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Visualizing Latent Fingerprints on Color-Printed Papers Using Ultraviolet Fluorescence

NCJ Number
234667
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 56 Issue: 3 Dated: May 2011 Pages: 754-759
Author(s)
Norimitsu Akiba, Ph.D.; Naoki Saitoh, B.S.; Kenro Kuroki, Ph.D.; Naoaki Igarashi, B.S.; Kenji Kurosawa, Ph.D.
Date Published
May 2011
Length
6 pages
Annotation
Laser detection of latent fingerprints on a white paper has been performed, previously. Ultraviolet fluorescence from various kinds of printer toner and ink used for home printers were measured to study fluorescence imaging of fingerprints on a color-printed white paper.
Abstract
The experimental system consisted of a nanosecond pulsed tunable laser and a cooled CCD camera. Excitation wavelengths are 230 and 280 nm. Fourteen printers consisting of 3 color laser printers, 3 color inkjet printers, 5 monochrome laser printers, two monochrome copy machines, and a color copy machine were tested. Toner and ink of most printers exhibited fluorescence in the region from 360 to 550 nm. In most cases, clear fluorescence images were obtained by time-resolved imaging with a band-pass filter and 280-nm excitation. However for toners from laser color printers that showed strong fluorescence, better results were obtained with 230-nm excitation. Latent fingerprints on a photograph page and a black-character page of a newspaper were also imaged. (Published Abstract)