DCS-3

DCS - 3 - manufactured by Foster and Freeman Complete Digital Photography Workstation

Fluorescence - BY40 on a vehicle cowling photographed and enhanced with the DCS-3.

Lighting

Fingerprint photography requires both simple and complex lighting and the final prints are produced in black and white at ratio of 1:1.

Since 1992 Neate Imaging has researched different light sources; the aim of which was to find specialist lighting which would provide forensic photographers with a complete set of tools for the photography of simple and complex fingerprint impressions.

The result of this research is now reflected in the fibre optic lighting attachments supplied with the DCS-3.

Colour Filters

Colour filters provide an invaluable tool to the Fingerprint photographer, it is often assumed that digital replaces conventional photography, in reality it merely compliments it. If an image can be enhanced with colour filters, they should always be used first, with digital enhancements only adding to their function. The primary filters required for fingerprint photography are red, green, blue, yellow and daylight, a filter will have the effect of removing it’s self and increasing the intensity of it’s opposite colour. To assist photographers the DCS system includes a detailed tool window that contains information about different lighting techniques.

The Fibre optic lighting system included with the DCS-3 has the following attachments:-

1. Backlight for photographing Aluminium Fingerprint lifts, and for spectral illumination.

2. Ringlight with mini magic arm stand, for surface lighting.

3. Goosenecks for oblique illumination.

4. Full set of Dichroic colour filters, and filters for full cross polarisation.

Optional accessories

1. Dark field ring-light - angled fibre bundle for fingerprints in 3D surfaces such as putty and dust.

2. Line light - for footwear on black gel lifts

3. Dark field illumination box, for fingerprints on clear plastic surfaces.