FORENSIC 2 – SEMI FINALS

CHAPTER 3 - PART 2
BASIC STEPS IN COLLECTING LATENT FINGERPRINTS AT THE CRIME SCENE

The latent fingerprint at the crime scene left behind by a suspect or victim may identify who was at a crime scene and what he or she
touched. It is important for defense attorneys to know, and to inform the judges, that the techniques used to locate and identify fingerprints are
far from a perfect science. Understanding how fingerprints are located and lifted helps attorneys recognize if defective analysis was performed
by investigators or fingerprint technicians.

The knowledge on the various fingerprint collection techniques is essential in the conduct of successful cross-examination of crime scene
technicians and fingerprint examiners.

Locate latent fingerprints

 Locating a latent fingerprint often requires vigilance. Latent fingerprints are suspected to be present on the point of entry, objects attacked
and point of exit. The type of fingerprint left behind usually determines the amount of time and effort investigators must put into locating
the print.
 The type of surface where the latent fingerprints are located serve as a basis in determining what appropriate development method is
applied.

Nonporous Surfaces

 A powder technique is usually used to identify latent prints on nonporous surfaces such as glass, marble, metal, plastic, and finished wood.
When powder is distributed on the surface, it adheres to the residue deposited from the finger's touch, allowing investigators to find the
print.
 Superglue fuming is a chemical process that exposes and fixes fingerprints on a nonporous surface. The process works by using an airtight
tank, known as a fuming chamber, to heat up superglue (liquid cyanoacrylate) which releases gases that adhere to the oily residue of print,
thereby creating an image of the fingerprint. This can be performed at the crime scene by using a handheld wand that heats up superglue
and a florescent dye.

Porous Surfaces

 The development of latent fingerprints using the powder method is not as effective on porous surfaces such as fabric, unfinished wood, and
paper. The use of chemical methods to locate the print such as iodine fuming, silver nitrate, or ninhydrin is preferred. When the chemicals
comes into contact with the chemicals present in the fingerprint residue (natural oils, fats), the print become visible.

 lodine fuming takes place in a fuming chamber. The process works by heating up solid crystal iodine which creates vapors that adhere to
the oily residue of print, producing a brown colored print. The disadvantage of using iodine fuming is that the print fades quickly after the
fuming takes place and therefore must be photographed quickly.

 Silver nitrate, when exposed to latent prints, reacts with the chloride of the salt molecules found in print residue, forming silver chloride.
When exposed to ultraviolet light, silver chloride turns black or brown, making the print visible. This is effective on impressions left in
cardboard and paper-like surfaces.

 Ninhydrin is more commonly used than iodine fuming and silver nitrate techniques to locate a latent print. The object on which the print is
located can be dipped in or sprayed with a ninhydrin solution, which reacts with the oils in the print's residue to create a bluish print. The
disadvantage of using ninhydrin is that the reaction is very slow, often taking several hours for the print to become visible. To accelerate the
reaction, the object containing the print can be heated to 80 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit .

 Laser illumination creates a contrast between the print and the surface which exposes the print.

Human Skin

Latent fingerprints are also found and developed on human skin that gives difficulty to any technician. The problem encountered is finding the
print since the oily residue left by fingers that creates the fingerprint itself is often present on human skin, making it difficult to create a contrast
between the surface (skin) and the print. After a print is left on human skin, the oily residue often disperses and is absorbed into the skin,
blurring the print. Two hours is the maximum amount of time that a print on skin may be viable.

Photographing the fingerprint

After the print is located and developed, it is vital that it is photographed before it is lifted. A photograph captures where the print was located
in comparison to other objects and captures the orientation of the print. Further, a photograph can serve as a key piece of identification of a
patent or plastic print and can be used to compare and possibly match the print to its source. Photographing the print's location at the crime scene
also guards against tampering of evidence. Photographing the latent fingerprints is an act of preservation.
Lifting the fingerprint

"Lifting a fingerprint" means to make a permanent impression of the fingerprint. Lifting a print can be accomplished on either flat surfaces or
round surfaces. Lifting a print usually involves a rubber tape with an adhesive surface which is applied to the fingerprint, leaving an imprint on
the tape. Often times, a flat object, such as a ruler, will be slowly swiped across the top of the tape to ensure that there are no bubbles or ripples
in the tape that will affect the imprint. Next, the tape is carefully peeled off the surface and a plastic cover is placed on the adhesive side of the
tape to prevent disruption of the print. Identification information and a description of the location of the print should be written on the back of
the tape or card.

Techniques of Latent Fingerprint Development on Paper

SILVER NITRATE

 Silver nitrate is probably the oldest known chemical technique for fingerprint detection on porous surfaces such as paper. The technique is
effective for detecting fresh finger marks on most paper surfaces and untreated wood. Silver nitrate reacts with chlorides contained in latent
fingerprints producing silver chloride, which when exposed to light turns to a dark gray.

 However, loss of fingerprint detail tends to be observed with relatively old prints (one week) developed with silver nitrate due to the
diffusion of chlorides through the substrate. Another disadvantage with the reagent is its strong background reaction which results in a
darking of the substrate with time.

NINHYDRIN SOLUTION

 A ninhydrin solution of approximately 0.5% weight per volume in concentration is required to develop fingerprints on paper. To obtain the
best contrast, ninhydrin developed prints should be photographed under white light with a green-yellow filter (560-580nm) fitted to the
camera.

 Apply the solution on the paper by dipping, brushing or spraying and heat must be applied. The chemical react to amino acid present in the
latent fingerprint which will be stained with a purple color.

Methods of Fingerprinting a Living Person

 The skin is known as the largest organ and the first line of protection in the human body. It covers the body from head to toe and is referred
to as friction ridge skin. Obtaining legible recordings of these areas of skin is vital for subsequent comparisons to latent impressions
recovered from crime scenes, for comparison against previous records, or for input into automated fingerprint identification systems
(AFIS).
 'Inked prints, record prints, standards, and exemplars are all terms that are used to describe the recording of these unique details.
 In taking the inked fingerprints of a living person, it considers the recording of the rolled impression and plain impression.

ROLLED IMPRESSION - is an impression made or place in the fingerprint card which is taken individually by rolling the ten fingers of the
subject 180 degrees from tip to the second joints.

PLAIN IMRESSION - is an impression made simultaneously that serves as a reference

PURPOSES OF THE PLAIN IMPRESSION

 To serve as a guide in checking the rolled impression whether or not the rolled impression were properly place on their respective boxes.
 to check on the ridge characteristics of the plain impression, if the rolled impression is somewhat faint, or indistinct due to bad condition of
the friction skin either temporary or permanently deteriorated or in case of a doubtful or questionable prints.
 To check the minute details of the ridge characteristics for purposes of classification and identification.

SCIENTIFIC WAY OF TAKING FINGERPRINTS

1. Prepare the set-up for printing.

2. Clean the inking plate/slab thoroughly before spreading the ink.
3. Place a small amount of fingerprint ink on each side of the slab and in the center, then start spreading the ink using the roller back and forth
until the ink is evenly distributed.
4. To check whether or not the ink was spread properly or whether it is enough or not, try to print one of your finger or put the slab near the
light and if brownish reflection is observe it means you have a good ink for used.
5. Place the fingerprint card on the card holder properly to ensure that proper entry will be easy.
6. Check the hands of the subject. Make sure that it is clean and dry. If it is perspiring freely, wipe them off with a soft, clean cloth dampened
with alcohol.
7. The technician should stand at the left of the subject in taking the right hand impression and take the right side in taking the left hand
impression of the subject.
8. Subject should be instructed to stand straight but relax and not to assist the technician in rolling his finger.
9. In taking the rolled impression, technician should place first the right thumb to be rolled towards the body of the subject while the other
fingers not in use is either folded or closed. Then inked the remaining fingers and rolled it away from the body of the subject. Make sure to
roll the finger from the tip down to the beginning of the next joint, and from one side of the nail to the other (180 degrees).
10. Same should be done in the left hand only that the technician will turn to the right of the subject.
11. Apply only moderate amount of pressure in printing subject's fingers to avoid blurred prints but hold the subjects hand firmly so as to
prevent pulling that may cause smeared impression.
12. To obtain the plain impression, all the fingers of the right hand should be pressed lightly upon the inking plate, then press simultaneously
upon the lower right hand of the card and do the same to the left hand.

Recording palm prints

 Palm prints are recorded in the same manner as fingerprints; however, a cylindrical device is often used to facilitate the process to ensure
complete recording of all friction ridge detail. The palms are not pressed on an inking plate. Rather, the roller is loaded with ink from the
inking plate and the ink roller is used to apply a thin coat of ink directly to the hands from the base and edges of the palms to the tips of the
fingers. Care must be exercised to ensure complete coverage of ink to all areas containing friction ridge detail.
 To record palm prints, a standard 8" x 8" card or heavy plain white bond paper is attached to a cylinder approximately 3" in diameter.
Removable adhesive tape or rubber bands may be used to attach the paper to the cylinder. The inked palm is then rolled either from the base
of the palm toward the fingers or from the fingers to the base of the palm. Either way is acceptable and is generally left to the discretion of
the technician. Most technicians prefer beginning at the base of the palm and rolling toward the fingers because this gives the technician
more control over the subject and position of the print on the card.

Fingerprint Sensor - is an electronic device used to capture a digital image of the fingerprint pattern. The captured image is called a live scan.

Biometrics (Biometric Authentication) - refers to the identification of humans by their characteristics or traits.

Post-mortem Fingerprinting

 One of the most challenging, and also rewarding, aspects of latent print examination is the determination of the identity of deceased
individuals.
 Most human remains are available for examination soon after death. Hence, fingerprint identification is relatively simple and the standard
procedure of black printer's ink and postmortem fingerprint cards are utilized. However, when a body is burned, decomposed, macerated, or
mutilated more scientific measures are employed. The nature of the samples utilized will differ depending on the condition of the skin and
the remains. Three sets of circumstances are possible; each of which necessitates unique techniques of obtaining legible fingerprint(s).

1. Fingerprinting the newly dead (Flexible and Intact Fingers)

When the fingers are flexible it is often possible to secure inked fingerprint impressions of a deceased person through the regular inking
process on a standard post-mortem fingerprint card. Identification may then be accomplished by:

a. Fingerprint comparison of deceased inked fingerprints and known inked fingerprints for TID (Tentative Identification).
b. An automated search of deceased fingerprints through the AFIS (Automated Fingerprint Identification System).

 When the fingers are flexible it is often possible to serve inked fingerprint impressions of a deceased person through the regular inking
process on standard fingerprint card.

 In all cases where inked impressions are to be made, care should be exercised to see that the fingers are clean and dry before inking. If
necessary wash the digits with soap and water and dry thoroughly.
 In the event difficulty is encountered in trying to procure fingerprints by the regular method it may prove more convenient to cut the
10 squares numbered for the rolled impressions from a fingerprint card. After the finger is inked, the square is rolled around the finger
without letting it slip. Extreme caution should be exercised to see that each square bears the correct fingerprint impressions. After all
the inked impressions are properly taken, the ten squares bearing the impressions are pasted or stapled to a standard Fingerprint card in
their proper positions. Whenever possible the plain impressions should also be taken.
 In some cases it will be found necessary to obtain or improvise a tool similar to a broad-bladed putty knife or spatula to be used as an
inking instrument. The inked is rolled evenly and thinly on the knife or spatula and applied to the finger by passing the inked knife or
spatula around it.

2. Fingerprinting the Dead, Where stiffening of the fingers and/or Early Decomposition are Present (Hands Clenched or Fingerprints
Wrinkled or Decomposing)

When the hands of the deceased are clenched due to post-mortem rigor or the finger tips are wrinkled or decomposition has begun, and/or
where there are combinations of these conditions, the following techniques may be employed:

Breaking the Rigor:

 Rigor mortis causing the hands to be clenched may be forcibly broken in order to straighten the fingers after which the inking procedures
may be employed. This is done by holding the hand of the deceased person firmly with one grasping the finger to be straightened with the
four fingers of the other hand and placing the thumb, which is used as a lever, on the knuckle of the finger and forcing it straight. The
inking tool and squares as previously explained, are then use to secure the fingerprint.
 In the event the rigor cannot be overcome, it will be most helpful to improvise or secure a spoon-shaped tool for holding the cut square or
cut strips while printing the fingers.

Injection of Tissue Builder:

 Another problem encountered in this second group includes cases in which the tips of the fingers are fairly pliable and intact, yet due to the
presence of wrinkles in the skin, complete impressions cannot be obtained. The fingertips may be wrinkled due to immersion of hands in
water, excessive humidity, or mummification. Such wrinkling will hamper acquisition of complete impressions. In such cases, the fingertips
may be "rounded" by injection of a tissue builder. If this is not available, glycerin or water may be used.
 The method of simple, injection of the tissue builder, glycerin, or water, is accomplished by the use of a hypodermic syringe. The
hypodermic needle is injected at the joint of the finger up to the tip of the finger, care being used to keep the needle below the skin surface.
The solution is injected until the finger bulbs are rounded out, after which they are inked and printed.

Removal of Skin of Fingertips or Disarticulation of Fingers:

With the onset of decompositions, both the flesh and the skin may become soft of flabby as well as fragile. In such cases, and if the ridge
details are discernible, the following techniques may be employed:

a. Gently remove the skin of the fingertips and air dry them or harden them with hardening solution. The skin may then be placed over
the gloved examiner's fingers and the inking procedure employed.
b. The use of putty such as duplicast or micro-sil can be used to reproduce the ridge pattern or ridge characteristics.
c. Sometimes it more appropriate to disarticulate the terminal phalanx at the langeal joint, in which case, after drying, the epidermis is
peeled from the joint and mounted between glass slides and then photography is utilized to capture the ridge detail and or ridge
characteristics.

3. Fingerprinting the Dead in Difficult Cases

In cases involving badly decomposed bodies the first thing to do is to examine the fingers to see if all are present. If they are not, an effort
should be made to determine whether the missing finger or fingers or even a hand was amputated during the person's lifetime, or whether the
loss was due to other causes such as destruction by animal or marine life.

MACERATED FINGERS

 Partially rotten saponified to the extent that the end joints have hardened and wrinkled after excessive submersion in water.
 This can be restored for identification by being softened in a solution of four parts of concentrated ammonium hydroxide and one part of
glycerin. The amputated fingers should remain in the solution for from thirty-six to forty-eight hours. When the desired degree of softness is
obtained, the fingers should be I washed in warm water and then dried by being dipped in acetone.

MUMMIFIED FINGERS

 Usually hard and shrunken mummified fingers can be restored and the skin made pliable by being soaked in a 1-3% solution of potassium
hydroxide.
 TISSUE BUILDER
 Use to take the fingerprints of wrinkled fingers (ex. With a mummified body or one that has been immersed in water for some time).
 This can be used to expand the finger to the normal volume. It is injected under the skin above the first joint of the fingers to be printed.
Tissue builder solvent is used as cleaning solvent and as diluents.

POST MORTEM FINGER STRAIGHTENERS

Made to fit a variety of finger sizes, these steel tools are specifically designed to straighten the clenched fingers of the deceased.

Basic Materials for Fingerprinting

 The laboratory is an area where laboratory activities are being performed which requires strict implementation of its rules and regulations.
Storage cabinet is provided to ensure safekeeping of equipment and materials. Student lockers are also provided where students keep their
personal belongings. The laboratory room requires the students to have self-discipline and always be careful as they perform their activity.
 A Laboratory Custodian is designated to ensure proper control and effective management of the laboratory. Students are required to fill-up
borrowers form in requesting the needed materials and present the same to the custodian. The laboratory instructor must supervise every
laboratory work to ensure that the students will be equipped with the skills that are expected to be developed.

LABORATORY RULES AND REGULATIONS

1. Smoking, eating and drinking is strictly prohibited during laboratory work.

2. Report accidents immediately.
3. Students should be acquainted with the proper use of the fire extinguisher.
4. Laboratory work should only be done in the presence of the Laboratory Instructor.
5. Only equipment or materials in use be taken out or brought out from the cabinet or storage.
6. Consult the operating procedures for equipment before attempting to go on with the laboratory work.
7. Do not perform in case there are injuries of the hands or fingers.
8. Never taste or smell the chemicals use for making latent print visible.

LABORATORY WORK MANAGEMENT

The Laboratory Instructor shall be the same instructor teaching the Criminalistics subject requiring for laboratory work. His duties and
responsibilities are the following:
 1. Coordinate with the Laboratory Custodian for the equipment/materials he needs.
2. Remind the students of the safety measures and the responsibilities to any loss, breakage or damage prior to the conduct of the
laboratory activity.
3. Strictly impose safety and precautionary measures during laboratory hours.
4. Constantly monitor student's activities during the laboratory work.

FINGERPRINT LABORATORY MATERIALS

1. Ink Roller- refers to an instrument used for spreading the ink into the ink slab or inking plate.

2. Ink Slab/Inking Plate - refers to a piece of metal or a plane glass with as much as 1/4 thick and 6 or more inches long where the
fingerprint ink is distributed for fingerprinting.

3. Card Holder - refers to a gadget used for clipping the fingerprint card to avoid movement of the card during printing.

4. Fingerprint ink - refers to an especially manufactured ink for purposes of taking fingerprints.

5. Fingerprint Card - refers to a piece of card used for recording the ten fingerprints. The usual size is 8" x 8"
6. Scissors - refers to a simple instrument for cutting latent print tapes and for other purposes.
7. Rubber Gloves - to protect the technician's fingers from leaving his own prints on the object or on the scene.
8. Post-mortem Fingerprint Equipment - refers to a set of equipment consisting of hypodermis syringe, spoon, tissue builder solvent, tissue
cleaner, etc. used for taking prints of dead person.

9. Fingerprint Table - a table intended for taking fingerprints

10. Fingerprint Pointers - use for pointing the ridges in the conduct of ridge counting

11. Fingerprint cameras - use in photographing the developed latent prints

12. Forensic Optical Comparator - an equipment use to compare two fingerprints at the same time
 PROBLEMS IN FINGERPRINTING A LIVING PERSON

REASONS FOR POOR IMPRESSION

1. Poor ink - resulting in the ridges being too light to count or trace
2. Dirty Finger or equipment - presence of foreign materials which may result from failure to clean thoroughly the inking equipment or the
fingers, may cause false markings, distorted ridges or disappearance of characteristics.
3. Improper rolling - failure to roll the fingers fully from one side to the other resulting in incomplete prints which may cannot be fully
identified.
4. Rolling more than once
5. Too much pressure
6. Slippage - this happens when the fingers are allowed to slip or twist resulting in smears, blurs and false patterns.
7. Over inking - using too much ink resulting obliteration of the thin layer with the roller.
8. Incomplete Inking - failure to ink the entire bulb of the finger, from joint to tip from side to side of nails, resulting in the possible
omission of deltas and core.

PROBLEMS IN RECORDING INKED FINGERPRINT

1. TEMPORARY DEFORMITIES - Occupational problems such as acid workers, plasters, cement mixers, assembly workers in electrical
appliance plant. In such case the ridges are not exactly destroyed but they weakened the prints

2. PERMANENT DISABILITIES - One permanent disability is a case of amputated finger. In such case, proper notation of the exact blocks
where the amputated fingers is to be recorded should be made. In case of a person without fingers at birth, it should be noted "missing
fingers at birth" or "born without fingers". If fingers are extremely crippled, broken or disabled proper notation should be made and in some
case, the recorder should make use of some inking device such as spatula, the roller and a curve card strip holder to take the prints which is
usually apply in taking post-mortem fingerprint.

3. DEFORMITIES - In this situation, an infrequent problem of a person with an extra finger. In which case, the extra fingers should be
recorded at the back of the card with the necessary notation. In case of two thumbs, the inner should be used for purposes of classification.
In webbed finger, there is no problem on it, the recorder just simply record the finger together.

Photographing Fingerprints

 Photographing the developed fingerprint is important before lifting. A photograph captures where the print was located and the orientation
of the print, a photograph serve as a key piece of identification of a patent or plastic print and can be used to compare and possibly match
the print to its source. Photographing the location of the prints at the crime scene also guards against tampering of evidence.

 The technique of photographing fingerprints on a variety of objects and surfaces is widely used in police work to establish the identity of
suspects and to obtain and present evidence. The basis of the use of fingerprints in crime detection is the fact that the ridge pattern of the
skin on the fingers of a person is unique and permanent throughout his life. Like many other branches of photography, fingerprint recording
is a specialist job and requires knowledge of the science of fingerprints by the technician to enable him to produce the result the expert
needs to reach his findings.

Photography Equipment

 The equipment used varies according to the location and article on which the impressions are found. Many are in difficult positions
requiring some ingenuity on the part of the operator to get his camera into position.

 When conditions were suitable, a technical double extension camera (stand camera) enables the impression to be recorded in actual size.
Special fingerprint cameras have the lens set at a fixed distance from the film and the impression, again to give an actual size image.
Occasionally 35 mm cameras were used but are not generally favoured. Nowadays digital cameras are used.

 Illumination can be by daylight, photoflood, and other tungsten light or by flash. The fingerprint cameras were normally battery-operated
using four built-in bulbs. Some of the specially made instruments used electronic flash. When dealing with light impressions on a dark
background, a camera fitted with a prism or optical mirror can be used. This eliminates some of the intermediate stages in the preparation of
the final print. Filters can be of great assistance in rendering the background darker or lighter.
 Inked impressions on cards or forms can be copied satisfactorily on a process camera or by means of xerography in the case of good clear
impressions.

Photography Materials

 As the aim is, in most cases to increase contrast, process film is widely used but panchromatic and orthochromatic films are as popular. For
a very weak Photography Technique low contrast mark, a "lith" type material as used in graphic arts may occasionally be used coupled with
extreme contrast development. The choice depends to a large extent on the strength of the impression and the color of the background.

 With a developed (e.g. powder-dusted) latent impression or a molded or pick-up one, the choice of camera depends very much on where the
impression is and what it is on. If a non-portable surface is in the range of the technical camera or fingerprint camera, either can be used. If
there is a sequence of impressions or part of a palm the larger format of the technical camera may be required, to record the whole area on
one negative.

 The technical camera is set up with the bellows extended to give an image size of 1:1. When focusing the camera, the surface on which the
impression appears, the lens panel and the focusing screen should, wherever possible, be parallel to avoid distortion. Accurate focusing is
essential in view of the shallow depth of field at this extension. On curved surfaces or surfaces which slant away from the camera, a small
aperture is necessary to render the whole of the impression sharp.

 With daylight, a white card used as a reflector may assist in evening up the illumination when the light is coming from one side only.
Portable artificial light sources should be moved into such a position that the image is shown at its best on the focusing screen. On strongly-
patterned, but shiny surfaces, the impression may be made visible by deliberately lighting the surface so that the latter reflects glare into the
camera lens. The impression then stands out against the glare. Oblique lighting may be necessary to show up certain molded impressions
(such as those found in soft putty) or pick-ups. Flash bulbs should not be too powerful and can be used to advantage at an oblique angle.
They are to be preferred when dealing with anything like soft putty, as the heat from the photoflood or other lamp may melt the subject.

 If it is not possible to record the impression in actual size, some sort of a marker photographed with it provides a guide for future enlarging.
The fingerprint camera is normally hand held, with or without a template in position over the impression to be photographed. At the front of
the camera, legs or an enclosed mouth rest against the surface being photographed. Some cameras require a time exposure as their source of
illumination is low. In this case the camera must be held perfectly still during the exposure. Modern fingerprint cameras with more
powerful light sources permit exposures of V/30th second or faster at small enough apertures to bring impressions on a curved surface
within the available depth of field. Usually both aperture and shutter speed are fixed to yield a correctly exposed picture with a specified
light source and film speed.

 Impressions revealed by the use of a light powder can be photographed with a camera fitted with a prism or an optical mirror direct on to
bromide paper. This gives a print which is right way round but with the tones reversed, i.e. the impression appears dark in color on a light-
colored background. If several prints are required, then several exposures have to be made. This is simplified by using a special multiple
sliding back holding a long narrow piece of bromide paper. This method saves time and material in the production of the prints.

 Portable articles on which fingerprints are found are taken from the scene to the studio where better facilities are generally available to deal
with them. The copying of inked impressions from forms or cards is still best done by orthodox photography using any stand, fingerprint or
process camera. Special treatment is required when dealing with mirrors. An impression can be seen on the surface of the glass and another
on the silvered back of the mirror and one appears superimposed on the other. A dark powder is used to reveal the impression and a piece of
ground glass is placed ground side down on the impression. The mark on the surface of the mirror is clearly visible but the one on the
silvering of the mirror cannot be seen. The photograph is then taken in the same way as any other print.

 Weak marks on glass can sometimes be dealt with better by illuminating them from behind and photographing them in silhouette against
the light. Impressions on multi-colored surfaces are dealt with by using a powder which fluoresces under the ultra-violet lamp. Only the
fluorescing ridges of the pattern are recorded and the colors of the background completely eliminated.