• Analytical Science and Technology
• /
• v.36 no.2
• /
• pp.80-88
• /
• 2023

Fingerprints play a crucial role in the identification of potential suspects in criminal cases. However, determining the actual time, i.e., the time at which the fingermark was deposited, is challenging. Herein, we investigated the persistence and aging of fingerprints over time by observing the time evolution of latent fingerprints on a polystyrene box stored in a dark room. Fingerprint samples that were stored for up to two years could be detected with maximum accuracy using a black iron-oxide-based emulsion (black emulsion). To estimate the time of fingerprint deposition, fingerprint aging was studied by analyzing the lipid components of the fingerprints after their development. Cholesterol and squalene were selected as indicators of fingerprint aging, and their ratio was estimated to assess aging. In the case of fingerprint samples stored in a dark room for up to one month after deposition, the cholesterol/squalene ratio was approximately 0.01; it increased gradually to ≥ 0.1 over six months. A substantial reduction in the levels of cholesterol and squalene from the initial levels was also noted. Cholesterol and squalene were not detected after one year of storage. Thus, the extent of aging could be determined by analyzing the aging indicators for up to six months. Two cases that could cause error in the estimation of the fingerprint deposition time, namely, heating of the fingerprint sample before development and storage of the developed fingerprints in a dark room, were also investigated.

• Analytical Science and Technology
• /
• v.33 no.2
• /
• pp.108-114
• /
• 2020

Gloves are very important evidence at a crime scene; specifically, rubber gloves can be found easily at homes. Therefore, crime scene investigators attempt to develop fingerprints inside the rubber gloves that are discovered, for identifying unknown suspects. This study compared the effectiveness of three different methods that are used for developing latent prints on gloves with aging time. These were the powder, cyanoacrylate fuming, and multi-metal deposition I methods. The powder method achieved good results for 1-3 days of aged prints, and the cyanoacrylate fuming method worked well on 2-week-old prints. In comparison, multi-metal deposition I method developed good quality fingerprints for 6 weeks of aging time.

• Analytical Science and Technology
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.166-171
• /
• 2009

Powder method is simple and very effective method for developing latent finger and palm print in crime scene. This technique has been actively studied to enhance effectiveness. In general, the evaluation for developing powder is mainly performed by the subjective opinion of researcher from comparison of the results obtained with existing and new one to develope finger and palm deposition. The purpose of this work is to present objective method of powder-treated latent fingerprint for evaluating method by developing efficiency. We indicated three evaluating methods of objective developing efficiency, which are measuring the number of minutiae in same sections on print, scattering level of developing reagent and contrast between developing reagent and background materials.

• Analytical Science and Technology
• /
• v.30 no.5
• /
• pp.279-286
• /
• 2017

Determination of the order of latent fingerprints deposition on the surface of thermal paper, often found in crime scenes, is related to the study of time course and aging of fingerprints and can provide additional information in criminal investigations. A preliminary study was performed to determine the deposition order of fingerprints left with two different conditions of deposition pressure and time (in seconds) after 1 day intervals for 7 days on thermal paper (receipt and fax thermal paper) using an iodine fuming method. The resultant images of the visualized fingerprints were analyzed with densitometric image analysis to measure the changes in the areas of the ridges, which can be correlated to the deposition order. No significant variation was found with the different types of thermal paper. The average areas of the friction ridges increased gradually or were similar to the values from day 1 for 3 days, and then a continual decrease was shown from day 4 through day 7. The area values from day 6 and day 7 were less than half of those from day 1. Furthermore, the test with overlapped fingerprints showed the possibility of differentiation between fingerprints that are 1-3 and 6-7 days old based on the clarity visible to the naked eye. Additional experiments with the deposition conditions can prove that the current method is valuable for the determining the order of fingerprint deposition on thermal paper.

• Analytical Science and Technology
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.212-221
• /
• 2008

In order to investigate the information for effective detection and developing of latent fingerprints, we identified fatty acids composition of latent fingerprints on non-porous evidence surface and the chemical changes of latent fingerprint residue after print deposition during 7 months. Fingerprints from eight Korean male donors (aged 29-50 years) and one female donor (aged 36 years) were collected. All fingerprints were found to contain lauric acid (C12:0), myristic acid (C14:0), palmitic acid (C16:0), stearic acid (C18:0), elaidic acid (C18:1n9t), oleic acid (C18:1n9c), linoleic acid (C18:2n6c), arachidic acid (C20:0), linolenic acid (C18:3n3), erucic acid (C22:1n9) and docosadienoic acid (C22:2) and primarily palmitic acid (35.45-48.37%), oleic acid (14.84-28.49%), stearic acid (9.71-24.96%) and linoleic acid (7.68-18.8%) occupied 75% of total fatty acids. When the fingerprints were deposited at dark room for 7 months, total fatty acids components decreased about 12-25%. It can be explained that significant degradation of long-chain fatty acids such as elaidic acid (C18:1n9t), arachidic acid (C20:0), linolenic acid (C18:3n3), erucic acid (C22:1n9), and docosadienoic acid (C22:2) resulted in the generation of myristic acid (C14:0), myristoleic acid (C14:1) and pentadecanoic acid (C15:0).

• Analytical Science and Technology
• /
• v.33 no.3
• /
• pp.159-166
• /
• 2020

Vacuum metal deposition (VMD) is effective to develop latent fingerprints on non-porous and semi-porous surfaces. VMD can be used in cases when fingerprints that can not be developed by generalized techniques or deposited on difficult surfaces. The recommended surfaces for VMD techniques include vinyl, polymer bills, magnetic coated tickets, etc. In this study, the minimum amount of gold input was explored for developing fingerprints from at least 12 hours to up to 28 days after deposit fingerprint on the pink high density polyethylene envelope (HDPE) and low density polyethylene envelope (LDPE), which are mainly used as delivery envelopes. And the results were compared with the effects of black powder and fluorescent powder. In addition, delivery envelopes used for delivery were collected, then classified as HDPE and LDPE and pseudo-operation test was performed. As a result, VMD method developed good quality of fingerprints.

• Analytical Science and Technology
• /
• v.36 no.6
• /
• pp.324-331
• /
• 2023

Latent fingerprints on wet paper cannot be developed using amino acid reaction reagents. Therefore, physical developer (PD) or lipid staining reagents like oil red O (ORO) should be utilized. However, ORO is not very effective in developing fingerprints that are older than approximately 4 weeks. On the other hand, PD performs well in developing older fingerprints, but it cannot do so for relatively fresh fingerprints. Additionally, PD has the disadvantage of taking a long time to develop fingerprints. In this study, in order to overcome the limitations of PD, we attempted to increase its reactivity by applying Ag-PD, which involves depositing silver onto paper using vacuum metal deposition (VMD), and compared this with fingerprints developed using ORO and PD. As a result, Ag-PD showed superior fingerprint development compared to ORO and PD on wet paper stored for 2~8 weeks, and the fingerprint development time for PD was significantly reduced to 90~150 seconds.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
• /
• v.20 no.11
• /
• pp.333-341
• /
• 2020

Since thermal paper is widely used in daily life such as convenience store receipts, lottery tickets and ATM receipts, it is important to develop fingerprints on thermal papers because it can be easily found in crime scenes. This study compared the ability of fingerprint development between vacuum metal deposition(VMD) and 1,2-indanedione(SOON-100) in order to evaluate the effectiveness of VMD, which some literatures have stated to be effective in thermal papers. As a result, in the case of SOON-100, clear ridges of fingerprints that enable individual identification were observed after an hour of deposition, although the fresh fingerprints were faint. In the case of VMD, the fingerprints gradually spread and the quality of the ridges deteriorated rapidly after 6 hours of deposition. This results is consistent with the principle of VMD. Considering the principles of VMD and the characteristics of the surface of thermal paper, VMD is not suitable for the development of potential fingerprints on the thermal paper.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
• /
• v.22 no.10
• /
• pp.733-741
• /
• 2022

Among the various evidence found in maritime crimes, fingerprints and DNA are very important in that they can identify a suspect. In this study, 5 types of non-porous surfaces (plastic, stainless, glass, ceramic, FRP), which are often found as evidence in the actual marine environment, were selected, and latent and blood fingerprints were passed down and immersed at the Donghae Maritime Police Station's exclusive pier for about 7 days. After that, DNA extraction, quantification, and STR profile were analyzed after fingerprint developing CA fumming method and 4 powder methods (Swedish black powder, Concentrated black powder, Supranano red powder, Dazzle orange powder). Among the fingerprint developing methods, when Supranano red powder was applied, a relatively high amount of DNA was found. As a result of STR profile analysis, an average of 16.8 to 9 loci were secured, and all 20 were confirmed in glass and ceramic materials. As a result of the study, it was possible to secure the STR profile by extracting and quantifying DNA after applying the fingerprint developing method to virtual evidence immersed for about 7 days, and further research is needed to secure the STR profile by analyzing DNA after applying various fingerprint developing methods such as VMD and SPR.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
• /
• v.21 no.12
• /
• pp.331-336
• /
• 2021

Vacuum metal deposition(VMD) using gold and zinc is known as a very sensitive technique of developing latent fingerprints on nonporous surfaces by excellent malleability and ductility of gold. However, VMD produces empty print which cannot be identified. There is only presumption about the cause of occurrence of empty print, the exact cause is not known. In this study, we experiment on the freshness of fingerprints and sensitivity of techniques that are estimated as the factors causing empty print, based on this, we suggest cyanoacrylate fuming is effective to redevelop empty print.