• 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.