VISUALIZATION OF FINGERPRINTS IN THE SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPE

• NCJ Number: 31080
• Journal: Journal of the Forensic Science Society Volume: 15 Issue: 4 Dated: (OCTOBER 1975) Pages: 281-288
• Author(s): G E GARNER; C R FONTAN; D W HOBSON
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 8 pages
• Corporate Author: Forensic Science Soc
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS FINGERPRINTS CAN BE SUCCESSFULLY PHOTOGRAPHED USING THE SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPE WHERE EXTREME DIFFICULTIES ARE ENCOUNTERED USING TRADITIONAL MEHTODS.

Abstract

THE SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPE (SEM) WAS USED TO VISUALIZE FINGERPRINTS WITHOUT PROCESSING THEM WITH DEVELOPING POWDERS OR CHEMICALS. PRINTS ON TWO TYPES OF SURFACES WERE EXAMINED: METAL (ALUMINIUM-CONDUCTIVE) AND GLASS (NON-CONDUCTIVE). PRINTS ON METAL LEND THEMSELVES PARTICULARLY WELL TO SEM ANALYSIS. NO PRETREATMENT OF THE PRINT IS REQUIRED IN ORDER TO OBTAIN EXCELLENT PHOTOGRAPHS. AT TIMES, PRINTS ON GLASS MUST BE COATED WITH A THIN CONDUCTIVE LAYER OF GOLD IN ORDER TO MINIMIZE CHARGING. PRINTS EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS (SUN, RAIN, ETC.) BECOME COATED WITH AN UNIDENTIFIED MATERIAL THAT PREVENTS THE SUCCESS OF THIS METHOD. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)