The chemical composition of a fingermark is complex. It typically contains a mixture of sweat and lipid material from the skin surface emulsion. Additional components may also be introduced through contact of the fingertip with other materials. Furthermore, after deposition, physical and chemical interactions between the fingermark and its environment may alter the initial composition. In the method described in this article, the lipid partition was separated into bands that corresponded to fatty acids, cholesterol, squalene, and triglyceride controls. Observation of developed plates using ultraviolet fluorescence detection in the region 310-390nm determined that the major fluorescent material was lipid in nature and runs with the squalene control band. After running, the TLC plates were treated with the following latent fingermark enhancement procedures: visible fluorescence, ninhydrin, 1,8-diazafluoren-9-one, and physical developer. The technique provides an approach to understanding the chemical and photoluminescent processes of latent fingermark enhancement. It also lends itself to observing the effects of different solvent systems on fingermark ridge detail. Such information could be useful when evaluating new fingermark enhancement procedures. 5 figures, 1 table, and 13 references