A Novel Method for the Photographic Recovery of Fingermark Impressions from Ammunition Cases Using Digital Imaging |
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| Authors: | Glenn Porter Ph.D. Robert Ebeyan B.Sc. (Hons.) Charles Crumlish B.A. (Hons.) Adrian Renshaw Ph.D. |
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| Affiliation: | 1. College of Arts, Society & Education, James Cook University, PO Box 6811, Cairns, Qld, 4870 Australia;2. Additional information and reprint requests:;3. Glenn Porter, Ph.D.;4. Associate Professor in Photomedia;5. College of Arts, Society & Education;6. James Cook University;7. PO Box 6811, Cairns, Qld 4870;8. Australia;9. E‐mail:;10. School of Science & Health, University of Western Sydney, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW, 2751 Australia |
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| Abstract: | The photographic preservation of fingermark impression evidence found on ammunition cases remains problematic due to the cylindrical shape of the deposition substrate preventing complete capture of the impression in a single image. A novel method was developed for the photographic recovery of fingermarks from curved surfaces using digital imaging. The process involves the digital construction of a complete impression image made from several different images captured from multiple camera perspectives. Fingermark impressions deposited onto 9‐mm and 0.22‐caliber brass cartridge cases and a plastic 12‐gauge shotgun shell were tested using various image parameters, including digital stitching method, number of images per 360° rotation of shell, image cropping, and overlap. The results suggest that this method may be successfully used to recover fingermark impression evidence from the surfaces of ammunition cases or other similar cylindrical surfaces. |
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| Keywords: | forensic science forensic photography fingerprint ammunition cases digital imaging image stitching |
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