NCJ Number
246612
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 59 Issue: 2 Dated: March 2014 Pages: 490-493
Date Published
March 2014
Length
4 pages
Annotation
Visualization of fingerprint deposits by digital color mapping of light reflected from the surface of heated brass, copper, aluminum, and tin has been investigated using Adobe Photoshop.
Abstract
Visualization of fingerprint deposits by digital color mapping of light reflected from the surface of heated brass, copper, aluminum, and tin has been investigated using Adobe Photoshop. Metals were heated to a range of temperatures T between 50 degrees C and 500 degrees C in 50 degrees C intervals with enhancement being optimal when the metals are heated to 250 degrees C, 350 degrees C, 50 degrees C, and 300 degrees C, respectively, and the hue values adjusted to 247 degrees , 245 degrees , 5 degrees , and 34 degrees , respectively. Fingerprint visualization after color mapping was not degraded by subsequent washing of the metals and color mapping did not compromise the visibility of the fingerprint for all values of T. The optimum value of T for fingerprint visibility is significantly dependent of the standard reduction potential of the metal with Kendall's Tau ô = 0.953 p < 0.001. For brass, this correlation is obtained when considering the standard reduction potential of zinc rather than copper. Abstract published by arrangement with Wiley.