Was the file altered after it was signed?
If the file carries a certificate of authenticity, the answer is cryptographic, not an opinion: any change to the pixels after signing breaks validation in a detectable way. Verify without needing to have signed anything beforehand.
Three possible answers, never a guess
Certificate-of-authenticity verification distinguishes the three states with cryptographic precision — it never confuses "no seal" with "tampered."
Intact seal
The file has a certificate of authenticity, it matches, and Lens shows who signed it — the certificate carries the signer's legal name, not a generic label.
Tampered
The file has a manifest, but the pixels no longer match what was signed. Lens flags the mismatch — it never confuses this with a valid seal.
No seal
Nobody signed this file. It's not an accusation of fraud — it's absence of a guarantee. Most files circulating out there are in this state.
Legal and forensic use
Insurance claim, notarized record, litigation evidence: in those contexts, a loose screenshot or photo proves no integrity whatsoever — it could have been altered without leaving any visible trace. A file with a certificate of authenticity issued at the moment of capture lets you verify later whether it reached you intact.
Seal verification is cryptographically verifiable — that's different from "probable" or "indicative." Even so, on its own it doesn't replace a judicial forensic examination: it supplies the technical evidence that supports that process, not a substitute for it.
Frequently asked questions
Does a screenshot or photo count as evidence in a legal proceeding?
A file with no seal carries no integrity proof whatsoever. A file with a certificate of authenticity lets you verify afterward whether it arrived intact — stronger technical evidence than a file with no guarantee at all.
Does this replace a notarized record or a forensic examination?
No. It's a solid technical layer that supports the forensic or notarial process — it doesn't replace it.
What shows up when the file has no seal at all?
Lens says exactly that: no seal found. It doesn't mean alteration — it means nobody signed it.
Want to know if a file also shows signs of being AI-generated? See how to check if an image is AI. Or sign what you produce, so verification exists from the origin.
Pricing Structured for Any Scale
From the freelance photographer who needs to authenticate their work, to large corporations processing thousands of media files a month via API.
The unit is the credit: 1 credit = 1 image, 1 second of video, or 1 second of audio — a minute of video uses 60. Anything beyond the plan's included credits is billed at the end of the month, without interrupting service.
Freelancers & Creators
Ideal for digital artists, independent journalists, and researchers.
- 1,500 credits/mo
- Web Dashboard Access
- Basic Technical Support
Professional (SMBs)
The solution for law firms, media agencies, and HR teams.
- 7,500 credits/mo
- B2B Integration API Keys
- PDF report for every verification
Enterprise (B2B)
For universities, insurers, and large-scale integration into their own systems.
- 25,000 credits/mo
- MCP Server Integration
- Multi-Tenant Management