Why Does Fingerprint Quality Matter?
If your fingerprints are rejected, you will have to be fingerprinted again which will cause unnecessary delays and could potentially add additional expenses. Time and money can be saved by doing your best / taking a few precautions to ensure the best quality prints are captured and submitted the first time.
Common Causes of Low-Quality Fingerprints
The following are some circ*mstances that can increase the chance of fingerprints being rejected:
- Lifestyle: Frequently washing and/or disinfecting hands. Exposures to harsh chemicals, such as cleaning or antibacterial products.
- Climate: during the dry winter months skin is prone to becoming dry and cracked.
- Age: Skin becomes smoother, and worn-down ridges become harder to capture with age.
- Heredity and genetic factors
Tips for Improving Fingerprint Quality
Fingerprint quality can drastically improve in as little as a week, with a few minimal changes to your lifestyle. It does take time for the skin to regenerate, and the more time you can give yourself the better. If you suspect your fingerprint quality may not be accepted, it is best to start with the following as soon as possible.
- Apply plenty of Lotion
The most effective thing you can do to avoid having your fingerprints rejected is to moisturize using a high-quality lotion. Be sure to use lotion on your hands several times per day for up to a week leading up your fingerprint day.
- Avoid excessive washing and sanitizer use.
Alcohol-based hand sanitizers dry out the skin. When possible, use soap and water instead of hand sanitizer, and follow by drying hands completely and applying lotion.
- Wear gloves
Be sure to wear protective gloves if doing cleaning, manual labour, or activities that may wear on the hands.
What happens if my fingerprints are rejected for quality reasons?
If your fingerprints are rejected for quality reasons it is recommended that you use the Tips for Improving Fingerprint Quality above to enhance the quality of the next set of fingerprints taken. If you had ink fingerprints rejected due to quality, please be sure to bring in the rejection letter when you have your prints retaken.
FAQs
The most effective thing you can do to avoid having your fingerprints rejected is to moisturize using a high-quality lotion. Be sure to use lotion on your hands several times per day for up to a week leading up your fingerprint day. Avoid excessive washing and sanitizer use.
How can I make my fingerprints more legible? ›
Soap and water are preferred; however, rubbing alcohol may be substituted. If hands are moist, wipe each finger with rubbing alcohol. If hands are dry or flaky use a small amount of hand lotion and wipe off any residue.
How can I make my fingerprint sensor work better? ›
Position Your Finger Correctly
The arches, loops and whorls that distinguish your prints from others' are in the pad of your finger, not the tip. Also make sure that you position your finger on the scanner the same way each time. Apply light pressure — pressing too hard can distort the ridges in your skin.
How can I make my fingerprints easier to read? ›
What Can Be Done?
- Moisturize with Quality Lotions.
- Add a Bit of Natural Oils.
- Choose a Non-Dominant Finger for Scanners.
- Request Electronic Fingerprinting Instead of Ink-Based.
- Forego the Hand Sanitizer for Warm Water & Soap.
Cyanoacrylate: Investigators often perform cyanoacrylate (superglue) processing, or fuming, of a surface before applying powders or dye stains. This process, typically performed on non-porous surfaces, involves exposing the object to cyanoacrylate vapors.
How do I improve my fingerprint quality? ›
The most effective thing you can do to avoid having your fingerprints rejected is to moisturize using a high-quality lotion. Be sure to use lotion on your hands several times per day for up to a week leading up your fingerprint day. Avoid excessive washing and sanitizer use.
How to regenerate fingerprints? ›
The skin that regenerates on our fingertips is actually pre-programmed with our fingerprints in it, so once any damage is healed, the same exact fingerprints will appear once again. The only time fingerprints don't regenerate is when damage is deep enough to affect the generating layer of skin.
What is the best lotion to improve fingerprints? ›
In these cases Ridge Builder Lotion is recommended. The ridge builder works by temporarily raising the fingerprint ridges and in most cases provides a clearer print. Simply apply a small amount to the fingers and wipe clean prior to digital live scan or inked fingerprinting. Provided as a 4 oz.
Why are my fingerprints hard to read? ›
Below are some of the common reasons why your fingerprint quality is low: Frequent washing and scrubbing of hands with soaps and sanitizers reduces the natural oils of hands and causes wear of the fingerprints.
How can I increase my fingerprints sensitivity? ›
Here are some tips to improve fingerprint recognition:
- Clean your fingers: Make sure your fingers are clean and dry before using the fingerprint reader. ...
- Position your finger correctly: When scanning your fingerprint, position your finger so that it covers the entire fingerprint sensor.
Conventional procedures used by the latent print examine include dusting, iodine fuming, silver nitrate development, and ninhydrin treatment.
What cleans fingerprints? ›
A 1:1 solution of water and rubbing alcohol can be used to remove fingerprints. Simply mix the solution in a bowl or spray bottle, then use it to dampen a microfiber cloth.
How do I make sure my fingerprints are unreadable? ›
- To answer the question of how to temporarily change your fingerprint:
- Cut your skin to the point of drawing blood which damages the generating layer of skin, creating scabbing or scarring.
- Grow some warts which will temporarily take place of your ridges.
- Make a thin rubber mold of someone else's prints and wear them.
Fingerprint troubleshooting
Ensure your display is clean and without dirt or smudges. If you're having trouble scanning your fingerprint in bright, outdoor sunlight, make sure your fingerprint covers the entire sensor when you scan it. If you have excessively dry fingers, moisturize before scanning your fingerprint.
Why are my fingerprints so bad? ›
Common causes of low-quality fingerprints
Activities that create calluses (playing certain instruments, rock climbing, weight-lifting, manual labour, etc.) Certain kinds of office work (typing, mailroom work, etc.) Exposure to certain chemicals (bleach, chlorine, etc.)
