I am putting together a post to pin to the first page. I'll add sources (post numbers mainly) at the end. Would someone take a look and let know what you think, please? TIA!
FURTHER FACTS received from CCIRI:
The image we've been given is a photograph of a wet shoeprint.
The photo was taken "months ago."
The print was made by a wet shoe on dry cement inside of a garage.
The image is backwards due to being a photo.
The shoe is "juvenile" (we aren't completely sure if the wearer was a juvenile or if it is juvenile-sized. If juvenile-sized it could still be for an adult with small feet).
Horizontally flipping the original image shows what the sole of the shoe would look like if you were looking directly at it.
The CCIRI is aware that part of the image resembles, imperfectly, the Quiksilver logo.
Other pertinent information discovered by WS members' research:
Possible logo resemblances and/or brands based on letters: Quiksilver, Lakai, Etnies, Mayan images, Zaidig-Voltaire
Possible types of shoes based on tread design and probable function thereof: espadrilles, beach shoes, water shoes, slippers, tennis shoes, skate shoes (for skateboarding), slides,
Types of shoes excluded: flip-flops, sneakers, hiking boots, leather-soled dress shoes (usually no tread design, and with stitching), work shoes (ie construction), work boots
Possible outsole materials: rubber, EVA foam, Vulcanized rubber, rubber crepe
What's that a picture of?
Possibilities: Letters J and P, flexing wolf, flexing rat, boxing kangaroo, wave and mountain, boat and sail, jack of clubs, The Joker, Rosie the Riveter, oil rig, Greek key, outline of California and Mexico, runner and walker
What are those letters? What do they stand for?
Interpretations considered:
CA LADG - California LA Design Group
CA LADC - California LA Detention Center
CA LADY
CA ZADG
CA LAOG
CA LROG
CA CROC - Croc brand shoes
CA LA DC - California LA DC Comics
CALZADO - Spanish for "footwear"
VULCANIZADO - Spanish for "Vulcanized" (as in Vulcanized rubber)
CA could mean California or Canada or be part of a larger word
The image and its variations: I'll insert the photos later!
Flipped horizontally and sharpened:
Traced:
Proving inversion of image:
Partial image of "picture" in tread found lower in print and reasonably assumed to repeat:
Mystery letters in upper right of photo:
Databases:
Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto
SoleMate FPX 3.0 (FBI software) - not available to mere WSers
Global Brand Database
I know there are more images to mention, probably other things too, but I've gotta run for now.