In eyewitness identification, when photos are not available, a police artist develops what visual aids?

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When photographs aren’t available, a police artist creates a visual likeness from the eyewitness’s description. This produced image is called a composite. The artist selects and combines facial features—such as eyes, nose, mouth, and jawline—from a reference set or freehand to build a likeness that the witness can review. The composite can be updated as new details come in, helping investigators narrow down suspects or invite tips from the public. This differs from mug books, which are collections of actual photos, and from profiles, which are written descriptions, or simpler sketches that may not be produced as a formal composite used in investigations.