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Fingerprint Imaging With a Confocal Scanning Laser Macroscope

NCJ Number
153150
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 40 Issue: 1 Dated: (January 1995) Pages: 10-17
Author(s)
K M Beesley; S Damaskinos; A E Dixon
Date Published
1995
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This article describes the scanning laser macroscope, a new scanning beam confocal imaging system that scans up to 7.5 cm X 7.5 cm in 5 seconds.
Abstract
The macroscope has a telecentric f-theta lens as the imaging objective lens, is confocal, and can be used for both reflection and fluorescence imaging. This article discusses how the macroscope has been used to image fingerprints on a variety of substrate materials. The images clearly show some of the system's advantages. High-contrast, low-magnification images of latent fingerprints have been obtained in reflection as well as high-magnification images of single fingerprints in both reflection and fluorescence. Sharp images of cyanoacrylate-treated fingerprints can be obtained on clear plastic. Pores on the ridges of the finger are clearly visible on higher magnification images. In addition, untreated prints on a glass substrate and on a silicon wafer produced good images. Reasonably good images have been obtained with the macroscope when direct scanning of a finger in the air has been attempted. This technique could be used to take fingerprints at the police station at the time of booking. 9 figures and 6 references