Powder Dusting
The simplest and most commonly used procedure for latent fingerprint development
is powder dusting. Powder dusting is a “physical” method of enhancement
that relies on the mechanical adherence of fingerprint powder particles to
the moisture and oily components of skin ridge deposits. Application of powder
to latent prints by brushing is a simple technique and yields instantly apparent
prints, but it also has disadvantages. Contact of the brush with the fingerprint
ridges has an inevitably destructive effect. The use of fingerprint powders dates
back to the early nineteenth century. In general, there are four classes of fingerprint
powders: regular, luminescent, metallic, and thermoplastic.