Fingerprint Fundamentals
This type of fingerprint is made by natural oils and sweat and is invisible to the naked eye.
What is a latent fingerprint?
This common black powder is used to reveal latent fingerprints on light surfaces.
What is black fingerprint powder?
This type of document, like a check with a forged signature, is under investigation for authenticity.
What is a questioned document?
This type of data file is commonly used to secure digital evidence.
What are encrypted data files?
This fingerprint pattern, featuring ridges that loop around a central point, is the most common.
What is a loop?
A fingerprint pressed into a soft material like wax or clay is known as this.
What is a plastic fingerprint?
This chemical reacts with amino acids in fingerprints, making prints visible on paper.
What is ninhydrin?
This technique separates the components of ink to analyze its makeup.
What is chromatography?
The first step when analyzing digital evidence is to do this to the original data.
What is documenting and preserving?
A watermark on a document helps determine this.
What is the authenticity of the document?
These small details, like ridge endings and bifurcations, are crucial for identifying fingerprints.
What are minutiae?
This "superglue" method is heated to create fumes that bind to fingerprints on non-porous surfaces like glass.
What is cyanoacrylate fuming?
This tool, abbreviated as ESDA, reveals indented writing on paper.
What is an Electrostatic Detection Apparatus?
This forensic field examines computer printouts, handwriting, and ink to authenticate documents.
What is questioned document analysis?
This type of print is visible without processing, often left in blood, ink, or dirt.
What is a patent fingerprint?
This fingerprint pattern, where ridges enter one side and exit the other without looping, is the least common.
What is an arch?
This technique is preferred when developing fingerprints on objects exposed to high heat.
What is vacuum metal deposition?
In handwriting analysis, this characteristic refers to the way letters slant.
What is slant?
This type of software is used to compare handwriting samples in forensic investigations.
What is handwriting analysis software?
The depth of these marks in handwriting analysis reveals pen pressure and the writer's technique.
What are indentations?
This system, abbreviated as AFIS, is used by law enforcement to compare fingerprints against a large database.
What is the Automated Fingerprint Identification System?
Magnetic powder is useful for dusting prints without this unwanted result.
What is smudging?
This famous 1930s case brought handwriting analysis into the spotlight.
What is the Lindbergh kidnapping case?
This method, often paired with chromatography, identifies the chemical makeup of ink.
What is spectroscopy?
The best forgeries use materials and techniques that match this feature of the original document.
What is the time period?