Fingerprints

What is a latent fingerprint?

• An impression left in soft material such as putty, wax or soap.

• A fingerprint made by paint.

• A fingerprint made by blood.

• A fingerprint that is invisible to the eye.

the combination of details in the shapes and positions of ridges in fingerprints that make each unique; also called ridge characteristics

• Delta

• Minutiae

• Core

• Whorl

a fingerprint pattern in which the ridge pattern originates from one side of the print and leaves from the other side

• Whorl

• Arch

• Loop

a center of a loop on a fingerprint

• Delta

• Minutiae

• Core

• Loop

a triangular ridge pattern on a fingerprint.

• Loop

• Arch

• Delta

• Whorl

an invisible fingerprint made visible through the use of powders or forensic techniques

• Latent

• Plastic

• Patent

a fingerprint pattern in which the ridge pattern enters and exits on the same side

• Arch

• Whorl

• Loop

• Delta

a visible fingerprint that happens when fingers with blood, ink, or some other substance on them touch a surface and transfer the pattern of their fingerprint to that surface

• Patent

• Latent

• Plastic

a three-dimensional fingerprint made in a soft material such as clay, soap, or putty

• Patent

• Plastic

• Latent

a fingerprint pattern that resembles a bull's-eye

• Arch

• Whorl

• Loop

• Delta