Fingerprinting

History of Fingerprinting


Ancient civilizations would mark criminals through branding or maiming and the thief would lose the hand which was used to commit the given crime. In 1686 a professor noticed the ridges, spirals, and loops in the fingerprints but in doing so failed to mention this could be used for individual identification. The English finally began using fingerprints in 1858.


Types of Fingerprinting

Latent fingerprints aren't very apparent. They form from sweat from sebaceous glands on the body.

Plastic fingerprints are indentations left in soft, pliable surfaces like clay, wax, or paint, and are very visible.

Direct fingerprints are visible to the naked eye because they are left when fingers have blood, dirt, ink or grease on them and came in contact with a smooth surface.


Techniques/Chemicals

Taulk (Baby Powder) is used to lift fingerprints off of black surfaces.

Carbon is used to lift fingerprints off of glass surfaces.






Basic Shapes/Patterns of Fingerprints



Arches (Plain Arch & Tented Arch)- Found in 5% of fingerprint patterns





Loops (Radial Loop & Ulnar Loop)- Found in 60-70% of fingerprint patterns






Whorls (Plain Whorl, Central Pocket Whorl, Double Loop Whorl, & Accidental Whorl)- Found in 25-35% of fingerprint patterns



Procedure for Collecting/Lifting Prints

Once fingerprints are developed, several techniques can be used. Hinge lifters come in different color backgrounds to allow fingerprints to develop with different color powders, Rubber lifter is used when the adhesive side of the tape is applied to the powdered print, and cellophane tape is used on all surfaces, not just flat ones. It attaches to the contours of an object.