Table 1 Various approaches for fingerprint upliftment

Power method (Sodhi & Kaur, 2001)

Powder of contrasting colour with respect to its surface is used.

Used on dry, smooth, non-adhesive surfaces

Ninhydrin (Jasuja et al., 2009a; Yang & Lian, 2014; Jasuja et al., 2009b)

“Ruhemann’s Purple” which is a purple colour product is obtained after the reaction.

Useful on porous surfaces—especially paper

1,8 Diazafluoren-9-one (DFO) (Xu et al., 2012; Luo et al., 2013)

It is a variant of ninhydrin. The print glows when exposed to blue-green light.

DFO helps to develop weak blood stains

Iodine (Kelly et al., 2012)

We get a yellow-brown product when sprayed on the print.

Useful on non-metallic surfaces, fresh prints on porous and nonporous

Cyanoacrylate (glue fuming) (Wargacki et al., 2007)

Whitish deposits are obtained when cyanoacrylate reacts with print.

Useful on most nonporous and some porous surfaces. Gives good results on styrofoam and plastic bags

Small particle reagent (Jasuja et al., 2008)

Grey deposits are obtained when it reacts with latent prints.

Used on relatively nonporous and smooth surfaces, including wet ones