Place Fingerprints On Various Surfaces: Glass, Metal, And Pa

Place Fingerprints On Various Surfaces Glass Metal And Paper Surfac

Place fingerprints on various surfaces (glass, metal, and paper surfaces). Develop those prints with the best powder type and then lift those prints. Use a scanner or a camera to turn those lifts into an image. Note: Your kits did not come with a roll of lifting tape. If you have regular clear packing tape, try and lift with that tape in your assignment as well. If you do not have a roll of packing tape, just lift two of each type with the strips to get the best possible fingerprint. Submit 10 prints following the Lift Chart provided. Photos should be labeled with last name, assignment name, and method (mag powder on glass). Make sure your prints are clear and high enough resolution to magnify to see ridge detail.

Paper For Above instruction

The objective of this assignment is to practice fingerprint development and lifting techniques on various surfaces, including glass, metal, and paper. These activities are fundamental skills in forensic investigations, allowing for the collection and preservation of fingerprint evidence that can be crucial in identifying individuals involved in criminal activities. The process involves three main steps: placing the fingerprints, developing them with an appropriate powder, and then lifting and capturing the prints digitally.

First, the student is required to place fingerprints on different surfaces—glass, metal, and paper—to simulate real-world scenarios where evidence might be found on various materials. It is essential to ensure that fingerprints are clearly deposited without smudging or contamination. The choice of surfaces is deliberate; glass and metal are smooth and non-porous, making fingerprint development more straightforward, whereas paper represents porous surfaces with different fingerprint transfer characteristics.

Next, developing the prints involves selecting the most effective powder type for each surface. Common fingerprint powders include black, white, or fluorescent powders, chosen based on the surface color and texture. For non-porous surfaces like glass and metal, powders such as black or metallic may provide high contrast and detail visibility, while on paper, graphite or other powders may be more effective. The developer’s goal is to make the fingerprint ridges visible for successful lifting.

Once developed, lifting the prints is performed using adhesive lifts. Since the assignment notes the absence of specialized lifting tape, students are instructed to utilize household clear packing tape as an alternative. The tape must be applied carefully to avoid smudging or tearing the print, then pressed gently to ensure adherence. If a roll of tape is unavailable, students should lift two prints from each surface using the tape strips provided or available to them, prioritizing clarity and detail preservation. The lifted prints are then placed on a contrasting background for digital capture.

Capturing the images of the lifted fingerprints requires a scanner or high-resolution camera. Proper lighting and focus are essential to ensure that ridge details such as minutiae are sharply visible and magnifiable. Naming conventions for the digital images should include the last name, the specific assignment name, and the method used (e.g., "Smith_FingerprintDevelopment_GlassMagPowder"). These are critical for documentation and analysis accuracy.

The final deliverable is a total of ten high-quality digital images of lifted fingerprints, carefully labeled and submitted according to the guidelines provided. These images serve as evidence of successful fingerprint development and lifting techniques, contributing to the student's understanding of evidence collection procedures in criminal justice.

Overall, this exercise enhances practical skills in fingerprint evidence collection, highlighting the importance of appropriate surface handling, selecting suitable powders, lifting techniques, and digital documentation—core competencies for forensic professionals.

References

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• National Institute of Justice. (2018). Developing and lifting latent fingerprints. U.S. Department of Justice.
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