Comparison of NIR powders to conventional fingerprint powders.

Chadwick, S; Cvetanovski, M; Ross, M; Sharp, A; Moret, S

Comparison of NIR powders to conventional fingerprint powders.

Chadwick, S

Cvetanovski, M Ross, M Sharp, A Moret, S

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Publisher:: Elsevier BV
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Forensic science international, 2021, 328, pp. 111023
Issue Date:: 2021-09-22

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Chadwick, S https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2006-9841
dc.contributor.author	Cvetanovski, M
dc.contributor.author	Ross, M
dc.contributor.author	Sharp, A
dc.contributor.author	Moret, S https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5099-4697
dc.date.accessioned	2021-10-18T00:40:35Z
dc.date.available	2021-09-20
dc.date.available	2021-10-18T00:40:35Z
dc.date.issued	2021-09-22
dc.identifier.citation	Forensic science international, 2021, 328, pp. 111023
dc.identifier.issn	0379-0738
dc.identifier.issn	1872-6283
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/151135
dc.description.abstract	Fingerprint powders remain one of the most common detection techniques used at the crime scene. However, powder efficiency and contrast can be hindered when applied to highly patterned backgrounds. This problem can be overcome using powders that are luminescent in the near-infrared (NIR) region of the electromagnetic spectrum. Despite being commercially available, those powders have been the focus of only a small number of studies, limited to a few substrates or donors. Their performance and advantages over common techniques are still to be thoroughly investigated. This study aims at assessing the performances of two NIR powder (fpNATURAL 1® and Universal Powder an in-house developed powder) against two conventional powders, a black and a luminescent powder (Sirchie Black, GREENcharge™) under various optical conditions (white light, visible luminescence and NIR luminescence). The powders were compared on four substrates using fingermarks of four different ages from five donors. A total 900 fingermarks were collected for each pairwise comparison. NIR imaging provided good background suppression and a high contrast, however it was shown that conventional powders remained the most effective powdering methods on the substrates tested as sufficient contrast could be achieved under white light or in luminescent mode in the visible region. The results showed that Universal Powder performed similarly to conventional powders, but poor performances were obtained on most substrates with fpNATURAL 1®. Based on the results obtained, it is recommended to use NIR powders only on substrates or conditions where traditional powders are known to perform poorly.
dc.format	Print-Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	Elsevier BV
dc.relation.ispartof	Forensic science international
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.forsciint.2021.111023
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/embargoedAccess
dc.subject.classification	Legal & Forensic Medicine
dc.title	Comparison of NIR powders to conventional fingerprint powders.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	328
utslib.location.activity	Ireland
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CFS - Centre for Forensic Science
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science/School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
utslib.copyright.embargo	2022-11-30T00:00:00+1000Z
dc.date.updated	2021-10-18T00:40:26Z
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	328

Abstract:

Fingerprint powders remain one of the most common detection techniques used at the crime scene. However, powder efficiency and contrast can be hindered when applied to highly patterned backgrounds. This problem can be overcome using powders that are luminescent in the near-infrared (NIR) region of the electromagnetic spectrum. Despite being commercially available, those powders have been the focus of only a small number of studies, limited to a few substrates or donors. Their performance and advantages over common techniques are still to be thoroughly investigated. This study aims at assessing the performances of two NIR powder (fpNATURAL 1® and Universal Powder an in-house developed powder) against two conventional powders, a black and a luminescent powder (Sirchie Black, GREENcharge™) under various optical conditions (white light, visible luminescence and NIR luminescence). The powders were compared on four substrates using fingermarks of four different ages from five donors. A total 900 fingermarks were collected for each pairwise comparison. NIR imaging provided good background suppression and a high contrast, however it was shown that conventional powders remained the most effective powdering methods on the substrates tested as sufficient contrast could be achieved under white light or in luminescent mode in the visible region. The results showed that Universal Powder performed similarly to conventional powders, but poor performances were obtained on most substrates with fpNATURAL 1®. Based on the results obtained, it is recommended to use NIR powders only on substrates or conditions where traditional powders are known to perform poorly.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/151135