically chosen to draw the investigation away from him? When you base your investigation on information that was "spoon-fed" to you by the perpetrator of the crime you are allowing that perpetrator to control the narrative around the investigation and the case in general.

However, if we investigate potential clews which may not have been left intentionally, such as sourcing the paper used in the letters and ciphers or investigating the ammunition used in the attacks which involved a firearm, then perhaps we will be able to regain control of some of the narrative and perhaps uncover something valuable to the investigation.

Its probable that most of what zodiac was doing was similar to what was mentioned below:

If you wonder why I was wipeing the cab down. I was leaving fake clews for the police to run all over town with, as one might say, I gave the cops som bussy work to do to keep them happy. I enjoy needling the blue pigs -zodiac

…So one would have to find clever and inventive ways to investigate zodiac as a result.

This case can not be handled like the average homicide or "serial killer" investigation, also, the fact that all of this occurred in the late 1960s and early 1970s is another massive hindrance to this type of investigation, though perhaps we can also use the passage of time as an advantage, using new techniques and technologies that were not available in the past.

Again, thank you! This is a great start. I am going to do all that I can to try to obtain something valuable from it.

5th avenue? Is there a Woolworths on 5th avenue in the bay area? Or was this stamp placed on all papers sold at any general location?

Pretty sure it’s just marketing, named Fifth Avenue to give it an expensive, ritzy sound to it. Fifth Avenue is a very high rent retail district in NYC, location of the famous Sacks Fifth Avenue store, among other high priced retail shops.

However, if we investigate potential clews which may not have been left intentionally, such as sourcing the paper used in the letters and ciphers or investigating the ammunition used in the attacks which involved a firearm, then perhaps we will be able to regain control of some of the narrative and perhaps uncover something valuable to the investigation.

Agreed, which is why I never worry with the cyphers. I think they are designed to drive you crazy and keep you chasing your tail.

I wonder if this is the only paper from Zodiac with that Fifth Avenue watermark on it. Would be odd if so.

I was watching a Zodiac documentary the other day and it showed an interview from the time period with I believe the then SFPD chief. He was talking about Zodiac’s possible employment and said "it’s possible he worked with paper".

I though, "what the hell does that mean, ‘he worked with paper’? It’s specific while being non-specific.

5th avenue? Is there a Woolworths on 5th avenue in the bay area? Or was this stamp placed on all papers sold at any general location?

Pretty sure it’s just marketing, named Fifth Avenue to give it an expensive, ritzy sound to it. Fifth Avenue is a very high rent retail district in NYC, location of the famous Sacks Fifth Avenue store, among other high priced retail shops.

For those too young to remember, Woolworths was the first and biggest five-and-dime store in the world in the 20th century. With thousands of stores throughout the US, their own brand "Fifth Avenue" would be one of the most common types, and therefore difficult to trace – ideal for Z to use.

I believe the "Fifth Avenue" monicker relates to the Woolworth family history on that street in NYC – where the poor-man-made-good bought and rebuilt a mansion. I read somewhere they valued the property recently at $90million. Woolworths later opened an outlet on Fifth Avenue … five-and-dime stores on the ultimate "ritzy", as you say, street.

Apart from using common paper stock, it’s possible perhaps that the five-and-dime paper with a ritzy name is part of the Zodiac identity; the blue collar guy with the cheap paper, marker pen and car with mis-matched tyres holding the Bay Area to ransom, ending up killing in high-end Presidio Heights.

Apart from using common paper stock, it’s possible perhaps that the five-and-dime paper with a ritzy name is part of the Zodiac identity; the blue collar guy with the cheap paper, marker pen and car with mis-matched tyres holding the Bay Area to ransom, ending up killing in high-end Presidio Heights.

Possible a subtle hint there by Zodiac.

I notice that 5th avenue in San Fransisco ends at Presidio park and runs very close to Washington, Cherry, Maple and Jackson.