Fingerprint cards are used to track fingerprints and provide a common way for fingerprinting. They typically have spaces for each finger and identifying information. Modern technology allows for digital imaging and centralized databases, making physical cards obsolete. Cards are printed on heavy card stock and should last for decades.
Fingerprint cards are pieces of printed paper that are often created for the sole purpose of providing a way to track a person’s fingerprints. In the past, cards were printed before fingerprints were added. With modern equipment, cards and fingerprints can be printed at the same time, especially if digital imaging technology is used to detect fingerprints instead of ink. These cards are often standard among many different law enforcement agencies.
Typically, fingerprint cards provide an area at the top for information such as the name, age, and location of the individual being fingerprinted. Each card will then have spaces for each of the five fingers separately. Another larger space is provided for all four fingers on each hand. Each space is marked with an identifier, such as “left thumb” as an example.
The main purpose of fingerprint cards is to provide a common way for fingerprinting. If the cards are uniform among nearly all law enforcement agencies, there is less confusion about which finger is which. Thus, it makes finding fingerprints for comparison purposes somewhat easier. In the past, these cards may have been kept in a centralized file. Now, physical cards are slowly becoming obsolete as digitized fingerprints and centralized databases are becoming the new standard.
Often, the ink on fingerprint cards will be two different colors. Parts without fingerprints, such as grilles, identifying information, and other information, will be in blue. The fingerprints themselves will often be in black, which is often preferred for scanning purposes. Black ink is common whether you are fingerprinting children or adults.
While fingerprints generally don’t change over a lifetime, it may be best to ask a child to get a new fingerprint card after age seven. At this age, the baby’s fingerprints will be better defined, thus showing more details on the fingerprint cards. This could help make it easier to identify the child, should this need to be done.
Fingerprint papers are often printed on heavier weight paper than the typical printer paper used in common applications. This is because the paper may have a long life and may be handled many times over time. Therefore, a heavier card stock that absorbs ink without distorting it is a vital component to any good fingerprint kit. When treated properly, these fingerprint cards should last for decades.
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