How do I get a good fingerprint?
Fingerprint jewellery
Various fingerprint kits are available to buy online that give excellent results and the clearer the print supplied, the better the laser engraved result on your fingerprint jewellery will be.
Due to the fineness of a child's print, these are probably the ones that need the greatest attention to detail. Using a good quality, smooth paper can improve the result
and best results, both for children and adults, are usually found using glossy photographic paper.
If we determine that the print is unsuitable or requires too much work to make usable, we would have to request that better prints are obtained, or charge extra to clean them up (if possible).
A visual examination of the print before sending to us will save having to resubmit new prints and a lot of time, examples of good and bad prints are shown below.
As a guide though, if it looks like a blob with no defined lines, it probably won't be any good.
Inkless fingerprint kits can be supplied on request. The image below is an example of an alternative method of obtaining prints that we're experimenting with - results are looking promising! :-)
One good method of taking a fingerprint for laser engraving.
We used to recommend getting arrested and letting the professionals do it for you, but this method is probably simpler.
Things you'll need:
Graphite stick available from craft shops (or a pencil) - Sellotape - white paper, preferably glossy white photography paper. Oh! and a finger!
Step 1: Rub the graphite stick or pencil on a piece of paper to form a block about 25mm - 35mm square - or round, it doesn't matter.
Step 2:
Rub your finger into the area of graphite, coating it well and enough to cover the area of your finger that you want the print from. (It's messy but it works! :-)
Step 3:
Roll your finger over the sticky side of the tape to absorb the graphite.
You may get 2 or 3 rolls out of it from one application of graphite on your finger.
Step 4: Stick the sellotape down well onto your glossy white paper taking care not to get any air bubbles trapped between the tape and the paper.
Repeat until you're happy that you have a good quality print that can be scanned and still retains the best detail.
If the print is smudged, it's no good. You can avoid this by not pressing down as hard on to the Sellotape with your graphited finger.
Q? Do I need to send the original print to you or can I scan and email to you?
A: Scanning and emailing is fine to do.
Q? Do you recommend 'Inkless Fingerprint Kits;?
A: We've tried various methods for obtaining fingerprints and some Inkless fingerprint kits are quite good and have the added advantage of being a lot cleaner. The charcoal method above is cheap, gives very good results and can be done using items from around (most) homes.
Q? If I scratch my nose with a charcoal coated finger, is there a chance nobody will tell me I have a smudge on my face and end up looking silly all day?
A: Yes, without a shadow of a doubt! :-)
