Paper
23 August 2010 Columnar-thin-film acquisition of fingermark topology
Robert C. Shaler, Akhlesh Lakhtakia, Jessica W. Rogers, Drew P. Pulsifer, Raúl J. Martín-Palma
Author Affiliations +
Abstract
Fingerprint visualization obtained from physical evidence taken from crime scenes for subsequent comparison typically requires the use of physical and chemical techniques. One physical technique to visualize or develop sebaceous fingerprints on various surfaces employs the deposition of metals such as gold and zinc thereon. We have developed a different vacuum technology: the conformal-evaporated-film-by-rotation technique to deposit dense columnar thin films (CTFs) on latent fingerprints on different types of surfaces. Sample fingerprints, acting as nonplanar substrates, deposited on different surfaces were placed in a vacuum chamber with the fingerprint side facing a boat containing an evaporant material such as chalcogenide glass. Thermal evaporation of the solid material led to the formation of a dense CTF on the fingerprint, thereby capturing the topographical texture with high resolution. Our results show that it is possible to acquire the topology of latent fingerprints on non-porous surfaces. Additionally, deposition of CTFs on overlapping fingerprints suggested ours may be a technique for elucidating the sequence of deposition of the fingerprints at the scene.
© (2010) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Robert C. Shaler, Akhlesh Lakhtakia, Jessica W. Rogers, Drew P. Pulsifer, and Raúl J. Martín-Palma "Columnar-thin-film acquisition of fingermark topology", Proc. SPIE 7766, Nanostructured Thin Films III, 776607 (23 August 2010); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.859708
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KEYWORDS
Contrast transfer function

Chalcogenide glass

Gold

Glasses

Visualization

Adhesives

Chalcogenides

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