Fingerprint scan quality can affect the reliability of any electronic
fingerprint system. Although BIO-key technology handles prints of
lesser quality that may be problematic for other fingerprint-based
systems, it is still important to understand how fingerprint quality
can affect finger identification.
Background
In
general, automated fingerprint analysis systems work by creating a
computer model of the live print scan. This model, sometimes called a
Template, is based on many of the common fingerprint features.
The
process of creating the model is usually referred to as enrollment
or registration. The process of matching a live print scan to a
model is usually called identification or lookup.
BIO-key technology creates a mathematical model of your print that can
be used only to verify against another live scan of your print. It is
not a print image, nor can it be used under any circumstances to
re-create a facsimile of your print.
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Dry Prints
Due
to insufficient natural moisture in the skin, dry prints can
appear broken or incomplete to electronic imaging systems. This
can result in inferior model construction during enrollment or in
inconsistent matching during identification.
Dry
skin can result from a multitude of climatic and environmental
conditions. Handling certain materials or substances can also
absorb or wash the oils from the print. For example, paper cloth,
wood and chemicals such as acetone thinners and cleaning agents
all dry the skin of your fingers.
To
regenerate your fingers' natural oils, rub your fingertips
together or against the palm of your hand, the side of your nose,
or your forehead.
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Very dry print |
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Wet Prints
Excessive moisture in the skin can cause your fingerprint features
to blend together, resulting in inferior model constructs or
inconsistent identification. Excessive moisture is generally
caused by sweating or by handling wet materials or substances.
Common sources are greasy foods, hand lotion and makeup. The
condition is easily solved by removing the excess moisture.
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Very wet print
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Scarred Prints
Scar
tissue has plastic-like qualities. When dry, it does not image
well; when wet, it looks like a puddle to the imaging system.
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Scarred print |
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No Prints
Due
to occupational hazards, some fingerprints cannot be imaged. Heavy
labor such as mining or farming, and other occupations can cause
excessive fingerprint hardening, scarring or wearing, rendering
the prints unusable for fingerprint applications. In these cases,
some portion of the finger, such as the heel of the palm or side
of the finger, can still reliably analyzed using BIO-key
technology.
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