The study demonstrates that "Cetifix lifter" can render fingerprints of excellent quality that are left on hard, smooth, nonporous surfaces. Compared to commonly used lifters, friction ridges preserved on Cetifix are more distinct and clear. This is due to the better adhesivity of self-adhesive wallpaper. More powder from dusted ridge patterns is transferred by the tape with greater adhesive qualities. Further, Cetifix can be used for lifting fingerprints developed with all kinds of powders; and compared to commonly used lifters, preserved prints will be of higher quality, owing to higher adhesivity of the wallpaper. Cetifix can be used for lifting dusted fingerprints from all kinds of smooth or polished articles; however, due to such good affinity toward powder, the lifting procedure cannot be repeated with Cetifix, as can be done with gellifters or synthetic lifting tapes. Due to its thinness and higher flexibility, Cetifix is more suitable for lifting fingerprints from curved surfaces. Finally, Cetifix has the following advantages: flexibility, softness, resistance to wearing off, and resistance to aging. The major advantage of Cetifix, however, is its low cost compared to commercially available imported lifters (five times cheaper). 12 illustrative figures
Investigating the Application of Self-Adhesive Wall-Paper in Lifting Fingerprints (From Policing in Central and Eastern Europe: Comparing Firsthand Knowledge With Experience From the West, P 385-412, 1996, Milan Pagon, ed. -- See NCJ-170291)
NCJ Number
170327
Date Published
1996
Length
28 pages
Annotation
This study shows that self-adhesive wallpaper ("Cetifix") is not only an appropriate substitution for the imported lifting tapes for obtaining fingerprints, but has a number of advantages over them.
Abstract