Latent Fingerprint Visualization

The Reflected Ultraviolet Imaging System (RUVIS) is an extremely effective tool for scanning large areas to locate fingerprints, as well as a quick and valuable method for visualizing individual fingerprints, especially on multicolored or reflective backgrounds. Unfortunately, the complicated interaction between a surface, a fingerprint on that surface, and RUVIS is not well understood. This study seeks to remedy the lack of understanding by evaluating RUVIS performance on eight very different surfaces. Fingerprints were collected on glass, glossy paper, vinyl, metal, wood veneer, CD, expanded polystyrene foam, and plastic. The effects of various measured surface characteristics, cyanoacrylate fuming, fingerprint donor gender, and fingerprint exposure to various environments on RUVIS performance were statistically evaluated. Several of these factors were found to significantly impact RUVIS performance in visualizing latent fingerprints, and their consideration would be especially beneficial to fingerprint examiners seeking to improve the efficiency of their use of RUVIS.