Comparative Evaluation of Silver Powder and Fluorescent Powder for Developing Latent Fingerprints on Wet Non-Porous Surfaces

  • Unique Paper ID: 197414
  • Volume: 12
  • Issue: 11
  • PageNo: 8281-8284
  • Abstract:
  • Fingerprint identification remains one of the most reliable and widely accepted methods in forensic science due to its uniqueness, permanence, and individuality. However, environmental factors—particularly water exposure—pose significant challenges in the recovery and development of latent fingerprints. This study examines the comparative effectiveness of silver powder and fluorescent powder in developing latent fingerprints on wet non-porous surfaces such as glass, metal, and plastic. The research simulates real-life forensic conditions by exposing fingerprint-bearing surfaces to water and subsequently applying specialised powder techniques. The findings indicate that while water exposure affects the composition and clarity of fingerprint residues, it does not completely eliminate them. Both silver powder and fluorescent powder demonstrate varying degrees of effectiveness depending on surface type, duration of exposure, and environmental conditions. Fluorescent powder, when used under alternate light sources, shows superior visibility on multicoloured or reflective surfaces, whereas silver powder proves effective on darker or smooth substrates. The study highlights the importance of selecting appropriate development techniques to preserve and enhance fingerprint evidence. Ultimately, this research contributes to forensic practice by providing insights into efficient recovery methods for compromised evidence in water-related crime scenarios.

Copyright & License

Copyright © 2026 Authors retain the copyright of this article. This article is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

BibTeX

@article{197414,
        author = {Anu M and Dhanalakshmi M and Sabari vasan R and Dhanya R},
        title = {Comparative Evaluation of Silver Powder and Fluorescent Powder for Developing Latent Fingerprints on Wet Non-Porous Surfaces},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2026},
        volume = {12},
        number = {11},
        pages = {8281-8284},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=197414},
        abstract = {Fingerprint identification remains one of the most reliable and widely accepted methods in forensic science due to its uniqueness, permanence, and individuality. However, environmental factors—particularly water exposure—pose significant challenges in the recovery and development of latent fingerprints. This study examines the comparative effectiveness of silver powder and fluorescent powder in developing latent fingerprints on wet non-porous surfaces such as glass, metal, and plastic. The research simulates real-life forensic conditions by exposing fingerprint-bearing surfaces to water and subsequently applying specialised powder techniques. The findings indicate that while water exposure affects the composition and clarity of fingerprint residues, it does not completely eliminate them. Both silver powder and fluorescent powder demonstrate varying degrees of effectiveness depending on surface type, duration of exposure, and environmental conditions. Fluorescent powder, when used under alternate light sources, shows superior visibility on multicoloured or reflective surfaces, whereas silver powder proves effective on darker or smooth substrates. The study highlights the importance of selecting appropriate development techniques to preserve and enhance fingerprint evidence. Ultimately, this research contributes to forensic practice by providing insights into efficient recovery methods for compromised evidence in water-related crime scenarios.},
        keywords = {Latent Fingerprints; Wet Surfaces; Silver Powder; Fluorescent Powder},
        month = {April},
        }

Cite This Article

M, A., & M, D., & R, S. V., & R, D. (2026). Comparative Evaluation of Silver Powder and Fluorescent Powder for Developing Latent Fingerprints on Wet Non-Porous Surfaces. International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology (IJIRT), 12(11), 8281–8284.

Related Articles