If decomposition is advanced, the exterior surfaces of the ridged skin may degrade to the point that legible inked prints cannot be secured. On some occasions, the skin will have dried out after separation, becoming inflexible and leathery. Even under these circumstances, it is often possible to get a print from the underside of the skin. The printing of the underside of the epidermal surface of the finger gives a print that records the valleys (furrows) while the ridges remain uninked. This tone reversal can be corrected photographically by attaching the rolled impression to a piece of transparent plastic or mylar and making a 'contact print,' placing the print and backing on a piece of photographic paper, and making a suitable exposure. The 'contact print' technique will only work if transparent tape has been used. The print tends to be slightly smaller than a standard rolled print. 2 references.