The Influence of Ink on the Detection of Latent Fingermarks from Paper

Ido Hefetz, DIFS

Fingermark comparison and identification still remains one of the most important tools in forensic investigations. Development of latent fingermarks on paper is common practice in criminal cases in general and in robbery and threat letters cases in particular. Over the years, numerous studies have been published on different chemical reagents and characteristics of different types of paper and banknotes. However, less information is available on the influence of printing method to paper interaction and the detection of latent fingermarks on printed paper.

The aim of this study is to analyze the influence of different types of printed paper on the development of latent fingermarks processes, and, if possible, to find a correlation between absorption of ink/dye/toner to the quality of latent fingermarks development.

We suggest a joint work to study further more into the interactions between printing ink and latent fingermarks using cross section examination on paper by fluorescence microscopy in order to test our hypothesis.