1. An apparatus for detecting an item having a substrate, the apparatus comprising: a) a housing comprising a support plate operable to support the item, said housing further comprising a bottom wall, said bottom wall being substantially parallel to and spaced apart from said support plate; b) one or more sources operable to produce electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength in a range of the electromagnetic spectrum, said one or more sources being oriented to direct said electromagnetic radiation toward said support plate from one or more side walls of said housing, said one or more side walls extending at least partway between said support plate and said bottom wall; and c) at least one imaging device operable to produce an image of the item, said at least one imaging device comprising a three-dimensional camera operable to produce three-dimensional images of the item, said three-dimensional camera being supported by said bottom wall so as to have an angle of view directed toward at least an area of said support plate, wherein the apparatus is operable to produce from said image a material profile associated with the item, said material profile comprising a digital representation of small scale material characteristics rendered imageable by the item being exposed to said electromagnetic radiation, said small scale material characteristics comprising details of one or more of an infrared material characteristic, a visible light material characteristic and an ultraviolet material characteristic, said details requiring magnification to be visible to the human eye, said small scale material characteristics comprising first and second security features of the item, said first security feature being deliberately introduced into the substrate, said second security feature being inherent to the substrate.