| Author | Message | ||
     eileen clayton (Laweclay) Member Username: Laweclay Post Number: 2 Registered: 02-2010 |
can you use powders to get latent prints from a cotton t-shirt,if not can you suggest something else,this is for a final year forensics project | ||
| Matthiam (Matt69) Member Username: Matt69 Post Number: 1 Registered: 10-2009 |
I am doing my forensic learnership in the police and I was wondering if someone could tell me which powders are suitable for which surfaces? To be more specific,glass,paper,wood,metal,ect. Hope to hear from you soon.... Matt | ||
| Ernie Hamm |
From an earlier post on this subject: Any fine powder can be used for developing latent prints. Talcum powder, lampblack/carbon substances and dye powders can be used. Many commercial fingerprint powders are combined with other substances to provide for special adhesion qualities, but if you are demonstrating and using a nice fresh 'greasy' print, almost any fine powder will suffice. Just rub the side of your nose, forehead or hair to coat the finger with nice sebaceous oils (contaminants like vapor rub may result in too much 'oil')and touch a smooth surface like polished metal or glass. You just need to touch the surface and not firmly press it down. You can gently apply the powder with a small Camel hair brush like is used for oil painting or cosmetic makeup. Just get a little of the powder on the brush and pass it gently over the area you touched. This should develop a fingerprint. It can be lifted with ordinary clear cellophane tape and placed on card stock. | ||
| Jamie Joyce |
What sort of homemade products would work for fingerprint dusting powders black and white in colour... | ||
| Michelle Lawson |
What are the advantages and disadvantages of using powders such as aluminium to develop latent fingerprints? | ||
| J. Durso |
Try http://www.lynnpeavey.com or www.redwop.com | ||
| AJ |
Kasey: I have the same question for my deaghter's science project. I found it too difficult to "see" the latent fingerprints on a glass brushed with baby power. Do you know where can I purchase the "professional" fingerprint powers? Thanks for the help. | ||
| Kasey Wertheim |
Sean, Powders work by adhering to moisture present in latent print residue. When you touch something, you leave sweat on that surface which usually conforms to the ridged area of the skin that touched the item. By brushing powder over the surface, it usually sticks to the moisture in the print and not to the background. (unless the background is also sticky) Anything that would stick to moisture could be used to develop prints, but the main elements of the substance should be very fine particles and a contrasting color with whatever background the print is on. Both of these help the fine detail be best visualized. Professional fingerprint powders were developed with this in mind, so naturally they give better results than homemade solutions. Hope this helps! -Kasey | ||
| Sean Lewis |
How do fingerprinting powders work to find fingerprints? Is there a certain chemical in them that makes the able to make fingerprints visisble? Can you use household powders in place of powders used by professionals? |
