Fingerprint powder adheres to skin residue, making fingerprints visible for forensic technicians to record and use in criminal investigations. The formulation of the powder matters, with light and dark powders used on different surfaces. Fuming can be used on rougher surfaces to bring out fingerprints.
Fingerprint powder is a very fine powder designed to adhere to the traces of oil, sweat and other materials left by the skin of friction on the fingers, palms and feet. When fingerprint powder is applied carefully, it can be used to develop latent fingerprints; in other words, it makes fingerprints visible so forensic technicians can record them and use them in a criminal investigation. Several companies make fingerprint powder, with a range of powder types available to investigators.
As a look at your palms will reveal, the skin on your hands is very different from the skin on other parts of your body, and the same goes for your feet. This finely ridged skin is known as friction skin because it increases friction, allowing people to manipulate objects and their environment more easily. The distinct ridges and whorls on the hands and feet form in the womb and remain consistent throughout someone’s life, unless seriously injured, in which case the scar will mar the footprints.
When people touch things, they leave a material residue. By using a powder that adheres to this material, an imprint of the person’s hand, palm, or foot can be seen. This printout can be used to identify that person, linking them to a crime scene. Fingerprints have been used in forensic investigations since the late 1800s and are probably one of the most familiar aspects of forensics to many civilians today.
The formulation of the fingerprint powder matters. Light powders are used to develop prints on dark surfaces, while dark powders stand out on light surfaces. Some investigators use brightly colored or fluorescent powders to bring out more detail. In any case, the impression powder must be very fine and must resist clumping. It can be applied with a soft brush or by blowing the powder onto the surface to be detected. Some forensic technicians use magnetic powder, which uses an applicator that won’t directly touch the fingerprint.
Fingerprints will not show on all surfaces with fingerprint powder. Smooth surfaces tend to be best for fingerprints. Sometimes rougher surfaces can still be fingerprinted by fuming, which involves vaporizing substances such as glue and spreading them over the surface, allowing the substance to adhere and bring out the fingerprints.
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