NCJ Number
139591
Journal
Journal of Forensic Identification Volume: 42 Issue: 6 Dated: (November-December 1992) Pages: 531-542
Date Published
1992
Length
12 pages
Annotation
New magnetic flake powders have been produced which can be applied to latent fingerprints using a standard commercial brush to produce excellent bright and dark development of latent fingerprints on a variety of surfaces.
Abstract
Moreover, new magnetic applicators have been designed which incorporate powerful rare-earth permanent magnets rather than a conventional permanently magnetized steel rod. The new applicator designs permit substantial quantities of magnetic powder to be held on the applicator tip. Because the magnetic flake powders develop prints in a single pass of the wand, latent fingerprints can be revealed rapidly over large surface areas. In addition, the magnetic flake attaching to the fingerprint residue can be removed completely by touching the surface with a clean rare-earth magnetic applicator, so that relatively smooth surfaces could be cleared of virtually all traces of powder after development. Photographs, figures, table, and 8 references (Author abstract modified)