Friction Ridge Processing

A forensic laboratory analyst or technician performs laboratory analysis of forensic samples in friction ridge development upon the request of municipal police departments or by the District Attorney. Latent fingerprints can be visually examined, physically processed, chemically processed, and/or viewed with an alternate light source. When friction ridge detail is visible and suitable for analysis, the detail is captured digitally for AFIS examination.

Vacuum Metal Deposition (VMD)

The Vacuum Metal Deposition (VMD) deposits thin layers of metal onto a substrate under high vacuum resulting in a reversed fingerprint. The VMD develops friction ridge detail on nonporous, semi-porous, and porous items, including material like a pillowcase.

POWDERado SH 131

The POWDERado SH 131 is a workstation used for fingerprint powder application with a self-contained downdraft filter.

LABview

The LABview is a video and camera system that uses LIGHTcubes to deliver a range of wavelengths of light, from ultraviolet to infrared, to examine evidence such as fingerprints, body fluids, hair, fibers, and gunshot residue.

NINcha

The NINcha is a climate chamber that produces the ideal humidity and temperature for the development of friction ridge detail on porous substrates like paper in a controlled setting.

MEGAfume

The MEGAfume is a fuming chamber that uses cyanoacrylate, or superglue, to develop friction ridge detail in a controlled environment on nonporous materials including metal, glass, and plastic.

CYVAC, Patent

The CYVAC is a vacuum fuming chamber designed specifically for developing friction ridge detail by utilizing cyanoacrylate (superglue) to polymerize latent fingerprints on nonporous surfaces like plastic, glass, and metal.

FSIS II Color Lab System

The Full Spectrum Color Imaging System, or FSIS II, is capable of searching and capturing high-resolution images of latent evidence from 254 nm to 1100 nm across the electromagnetic spectrum.

DCS 5

The DCS5 is a full-featured imaging system that ensures detail is made visible using precise wavelengths from ultraviolet through the visible spectrum to infrared.

The DCS5 has a high-resolution camera attached with digital enhancement software.

DCS5 Cylindrical Surface Unwrapper (CSU)

The setup for the Cylindrical Surface Unwrapper (CSU) is visible in the photo above.

The CSU rotates the evidence and stitches a series of pictures together to generate a two-dimensional image, making it possible to capture fingerprints on curved surfaces.

Vacuum Metal Deposition Processing

This video demonstrates the process of developing fingerprints on a piece of paper and a casing using the VMD with a thin layer of gold, followed by a thin layer of zinc. The DCS5 Cylindrical Surface Unwrapper (CSU) is seen capturing the friction ridge on the casing.

For time-saving reasons, this video has been accelerated.

POWDERado SH 131 and LABview with LIGHTcube series

This video below shows the application of black magnetic fluorescent fingerprint powder using the POWDERado SH 131 and the LABview with the attached LIGHTcube series.

For time-saving reasons, this video has been accelerated.