Taking fingerprints at home is a great way to refresh your memory about how to do it right the first time. In fact, many police departments now offer their fingerprinting classes online via the internet or by phone.
Many police officers have additional skills that they add value to their job. One of these skills is fingerprinting. As a way to supplement their abilities, they may take a FBI fingerprinting course at their station or in their home.
Many ways to take your fingerprints are possible. You can go to an agency-provided workshop, you can do home testing, you can buy kit from Internet sites, or you can do both directly from one source.
This article will talk about ways hows to take your fingerprints and hows to use them if you get them wrong.
Contents:
Find a suitable surface
You can find fingerprints at any time of the day. All you need to do is walk around and look under couches, chairs, and in other places where someone might have put their hands.
You don’t have to do this right after someone else has a handprint on your face or body. You can start as soon as you get home!
The surface you are taking the fingerprints on must be soft and warm- to prevent break-throughs. If you want to take the fingerprints in cold weather, then use a warm sweatshirt or a heavy jacket to protect the body.
You can also take the fingerprints on paper, if there is a hard surface such as glass or concrete next to you. Either way, there should be no barriers between you and the print.
Collect your supplies
Your home needs to be safe and secure, so it is worth having some security measures in place. You will need a safe place to store your fingerprints. Here are some tips for doing this safely.
Make sure you have enough space to accommodate your prints. You want to make sure that there is enough surface area for your prints to fit together and overlap, and that there is adequate lighting for you to see yourself in the mirror as you take the picture.
You want clear vision when taking the picture, as well as sound! Make sure you are able to see both in sunlight or with natural lighting present.
Get the ink ready
Before you can take a print at home, you must get the ink ready. This can be done in several ways, depending on where you go.
Some locations require that the ink be heated to a certain temperature before use, which makes it easier to transfer the ink to something else. At home, you can use a traditional washcloth or even a handkerchief to soak the skin until all of the water has been transferred.
You can also buy special printers that work on computer systems and phone apps, making it easy to do at home.
Take the fingerprint
Most countries have a law requiring that you take a person’s fingerprints at a government-run fingerprint office. You can do this at home as well.
The process is very simple. First, you use warm water and a gentle detergent cloth to thoroughly clean your hands. Then, you place the cloth over the finger you want to take the fingerprints on, leaving an inch of space around the finger.
You then place the hand inside a paper sleeve to protect the hand from dust and other particles, and put in an ice pack to reduce swelling. Once they are cold, you remove them slowly and place on a paper towel to dry.
Then, you use an electricalarthed pen or pencil to draw your fingerprints on an unoccupied spot on the screen of a digital camera. You then send them via email or phone to your local FBI office.
Hold the paper where the fingerprint is taken
When fingerprinting a child at home, try holding the paper where the finger is taken. This allows for better access to the print.
If you do not have a paper to take the prints on, then hold the phone or computer tablet where the screen meets the edge. This allows for better access to the print.
Holding a phone or a computer device right on the surface can result in an acceptable fingerprint. However, when it comes to something like a passbook, there may be more trouble ahead!
When taking fingerprints at home, you can save some time by doing some quick tips.
Roll the finger over the surface
when you’re ready to take the fingerprints, roll the finger over the surface of the paper. This asks that you be careful not to touch the surface before then.
There should be a ridge on the finger where the paper is attached to the person’s hand. If there is, then it will be easier to process their fingerprint. If there is not, then go get a drink and do some research!
You can now press your finger against the screen of your phone or tablet and within a few seconds, your local police department will receive your fingerprint and they can process it! This is because they use tech to process fingerprints.
To send your prints to another agency, you must know who you are and what agency you work for. Trying some new things out before contacting local authorities may help save yourself from having to do so later.
Clean the surface with a tissue
After you remove the dirt, you can clean the fingerprint with a wipe or their usual tissue. Make sure to use a wipe or the paper-style tissue to remove any oil or grease that may have settled on the fingerprint.
Once you do this, it is time to take your fingerprints. There are many ways to take your fingerprints. Some of them include: Use a soft brush, pinch ball, punch, or other type of device that creates a mark on the surface. Place a sheet of paper over it to protect the surface.
Or use one of these devices: A camera, computer software, printer, etc. That takes an image and places it on your record.
Apply the ink and press down firmly with paper
Now, press your finger against the print and hold it there for a few seconds to create a solid imprint of the print. This will ensure that the ink is deeply seated in the pad and that it will stay that way as you try to take your fingerprints at home!
This process may seem complicated at first, but it really is simple. Once you do this a few times, you will be taking fingerprints at home quickly!
Make sure to take your fingerprints early in the morning or early evening, when people are asleep or when you can get away with it.