foster+freeman

DCS5 APPLICATIONS
Infrared & Longwave Reflected UV Imaging
of ‘superglue’ fumed evidence

Application Note
ISSUE 1
May 2017
 DCS5: IR & Longwave R-UV Imaging of superglue fumed evidence
ISSUE 1 foster+freeman
May 2017

Equipped with a custom modified camera and UV-Vis-IR sensitive lens, the A P P L I C AT I O N I M A G E S
DCS 5 fingerprint imaging workstation enables examiners to search for
evidence beyond the limits of human vision, detecting and visualising Longwave Reflected-UV 1
latent fingerprints within the UV and IR wavebands. Curved glass
Printed packaging
In fingerprint laboratories worldwide, it is common practice for non-porous Plastic carrier bag
items of evidence to be fumed with cyanoacrylate (superglue), to develop Pharmaceutical packaging
fingerprint ridge detail, before being treated with a chemical dye/stain, to Drinks can
create contrast between the fingerprint and background surface. Hair product container
Mobile telephone
The fume/stain technique is widely used and largely successful, enabling
examiners to reveal fingermarks on a wide variety of evidence types. Reflected-IR 2
However, the process of fuming and then staining evidence is time-consuming Background suppression
and costly, requires the use of potentially harmful chemicals, and is not Drinks can
suitable for use with all substrates. Pharmaceutical packaging
Printed box
In this study, it is demonstrated that by examining cyanoacrylate fumed Glossy printed label
items of non-porous evidence with Reflected Infrared and Longwave Greetings card
Reflected UV, the vast majority of fingerprints may be revealed without the Plastic bottle/printed label
need for a subsequent dye/stain treatment. Fruit juice cartons

Examinations, under Reflected Infrared and Lonwave Ultraviolet, are quick

and easy to perform with results being displayed on screen in real-time. The
Dual-Wavelength Examination 3
Currency
resulting fingerprints demonstrate a good quality of ridge detail while the
very nature of Reflected UV/IR imaging greatly suppresses background
information to produce excellent contrast.

DCS 5 Required Hardware

In order to accommodate the differing requirements of fingerprint laboratories worldwide, DCS 5 is a modular system that can be
expanded through the addition of application specific modules.
In order to perform the applications in this studys, the DCS 5 Core imaging system must be equipped with the additional Reflected UV
Imaging module. For superior results when imaging Reflected-IR, it is recommended that the additional Infrared Imaging module
also be selected.

DCS 5 Core + Reflected UV Imaging

A turnkey system operated via a Windows PC, the
DCS 5 Core Imaging System includes all
components required to image and enhance
fingerprints in the visible spectrum.
System Essentials
Pro-grade copy stand
Desktop PC & 32” 4K monitor
Photographic Accessories
Additional camera lens, light source and filters essential for R-UV imaging.
UV Light Source
Powerful directional 365nm UV light source.
60mm UV Transmitting Lens
This quartz/fluorite lens, is essential for Reflected UV Imaging but also
provides excellent results in the Vis and IR.
UV Imaging Filter Set
330-385nm bandpass filter

Imaging
Nikon D5 DSLR camera + Infrared Imaging
Infrared Imaging Filters
Additional light source and filters for Fluorescence & Reflected-IR imaging.
Illumination Crime-lite 8x4MK4 IR Light Source
FLS Bandpass Filtered Light Source Photographic ring light for infrared imaging - Blue, Red and N-IR wavelengths
Halogen Light Source
Fibre Optic Light Guides IR Imaging Accessories
Includes slot-in viewing filters and sample pots of fpNatural IR fluorescent
powders
 DCS5: IR & Longwave R-UV Imaging of superglue fumed evidence
ISSUE 1 foster+freeman
May 2017

Longwave Reflected-UV
UV radiation (wavelengths of light shorter than 400nm) is invisible to the naked eye. However, by equipping the DCS-5 camera with the
60mm UV Transmitting Quartz Lens and 330-385nm bandpass filter, it is possible to record the UV radiation that is reflected back from
the subject to reveal impressive results from previously difficult subjects.

1 2 3

1 Illumination: Crime-lite 82S UV (365nm)

2 Light Filtration: 330-385nm Bandpass filter (blocks all visible light)
3 Image Capture: 60mm UV Transmitting Quartz Lens

Illumination Halogen Visible Fingerprints on Curved Glass

Lens 60mm UV/IR
Filter Vis Pass
A notoriously difficult surface on which to photograph
fingerprints, examiners wishing to obtain prints from curved
glass surfaces will in most cases resort to using dusting
powders and fingerprint lifting tape. While this technique is
widespread it does risk permanent damage to the print.

Reflected-UV imaging eliminates the problem of glare and

the reflection of visible light from the bottles surface leaving
a clearly visible, high contrast fingerprint.

Illumination Crime-lite 82S UV

Lens 60mm UV/IR DCS Enhanced
Filter UV Pass
 DCS5: IR & Longwave R-UV Imaging of superglue fumed evidence
ISSUE 1 foster+freeman
May 2017

Longwave Reflected UV examination of two colourful crisp packets, fumed with cyanoacrylate. No additional enhancements applied.

Illumination Halogen Visible Illumination Crime-lite 82S UV

DCS Enhanced
Lens 60mm UV/IR Lens 60mm UV/IR
Filter Vis Pass Filter UV Pass

Crisp Packet - Printed Packaging

Crisp Packet - Printed Packaging

 DCS5: IR & Longwave R-UV Imaging of superglue fumed evidence
ISSUE 1 foster+freeman
May 2017

Longwave Reflected UV examination of printed plastic carrier bag, fumed with cyanoacrylate. No additional enhancements applied.

Illumination Halogen Visible Illumination Crime-lite 82S UV

DCS Enhanced
Lens 60mm UV/IR Lens 60mm UV/IR
Filter Vis Pass Filter UV Pass

Plastic Carrier Bag

 DCS5: IR & Longwave R-UV Imaging of superglue fumed evidence
ISSUE 1 foster+freeman
May 2017

Longwave Reflected UV examination of miscellaneous items, fumed with cyanoacrylate. No additional enhancements applied.

Illumination Halogen Visible Illumination Crime-lite 82S UV

Lens 60mm UV/IR Lens 60mm UV/IR DCS Enhanced
Filter Vis Pass Filter UV Pass

Pharmaceutical Packaging

Drinks Can

Hair Product Container

Mobile Phone
 DCS5: IR & Longwave R-UV Imaging of superglue fumed evidence
ISSUE 1 foster+freeman
May 2017

Reflected-IR
While infrared radiation (wavelengths of light longer than 700nm) is invisible to the naked eye, it may be detected by most digital SLR
cameras. However, as infrared wavelengths are not required for conventional (visual) photography, camera manufacturers install IR
blocking filters to eradicate wavelengths of light above 700-800nm.

The camera supplied with DCS 5 systems has been custom-modified by foster+freeman to enable full-spectrum photography, making it
possible to capture images of IR light being absorbed or reflected by different surfaces.

1 2 3

1 Illumination: Crime-lite 8x4MK4

2 Light Filtration: 850nm Sharp-cut filter (blocks all visible light)
3 Image Capture: 105mm Vis-IR Macro Lens

Illumination Halogen Visible Background Suppression

Lens 60mm UV/IR
Perhaps the greatest advantage of Longwave Reflected UV
Filter Vis Pass and Infrared imaging over ‘traditional’ visible imaging
techniques is the natural suppression of troublesome
backgrounds.

In this example a fingerprint, fumed with cyanoacrylate, has

been developed on a multi-coloured drinks can. Despite the
lack of visible contrast (white ridge detail on a white area of
the can) it has been possible, using reflected-IR imaging, to
suppress the backgound to a point that visible contrast can
be discerned.

Once subjected to DCS digital enhancement, a fingerprint of

identifiable quality has been revealed.

Illumination Crime-lite 8x4MK4 IR

Lens 60mm UV/IR DCS Enhanced
Filter IR Pass
 DCS5: IR & Longwave R-UV Imaging of superglue fumed evidence
ISSUE 1 foster+freeman
May 2017

Reflected IR examination of miscellaneous items, fumed with cyanoacrylate. No additional enhancements applied.

Illumination Halogen Visible Illumination Crime-lite 8x4MK4 IR

Lens 60mm UV/IR Lens 60mm UV/IR DCS Enhanced
Filter Vis Pass Filter IR Pass

Drinks Can

Printed Box

Pharmaceutical Packaging

Glossy Printed Label

 DCS5: IR & Longwave R-UV Imaging of superglue fumed evidence
ISSUE 1 foster+freeman
May 2017

Reflected IR examination of miscellaneous items, fumed with cyanoacrylate. No additional enhancements applied.

Illumination Halogen Visible Illumination Crime-lite 8x4MK4 IR

Lens 60mm UV/IR Lens 60mm UV/IR DCS Enhanced
Filter Vis Pass Filter IR Pass

Plastic Bottle / Label

Greetings Card

Orange Juice Carton

Apple Juice Carton

 DCS5: IR & Longwave R-UV Imaging of superglue fumed evidence
ISSUE 1 foster + freeman
May 2017

Benefits of dual wavelength examination

In order to obtain the best quality of results and to reveal as many fingermarks as is possible, reflected-IR and longwave reflected-UV
imaging are techniques best used in tandem.

In the example below, a polymer banknote has been fumed with cyanoacrylate before being examined under both refelected-UV 
(top right image) and longwave reflected-infrared (bottom right image).

In each of the two images a number of fingerprints are clearly visible. However, on closer inspection it can be seen that the two
imaging techniques have had varying degrees of success in terms of sufficiently suppressing the background to create contrast.

Only by examining the note under reflected-IR and longwave reflected-UV are we able to retrieve the maximum quality and quantity
of fingerprint data.

Illumination Halogen Visible Illumination Crime-lite 82S UV

Lens 60mm UV/IR Lens 60mm UV/IR
Filter Vis Pass Filter UV Pass

Illumination Halogen Visible Illumination Crime-lite 8x4MK4 IR

Lens 60mm UV/IR Lens 60mm UV/IR
Filter Vis Pass Filter IR Pass

Recognised for innovation in the field of latent fingerprints, our product range includes advanced systems for the development of
fingerprints using traditional time honoured methods alongside new and novel techniques developed exclusively by foster+freeman.

Recent peer-reviewed papers include:

• Seeing into the infrared: A novel IR fluorescent fingerprint powder (2015)
• NIR-NIR fluorescence: A new genre of fingermark visualisation techniques (2016)
• Sunlight-activated near-infrared phosphorescence as a viable means of latent fingermark visualisation (2017)
• Fingermark visualisation on uncirculated £5 (Bank of England) polymer notes (2017)
• The use of infrared fluorescent reagents for the enhancement of latent fingerprints from notoriously troublesome backgrounds (2017)

Head Office, UK Sales Office USA Sales Office foster + freeman

Vale Park | Evesham | WR11 1TD | United Kingdom 46030 Manekin Plaza | Suite 170 | Sterling | VA 20166 | USA

Tel: +44 (0)1386 768 050 | sales@fosterfreeman.com Tel: 888 445 5048 | usoffice@fosterfreeman.com www.fosterfreeman.com