Dashrath Singh

PARUL UNIVERSITY

B.SC – FORENSIC SCIENCE

Types of Fingerprint
Finger printing is the most effective method of identification of suspect. Sir FRANCIS
GALTON was the first person to introduce the technique of comparing prints found at the crime
scene with those of suspect. The finger of each and every individual contain small ridges , which
are a kind of nature’s way to allowing one to grip and hold onto things . These textures prevent
things from slipping and sliding that would have naturally happened if the skin was smooth. The
small rigid in the finger are genetic in nature. They form while the child is developing in the
womb.

Although human finger prints are detailed, they are nearly idiosyncratic and tough to alter and
permanent all over the life of an individual, and also making them suitable as long-term markers
of human identity.

Since the early 20th century, finger print analysis came in use, has led to many crimes being
solved.

 TYPES OF FINGER PRINT

According to the SIR EDWARD HENRY, system of classification there is three different finger
print pattern and subdivided into eight basic patterns.

The sorting of fingerprints into groups so that a file may be set up the basis of finger prints alone.
The classification of fingerprint is done on the basis of general shape (arch, loop or whorl),
position in finger and relative size.

Types of Finger prints

ARCH FINGER LOOP FINGER

PRINT PRINT
WHORL FINGER
PRINT

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Dashrath Singh

PARUL UNIVERSITY

B.SC – FORENSIC SCIENCE

These includes,

1. ARCH :-
Only a few about 5% have this type of finger print .An arch does not have any kind of
delta line or cross.

2. WHORL :-
About 25-30 % of finger print patterns are whorl. They have at least two deltas and core.
Any finger print pattern that contain equal or more than two deltas will be termed as
whorl pattern.

3. LOOP :-
Rest of the remaining about 60-70 % of finger print patterns is loops. It is the most
common pattern. Any finger print that contains one delta and one core are known as loop
finger print pattern.

Fig:- arch, delta and whorl fingerprint.

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Dashrath Singh

PARUL UNIVERSITY

B.SC – FORENSIC SCIENCE

Within these three categories of finger print there are further sub-categories of these patterns of
finger print. These are including:

 TYPES OF ARCH PATTERN :-

ARCH

PLAIN ARCH TENTED ARCH

 PLAIN ARCH

It is defined by a slightly raised ridge pattern that low across the finger from one side of
finger to another. It is the least common type of finger print pattern that is below 5 % of
all finger print.

 TENTED ARCH

It is also defined by the ridges flowing across the finger from one side to the other.
Unlike the ridge rises sharply in the middle that take place like a formation of tent.

WHORL

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Dashrath Singh

PARUL UNIVERSITY

B.SC – FORENSIC SCIENCE

 TYPES OF WHORL PATTERN:-

PLAIN WHORL CENTRAL POCKET

WHORL

 PLAIN WHORL :-

It appears when it creates and an unbroken circular pattern similar to a spiral or swirl moreover
one or more ridges form a complete turnaround the centre.

 CENTRAL POCKET WHORL :-

It is formed when one or more of the central ridges repeatedly curve to form a smaller inner
whorl.

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Dashrath Singh

PARUL UNIVERSITY

B.SC – FORENSIC SCIENCE

 TYPES OF LOOP PATTERN :-

ULNAR LOOP CENTRAL POCKET LOOP

RADIAL LOOP

 ULNAR LOOP :-

 They are formed when finger print ridges turned backward but do not twist
completely around.

 Mostly an ulnar loop moves towards the little finger

 Ulnar loops are characterized by the way they turn when looking at the
finger print on the hand not a finger print card.

 RADIAL LOOP :-

 They are created by its existence on the hand but they turns towards the
thumb.

 CENTRAL POCKET LOOP:-

 It is defined as a composite finger print.

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Dashrath Singh

PARUL UNIVERSITY

B.SC – FORENSIC SCIENCE

 In this pattern ridge form loop pattern that turn and surround a central
whorl.

 SOME OTHER TYPES OF FINGER PRINTS:-

1. DOUBLE LOOP WHORL-

It appears to be two distinct loops that surround each other in opposing direction.

2. ACCIDENTAL –

Any finger print patterns possess at least two characteristics of the tented arch, whorl or
loop families combined.

The plain arch is not included in this pattern because it lacks distinctive characteristics.

TYPES OF PRINTS

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Dashrath Singh

PARUL UNIVERSITY

B.SC – FORENSIC SCIENCE

Fingerprints left by the culprit at the crime scene unconsciously or in a hurry (by chance)
are known as chance prints. There are 3 types of chance prints; Plastic, Visible and Latent
Prints.

Plastic prints:

 When a finger or palm touches or presses against plastic material and creates a
negative impression of its friction ridge pattern.
 It is found on pliable materials such as soap, mud, wax, wet cement, clay, putty,
thick dried blood, etc.
 Fingerprints found are 3D in nature and formed due to grooves and ridges of the
fingers with their characteristics. They do not need to be developed. Direct
photography is the method that can be used for their identification

Visible prints:

 These are the prints that are created from fingers contaminated with
foreign materials such as paint, grease, ink, blood, powder, etc.
 Dust prints occur when a finger is pressed on a thin layer of dust and some
of the dust sticks on the friction ridges.
 A fingerprint results when they are then placed on a clean surface. Such
prints are visible to the naked eyes. They can be directly photographed
along with proper scale,

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Dashrath Singh

PARUL UNIVERSITY

B.SC – FORENSIC SCIENCE

Latent Finger Print

 All rigid contain pores that is sweat pores from which are extracted perspiration, salts and
oils. The oils which are left on the surface are known to be as latent finger prints.
 Most often, it is invisible with the naked eyes and chemicals or powders need to be added
to the surface area where there is a possibility of getting the fingerprint. The chemicals or
powders are used in order for the latent print to seen, photographed and lifted .this
requires the application of powders and chemicals to make them visible.

Fig:- detection of latent fingerprint.

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