foster+freeman

DCS5 APPLICATIONS
Imaging fingerprints on sticky tapes

Application Note
ISSUE 1
May 2017
 DCS5: Imaging fingerprints on sticky tapes
ISSUE 1
May 2017
foster+freeman

Fingerprints on Adhesive Tapes A P P L I C AT I O N I M A G E S

Difficult to handle and manipulate whilst wearing gloves, sticky adhesive Longwave Reflected-UV 1
tapes can prove to be a ready source of fingerprints for the crime scene
‘Breakable’ Packing Tape
examiner. However, while a section of tape used to bind a victim or wrap a
contraband parcel may contain a great many prints, revealing and White Masking Tape
photographing these marks can often prove to be a difficult task. Transparent Sellotape
Red Vinyl Tape
Improving upon existing techniques White Vinyl Tape
In many fingerprint laboratories, a specialist adhesive-side reagent is used to Silver Duct Tape
develop fingerprints on the sticky side of tape while cyanoacrylate fuming, in
White Duct Tape
combination with a fluorescent dye, is the preferred method of developing
prints on the non-sticky side. Black Duct Tape

In this proof-of-concept study, it is demonstrated that Longwave Reflected-

UV examination may effectively eliminate half of the existing process by
revealing extremely high quality fingerprints on the sticky side of
cyanoacrylate fumed tapes, with no further treatment being required.

DCS 5 Required Hardware

In order to accommodate the differing requirements of fingerprint laboratories worldwide, DCS 5 is a modular system that can be
expanded through the addition of application specific modules.
In order to perform the applications on the following pages, the DCS 5 Core imaging system must be equipped with the additional
Reflected UV Imaging module.

DCS 5 Core + Reflected UV Imaging

A turnkey system operated via a Windows PC, the Additional camera lens, light source and filters essential for Reflected-UV
DCS 5 Core Imaging System includes all imaging.
components required to image and enhance
fingerprints in the visible spectrum.

Pro-grade copy stand Powerful directional 365nm UV light source.

System Essentials UV Light Source

Desktop PC & 32” 4K monitor

Photographic Accessories

Nikon D5 DSLR camera This quartz/fluorite lens, is essential for

Imaging 60mm UV Transmitting Lens

Infrared Imaging Filters Reflected UV Imaging but also provides

excellent results in the Vis and IR.

FLS Bandpass Filtered Light Source

Illumination

Halogen Light Source

330-385nm bandpass filter
UV Imaging Filter Set
Fibre Optic Light Guides
 DCS5: Imaging fingerprints on sticky tapes
ISSUE 1 foster+freeman
May 2017

Longwave Reflected-UV
UV radiation (wavelengths of light shorter than 400nm) is invisible to the naked eye. However, by equipping the DCS-5 camera with the
60mm UV Transmitting Quartz Lens and 330-385nm bandpass filter, it is possible to record the Longwave UV radiation that is reflected
back from the subject to reveal impressive results from previously difficult subjects.

1 2 3

1 Illumination: Crime-lite 82S UV (365nm)

2 Light Filtration: 330-385nm Bandpass filter (blocks all visible light)
3 Image Capture: 60mm UV Transmitting Quartz Lens

A Versatile Solution...
For many years reflected UV imaging remained underappreciated and largely ignored by fingerprint examiners. However, recent
studies into Longwave R-UV have revealed the technique to be a powerful and versatile tool, capable of revealing high quality
fingerprints on a wide range of subjects without the need for time-consuming and messy chemical treatments.

Pharmaceutical Packaging Latex Glove Crisp Packet Glass Bottle

Recognised for innovation in the field of latent fingerprints, our product range includes advanced systems for the development of
fingerprints using traditional time honoured methods alongside new and novel techniques developed exclusively by foster+freeman.

Recent peer-reviewed papers include:

• Seeing into the infrared: A novel IR fluorescent fingerprint powder (2015)
• NIR-NIR fluorescence: A new genre of fingermark visualisation techniques (2016)
• Sunlight-activated near-infrared phosphorescence as a viable means of latent fingermark visualisation (2017)
• Fingermark visualisation on uncirculated £5 (Bank of England) polymer notes (2017)
• The use of infrared fluorescent reagents for the enhancement of latent fingermarks from notoriously troublesome backgrounds (2017)
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May 2017

Longwave Reflected UV examination of fingerprints on a selection of cyanoacrylate fumed sticky tapes.

Illumination Halogen Visible Illumination Crime-lite 82S UV

Lens 60mm UV/IR Lens 60mm UV/IR DCS Enhanced
Filter Vis Pass Filter UV Pass

‘Breakable’ Packing Tape

‘Breakable’ Packing Tape

White Masking Tape

White Masking Tape

 DCS5: Imaging fingerprints on sticky tapes
ISSUE 1 foster+freeman
May 2017

Illumination Halogen Visible Illumination Crime-lite 82S UV

Lens 60mm UV/IR Lens 60mm UV/IR DCS Enhanced
Filter Vis Pass Filter UV Pass

Clear Sellotape

Clear Sellotape

Red Tape

White Tape
 DCS5: Imaging fingerprints on sticky tapes
ISSUE 1 foster+freeman
May 2017

Illumination Halogen Visible Illumination Crime-lite 82S UV

Lens 60mm UV/IR Lens 60mm UV/IR DCS Enhanced
Filter Vis Pass Filter UV Pass

Silver Duct Tape

Silver Duct Tape

White Duct Tape

Black Duct Tape

Head Office, UK Sales Office USA Sales Office foster + freeman

Vale Park | Evesham | WR11 1TD | United Kingdom 46030 Manekin Plaza | Suite 170 | Sterling | VA 20166 | USA

Tel: +44 (0)1386 768 050 | sales@fosterfreeman.com Tel: 888 445 5048 | usoffice@fosterfreeman.com www.fosterfreeman.com