What is fingerprint lifting?
Fingerprint lifting is the process of securing copies of fingerprints that are left at the crime scene. Successfully raise a set of prints increases the possibility to determine who was on the scene in the recent past, which in turn contributes to the evidence necessary to identify and justify the arrest of the perpetrator. There are several different approaches to raise fingerprints that are used around the world, including procedures that allow fingerprints that are invisible to the mere eye.
In order to understand the idea of raising fingerprints, it is important to realize that there are three basic types of fingerprints that may be present at the crime scene. Plastic prints are any set of prints that are left as impressions on soft material. Prints of this type can appear on soap color, in the left dust on the table, or on prints that remained for processing candles made of wax.
Visible prints are fingerprints that remain behind the fingers of contact with some type of fabric,that leaves the impression when the individual touches the surface. For example, visible prints are left when blood reaches the hands and the individual touches the handles, walls or tablecloths. Together with blood, substances such as wet colors, ink and even grease on the hands can lead to leaving clear sets of prints that are very useful for identification.
The third fingerprint class, known as latent or invisible prints, are those that remain behind when the fingers come into contact with objects such as drinking glasses, ash containers or other surfaces. Prints of this type evolve when discounted or natural oils on the skin come into contact with the surface. Although it is not always visible immediately, the use of fingerprint powder can often cause prints to appear.
Once the print set is identified, the actual fingerprint lift process is fingerless. For plastic and visible printsDigital photographs of prints are usually taken. Along with photographic evidence, there are several different powders that can be applied directly to the printing. Specialized paper is then applied to the impression of the press. When lifting prints, a large skill is required, because it is very easy to blur the press, and so it makes evidence unnecessary. For this reason, only specially trained coercive officials are involved in this type of fingerprint lifting.
Commonly used strategy in lifting latent prints involves the use of cyanoacrylate ester, ingredients found in many fast dried adhesive products. This process includes the location of an object suspected of holding prints in a controlled environment along with a measured amount of compound. When cyanoacrylate ester is heated, the fumes begin to release. Within a few hours, the prints will make it easy to become visible, facilitate photography of prints before any attempt to copy prints to another medium.
accurateAccess to raise fingerprints will also depend on the medium that holds the press. Powders work well on smooth surfaces, while using cyanoacrylate ester or even products such as silver nitrates are more effective with surfaces that are ribbed or otherwise smooth. Over the years, the art of raising fingerprints has become more and more sophisticated. Today, it is possible to load fingerprints that have never been found in recent decades, which increases the ability of law enforcement officials to collect relevant evidence needed to solve crimes.