• The core, as the name implies, is the approximate center of the finger impression.

It will be
necessary to concern ourselves with the core of the loop type only. The following rules
govern the selection of the core of a loop:
• ● The core is placed upon or within the innermost sufficient recurve.
• ● When the innermost sufficient recurve contains no ending ridge or rod rising as high as the
shoulders of the loop, the core is placed on the shoulder of the loop farther from the delta.
• ● When the innermost sufficient recurve contains an uneven number of rods rising as high as
the shoulders, the core is placed upon the end of the center rod whether it touches the
looping ridge or not.
• ● When the innermost sufficient recurve contains an even number of rods rising as high as
the shoulders, the core is placed upon the end of the farther one of the two center rods, the
two center rods being treated as though they were connected by a recurving ridge.
• The shoulders of a loop are the points at which the recurving ridge definitely turns inward or
curves.
• Figures 33 to 38 reflect the focal points of a series of loops. In figure 39, there are two rods,
but the rod marked "A" does not rise as high as the shoulder line X, so the core is at B.
•
•
 Final Classification
• The final classification is the exhibition of the
ridge count of the loop on the right little
finger. If that is not a loop, then ridge count of
the loop on the left little finger is used in
which case the count is placed in the
denominator of the classification line. When
neither little finger is a loop, then the count of
the whorl type pattern on the right little finger
is taken.
 Rules in deriving the ridge count of
whorls .
1. A plain whorl or central pocket loop whorl is
treated as an ulnar loop.
2. A double loop whorl must be ridge counted to
an upright loop.
3. In an accidental whorl there are two or more
cores the ridge count is made from the left delta
(right hand) right delta (left hand) to the core
which is the least number or ridges distant from
the delta.
• gure 4 shows the loop pattern (left loop and right loop). A left loop
has ridges that enter and leave from the left side; while a right loop
has ridges that enter and leave from the right side.
• For a loop, if its ridges flow in the direction of the thumb, the loop
is called radial loop; if its ridges flow in the direction of the little
finger, it is called ulnar loop. The radial loop and the ulnar loop are
shown in Figure 5 [12].
•
 Adermatoglyphia is an extremely
rare genetic disorder that causes a
person to have no fingerprints. There
are only four known extended families
worldwide that are affected by this
condition.
 Polydactyly is a condition where someone is born
with one or more extra fingers or toes. It can occur on
one or both hands or feet. The name comes from the
Greek poly (many) and dactylos (finger). The extra
fingers or toes are described as "supernumerary,"
which means "more than the normal number
 The key Classification
• The key is derived by ridge counting the first loop in a
set of ten prints. The ridge count of the first loop may
come from the right thumb or any other finger except
the little fingers . The ridge count is always represented
as numerator , no matter where it is taken ,where
there is no loop, the first whorl is ridge counted being
treated as an ulnar loop , and the result is displayed on
the left upper corner of the block where found.
• Note; when arches appear in all prints ( no loops or
whorls) the symbol of the key classification is just ( - )
on the classification line. Remember that the key is
always a number the actual count – not as a letter
symbol.
Problems in the classification of
amputations, scarred patterns and
missing fingers at birth.
• 1. amputated fingers are really amputated either at first,
second or third joint, while missing fingers at birth are
nonexistent at time of recording.
• 2. there must be a notation from the source of the
fingerprint card submitted that the finger is missing at tie of
birth and amputated,
• There are other problem that may come up such as
crippled or deformed fingers, recently injured , bandaged
fingers, burned or paralyzed and the like, these fingerprint
cards can not be processed and are returned to the
contributors for reprinting or recording later on.
 Note: if all fingers are
amputated or missing at
birth , the classification will
be

M 32 W MMM
M 32 W MMM
CLASSES OF LATENT
PRINTS
1. Visible Prints- are those made by fingers smeared with
colored substances such as blood,ink, grease , dirt , or ,
paint. These paints are seen by the naked eye without
their being developed. If the ridges happen to stand
out clearly in them , photographs can be made without
any treatment to prints.
2. Semi- visible latent prints- these are molded or plastic
impression, they are prints made in plastic material ,
such as soap , melted candles , wax , paraffin , putty ,
the adhesive gums of endevelope and postage stamps
and the like. These prints need no development , either
, although photograph is more difficult than with visible
prints.
3. Invisible latent prints – these are the most common
type of chance impression, prints that cannot be seen
by the naked eye , especially on papers , card box , box
and can be developed by the use of the right kind of
powder and chemical to make them visible.
Methods of developing
latent prints
A. Physical or Powder Method
– suitable materials for this
technique are glass,
porcelain , ceramic, pottery ,
metallic item, plastic and
bamboo, the principle
involved in this technique is
that the developing reagent
adhere to the sweat present
in the latent print.
a. Black powder – this is applied on
white and smooth surface.

b. White or aluminum powder – this is

applied on black and smooth surface.
note: these powders are applied on the
surface through brushing.

c. Lycopodium powder – this is applied on

leather bags. It is directly placed on the
surface using a blower to spread the
powder instead of a brush. It is also used
to developed latent prints on human skin
with the use of gelatin paper .
Procedure :
1. lift the latent print from the human skin using
a fingerprint lifting material .

2. Mount it on the gelatin paper .

3. Apply lycopoduim powder.

d. SP Black Powder
- Mix oxidizing iron into aluminum
powder with weak adhesive
powder. When subjected evidence
surface is white color, this powder
is used more frequently to make
clear appearance for identification
, on detected fingerprint , than the
aluminum powder.
 b. Chemical or Liquid method
a. Ninhydrin solution – it is us, white
wood, blood stained fingerprint ,
paper wrapping of cigarette stick ,
etc.
Preparation : 0.5 grams of ninhydrin
powder mixed with 100ml of acetone of
ethyl alcohol.
Method : Brushing , immersion , spraying

Procedure : brush ninhydrin solution on

the surface of the material . Evaporate
acetone with heat (natural) or using flat
iron after inserting the material in
between pages of paper. ed to detect
latent prints on absorbent materials
 b. Ninhydrin petroleum benzine
solution
This is applied on printed materials , the
advantage of this method is the non destruction
of written letters made by ball pen and other
ink.
 c. TMB ( TetramethylBenzidine –
(C H ON )
16 2 2

- With this method the invisible amount of

blood stained fingerprints can be detected.
Fingerprint on kitchen knife and other blades
used as a weapon , effectively detected.
 d. Neo SPWA Method ( invented by
Nubuo Yamauchi – japanese
fingerprint expert
- Applied on wet surface ( plastic bag , metal
product , plastic product , vehicle body,
bathroom tiles , weekly magazine cover , glass
product surface with no water absorbent,
adherent surface of adhesive tape , the
magnetic card and crappy plastic bag.
 e. Victoria pure blue method
• This is used to detect latent prints on leaves ,
scotch tape, and masking tape,.
Other chemical development of latent
prints
1. Collaidal gold universal fingerprint developer – a
newer process developed at los alamos national
laboratory , this process which is used by the FBI and
secret services , can effectively develop prints on
plastic , bank checks counterfeit money , metal and
skin , even after cyanoacrylate or ninhydrin have
failed.
2. Amino black – a dye sensitive to properties of blood
and may be used with contaminated , visible prints
involving blood. It has the capability to turn blood
proteins to a blue – black powder.
3. Crystal violet – is mixed with water tape is
soaked in the solution , the Tape is then
rinsed with tap water any latent print that
appears is dyed a purple color , the results
can be enchanced by viewing the treated
area under laser illumination .
4. Iodine fuming – it is the oldest and most
proven method of developing latent prints
on both porous , particularly paper and
nonporous surfaces, if the subsequent use of
ninhydrin maybe required , the ioden fuming
should be done first.
5. DFO ( 1,8 – Diazaflouren -9-one)- it reacts
with the protiens give a highly flourescent
red colored product . These red prints may
be immediately visible to the naked eye.
DFO developed prints flouresce under
almost all laser alternative light sources.