| Fingerprinting isn't just for criminal | | | | ink-covered digit gently from left to right |
| identification anymore. Depending on where | | | | in the allotted space on the card. |
| you live, state laws may require you to | | | | |
| submit fingerprints for a background check | | | | On the bottom row, several of your fingers |
| before you can even volunteer in the | | | | are placed on the card simultaneously (titled |
| community. Since fingerprinting can be a | | | | inward at a forty-five degree angle) to |
| tricky and highly sensitive process, it is | | | | create "flat" or "slapped prints." Because |
| important to get your prints recorded with | | | | these prints are made without rolling your |
| the help of a professional. After all, you | | | | fingers, less of the surface area is recorded |
| wouldn't want to smudge your own prints and | | | | which means that these prints will look |
| increase the risk of being mistaken for | | | | smaller than the rolled images above them. |
| someone else. | | | | The thumbs will have to be recorded |
| | | | separately from the other fingers simply |
| Another reason to get professionals to make | | | | because of the way that your hand is shaped |
| your prints is that the procedure can be | | | | but they will not be rolled either. |
| expensive. The price can vary anywhere from | | | | |
| twelve dollars to almost sixty dollars. And, | | | | One of the most important things to keep in |
| if you have to get more than one | | | | mind while fingerprinting takes place is the |
| fingerprinting done every year, the expenses | | | | amount of ink on your hands because too much |
| can really add up. | | | | or too little ink will make details hard to |
| | | | distinguish. The ink must also be applied |
| There are several places to go for | | | | evenly to avoid dark or light spots. |
| professional San Diego fingerprinting, but | | | | |
| the quality prints that you are paying for | | | | One fun thing to look for, after your |
| should be consistent in several ways. For | | | | fingerprints have been made, is the type of |
| example, fingerprints are usually recorded | | | | pattern on your skin. There are three main |
| with black ink on a white card that has been | | | | classifications: arches, loops and whorls. |
| divided into three rows. The first two rows | | | | Arches look like hills, loops usually consist |
| are both filled with rolled prints from each | | | | of lines that enter and exit from the same |
| of your ten fingers. Rolled prints are | | | | side of the print and whorls are usually |
| created one finger at a time by rolling each | | | | circular patterns. |