FINGERPRINT DEFINITION OF TERMS

ACCIDENTAL: A pattern that does not conform to that of the arch, loop or whorl and yet possesses
characteristics common to all three types. This may be a pattern type that possesses some of the
requirements for two or more different types of patterns. This may also be a pattern type that conforms
to none of the definitions of a pattern. An accidental will have two or more deltas in a fully rolled
impression.

ACCREDITATION: Third-party attestation related to a conformity assessment body conveying formal

demonstration of its competence to carry out specific conformity assessment tasks.

ACETATE SHEET: Clear, flexible acetate plastic sheets that a mark lifted by tape or other medium e.g. gel,
will be placed on to become a lift. This acetate sheet can be written on to identify from which scene it
has come. One brand name of acetate sheet is COBEX

ACE: The acronym used to describe the main elements that comprise the fingerprint examination test
process - Analysis, Comparison and Evaluation. Although this is a process with defined steps, when
making a „Comparison‟ it becomes a cyclic or iterative process, rather than a linear process.

AGREEMENT: The ridge flow, characteristics and / or details appear in the same relative position with
the same intervening ridge count, allowing for explainable differences, so to enable the practitioner to
reach their conclusion.

ALUMINIUM POWDER: The most commonly used development powder used extensively since the
1970‟s. Aluminum powder is a low-cost dusting powder that is used for many non-porous surfaces for
example on glass, metallic surfaces, highly varnished wooden surfaces, enameled articles etc. The
wearing of an appropriate dust respirator is recommended, especially during lengthy examinations or in
confined and poorly ventilated areas

AMPUTATED: The removal of a limb or other body extremity by trauma, prolonged constriction or
surgery.

ANALYSIS: The first step of the ACE test process. This is the assessment of an impression to determine
suitability for comparison. The practitioner examines and analyses all variables influencing the friction
ridge detail in question. When examining friction ridge detail, several factors must be taken into
account. Some of these factors are the material upon which the impression has been deposited, the
enhancement process or processes involved, deposition pressure when the impression was left, clarity,
if the impression reaches the practitioners threshold - this list is not exhaustive but will be dependent on
the impression being analyzed. The quantity and quality of the friction ridges are also analyzed and the
practitioner decides whether the impression has sufficient information to proceed to the next phase –
comparison.

ANCHOR POINT: A clearly defined characteristic or cluster of characteristics that is the starting point for
the analysis and comparison. Also known as a Reference Point and see Salient Ridge Characteristics.
ANTE MORTEM FINGERPRINTS: Fingerprint or mark information collected to aid the identification of
deceased person(s). This information can be sourced from documents known to belong to the deceased
that have been „signed‟ with an inked impression from one of their digits, or from examination of items
known to have been handled by them whilst living. This data is often collected in conjunction with DNA
samples.

APPROXIMATING ARCH: In Approximating Arch Patterns, the ridges run from side to side making no
backward turn, but there is an appearance of a delta. If there is a staple, which is separated from the
upper limb of the delta, and a friction ridge count can be obtained, then the pattern must be designated
as a loop. Approximating arches can appear to flow in either a radial or ulnar direction.

ARCH (PLAIN): A pattern type in which the friction ridges enter on one side of the impression and flow
out the other side with a rise or wave in the center, there are no up thrusts, twists or backward turns in
the friction ridges.

AREA NOT REVEALED: When an individual’s friction ridge detail is recorded as a control print, not every
bit of friction ridge detail will be recorded, as there is limited size and space on the form. A mark
retrieved from a scene or an exhibit may be from one of the areas not revealed on the „Ten print‟, but
may appear on another set. Alternatively, a set might have to be retaken focusing on the area that
needs to be recorded. To overcome this in more serious cases, such as terrorism, additional sets may be
taken rolling the tips of the fingers, phalanges and palm to obtain the maximum amount of friction ridge
detail and limiting the areas not revealed. This phrase is most used when a „Ten print‟ set has been
poorly taken.

BACKGROUND DISTURBANCE / INTERFERENCE: A feature of the background (such as the texture or

pattern) of the substrate (surface) that the mark is left on, which affects the appearance and resultant
interpretation of the friction ridge flow or ridge details.

BASAL LAYER: The deepest layer of the epidermis and is the generating layer in the skin. If this layer is
damaged it leads to the cells being unable to reproduce and replace themselves. This damage results in
a permanent scar.

BIAS: Influence based on preferences, dislikes and/or irrelevant information rather than objective data,
such as extraneous contextual details surrounding an event.

BIFURCATION: A ridge characteristic, which occurs when a friction ridge splits into two and the friction
ridges on either side diverge to make room for it.

BLACK POWDER: A development powder. This is particularly useful on white surfaces such as uPVC. This
can also be used on wood.

BLURRED: When there is movement in the friction ridge detail caused by the movement of the hand /
foot or the surface the impression has been left on. The friction ridge detail may become hard to
analyses due to decrease in the clarity of the friction ridges.
BROKEN UP/FRAGMENTED: The mark appears to be broken up due to either the surface it was left on or
the development process or a skin condition.

CARPAL DELTA: A delta formation nearest the wrist on the palm. The positioning can differ from person
to person. The position of the carpal delta may help with the orientation of an impression.

CASTING: Covering the surface of the skin with a malleable material which when set will form a cast of
the ridge detail present. There are many commercially available materials suitable for this process.

CENTRAL POCKET: A pattern type that has two deltas and at least one friction ridge that makes, or tends
to make, one complete circuit, which may be spiral, oval, circular, or any variant of a circle - that is it
possess all the attributes of a whorl. A central pocket is a very lopsided type of whorl where the two
deltas are of varying distances from the core. One delta is typically quite close to the core, while the
other is much further away.

CERTIFIED COPY: A copy of a control set of friction ridge detail that has been authenticated.

CHARACTERISTICS: During the formation of friction ridge detail, the ridges may develop breaks or
deviations which practitioners refer to as characteristics. The sequencing and position of the
characteristics allow the friction ridge detail to be used as a means of human identification.

Characteristics include: Ridge Ending* Bifurcation* Short Independent ridge* Lake* Crossover*
Spur*

CHEMICAL TREATMENTS1: The exhibit or surface of an object is subjected to an application of chemicals

to develop or enhance areas of friction ridge detail.

CLARITY: The visual quality of the friction ridge detail.

CLOSED DELTA: The delta is formed when a single ridge forks in to two arms, opens out and tries to
enclose the core area.

CNA: The abbreviation for Cyanoacrylate (Super Glue)

COGNITIVE PROFILE: Science has found that the real cause of a person’s ability to perform a function lies
in the strength, or weakness, of that person’s relevant cognitive skills. The capacity to form and
manipulate accurate images in your mind is a core visual acuity and cognitive skill for fingerprint
analysis.

COINCIDENT SEQUENCE: This occurs when the same friction ridge characteristics are in the same
relative position with the same intervening friction ridge count, in sufficient quantity and allowing for
explainable differences in both impressions. The ability or inability to establish a coincident sequence
will assist the practitioner with their conclusion.

COLLABORATIVE EXERCISE: An inter-laboratory comparison exercise to determine the performance

characteristics of a method or procedure, to establish the effectiveness and comparability of new tests
or measurement methods, or to assign values to reference materials and assess their suitability for use
in specific test or measurement procedures.

COMPARISON: The second step of the ACE test process. It is when two or more impressions are
compared to determine the level of agreement between two areas of friction ridge skin and to establish
the existence of discrepancies or similarities. The comparison can be either manual (using hard copy
images) or computer based (using electronic/digital/on screen images)

COMPETENCE: The skills, knowledge and understanding required to carry out tasks within a role,
evidenced and assessed consistently over time through performance in the workplace.

COMPLEX MARK: A mark is classed as „complex‟ if there are any difficult or unusual aspects to it.
Complexity is subjective and dependent on individual practitioner opinion. Difficult aspects may include
orientating the impression, determining the area of the hand or foot a mark was deposited from, or
difficulty in seeing and establishing the existence of characteristics. Other aspects may include high
distortion, dissimilarities or low quality or quantity of characteristics. A mark may also be complex due
to the substrate it has been left in, for example blood.

COMPOSITE: A Composite friction ridge pattern consists of a combination of patterns and possesses
three or more deltas.

CONCLUSION: A result stemming from the examination and assessment of all available data within an
impression whilst removing and / or limiting bias as much as is possible. The examiner will weigh up of
all of the available information and come to their final conclusion about the origin or otherwise of the
unknown mark.

CONTAMINATION: The undesirable introduction of substances or trace material; for fingerprint

examination is the disruption of the true image of a mark from a secondary (physical) matrix source, for
example blood, grease etc.

CONTEMPORANEOUS NOTES: This is defined as an accurate record, made at the time, or as soon after
the event as practicable. It is a record of relevant evidence which is seen, heard or done, by the maker of
the note.

CONTINUITY: A chronological record of events with regards to either a case or an exhibit. Demonstrating
the continuity of a case is to show the signed, dated actions of all individuals involved, such as when a
case arrives, who has worked on it, who has identified it, who confirmed and verified the identification
etc. The signing and dating of the record demonstrate chronology of the case. The continuity of an
exhibit shows secure custodianship and handover of responsibility, from the time and place of collection
to the time and place of each further stage the exhibit may have to undergo.

CONTROL PRINT: See also Known Prints, Ten Prints, Plantar Prints or Scan

CORE: The approximate center of a friction ridge pattern

CREASE: A linear depression on the surface of the hand or foot. These may be grooves at the joints of
the phalanges, at the junction of the digits and across the palmar and plantar surfaces that allow flexion.
The flow and the appearance of the creases can be useful for orientating a mark.

CRITICAL FINDINGS: An outcome that meets one or more of the following criteria:

i. has a significant impact on the conclusion reached and the interpretation and opinion provided;
ii. ii. cannot be repeated or checked in the absence of the exhibit or sample;
iii. iii. could be interpreted differently.

CRO NUMBER: A unique Criminal Record Office number assigned to an individual.

CROSS HATCHING: A term that describes the crease pattern that is generally found in the thenar area of
the palm. These creases intersect other creases running in a perpendicular direction, giving a „grid‟ like
appearance.

CROSSOVER: Is a connecting friction ridge made up of two bifurcations.

DACTYLOSCOPY: The science of fingerprint identification, this phrase is not generally used within the
UK.

DATABASES: Collections of data and associated material designed to provide information rather than
for archive, which are stored systematically in hard copy or electronic format and are, e.g. used for: a.
providing information on the possible origin of objects or substances found in casework; and/or b.
providing statistical information.

DEAD SET: The term used for a post mortem set of finger and palm prints .

DE-GLOVED / DE-GLOVING: The process where the epidermis becomes loose and finally detached
during the decomposition of a cadaver

DELTA: A triangular type formation in the friction ridge flow, where ridges flowing in the different
directions meet. Deltas are usually found in the bottom half of the finger impressions, offset to either
the left or right (or both). Two of the „branches‟ of the delta will usually open out to enclose the core
area. Deltas appear in all patterns except arches and also appear on various parts of the palm. Delta’s
can be classified as either Open or Closed

DEPOSITION PRESSURE: The downward pressure exerted when a mark or print is left, for example
heavier deposition pressure may result in the friction ridges appearing thicker and the furrows
appearing very narrow when compared to that of a print left under controlled conditions.

DERMAL LAYER/DERMIS: The layer of the skin that sits under the regenerative cells of the basal layer. If
this layer is damaged the friction ridges in the damaged area cannot replicate and a scar will form on
the surface of the skin.
DETAIL: Information from within a friction ridge which is used when making comparisons or searching. It
can include anything that assists the practitioner to reach their conclusion. This can include scars,
creasing, pore position, pore shape, thinness and thickness of friction ridges, friction ridge shape etc.

DEVELOPED: When a latent mark is subjected to chemical and / or physical treatments and an
impression is made visible then the mark is said to have been developed.

DEVELOPMENT POWDERS: A substance used to develop friction ridge detail. The powders are applied
with a brush in the case of aluminum powder or black powder, or in the case of magna powder, a
magnetized applicator is used. The powder adheres to the constituents of the latent mark. The type or
color of powder used is often dependent on the surface type. The developed impressions can then
either be lifted or photographed. For development powders available and their uses please refer to the
CAST or HOSDB handbook

DEVIATION: An interruption in the friction ridge path caused by a bifurcation or ridge ending.

DIFFERENCE OF OPINION: Where two practitioners examining the same area of friction ridge detail do
not arrive at the same opinion; this should not be confused with an error in the first instance, as it may
or may not be an error.

DIFFERENTIAL GROWTH: The random variation in the development of cells. During foetal development
in the womb the stresses and strains affect the development of the friction ridges. This randomness in
development leads to the different ridge flows, patterns and sequences of characteristics. Even in
identical twins the friction ridge development for each twin is different.

DIGIT: A finger or a toe.

DIGIT DETERMINATION: For marks suitable for comparison or search, the practitioner will consider
whether it is possible to determine from which finger or area of friction ridge detail the mark
originated. This may be due to the presence of fault ridges, the direction a pattern flows in or the type
of friction ridge flow (especially in the case of palm) or multiple marks in certain positions such as a
sequence.

DISAGREEMENT: Where the friction ridge flow between impressions differ, the ridge characteristics and
/ or details do not appear in the same relative position, do not have the same intervening ridge count
and / or there may be differences that cannot be explained.

DISCREPANCY: The apparent presence of friction ridge detail in one impression that does not exist in
the corresponding area of another impression.

DISTAL: This refers to something that is the farthest away from the center or point of attachment. For
example, the distal flexures of the finger are the creases in the fingers furthest away from the palm,
between the top and middle phalanges of the finger.
ERROR RATE: The rate at which errors occur. The error rate of fingerprint conclusions will vary
depending on the methods, processes and quality assurance measures used. See Measurement of
Uncertainty

ETCHED MARKS: Certain constituents if sweat (or other contaminants that may be present on the
friction ridges) may chemically react with particular surfaces to produce a mark which is far more
durable than would normally be expected.

EVALUATION: The third step of the ACE test process. This is where a practitioner assesses the value of
the details observed during the analysis and the comparison steps and reaches a conclusion resulting in
a reporting outcome.

EXCLUSION/EXCLUDED: Is the opinion of a practitioner that there are sufficient features in

disagreement to conclude that two areas of friction ridge impressions did not originate from the same
donor or person. BUREAU: The opinion that two friction ridge impressions consist of different ridge
flows and / or differing relative positions and sequence of ridge characteristics and / or details to
conclude that they were not made by the same person. STATEMENT: The unknown friction ridge
impression has been compared to the friction ridge detail for a known individual and due to differences
in the details within the impressions, it is the expert’s opinion that they were not made by the same
person. The mark may remain UNIDENTIFIED - that is it has not been attributed to an individual.

EXHIBIT: An object or document presented or identified as evidence in a court of law.

EXPERT (WITNESS): An appropriately qualified and/or experienced person called to answer questions in
a court of law in order to provide specialized information relevant to the case being tried.

EXPLAINABLE DIFFERENCES: These are differences in appearance of the mark or print that doesn’t
interfere with the identification process. These differences can include such things as size, thickness of
ridges, distortion and some of the microscopic detail (pores & ridge shapes) being absent in one
impression. They can all be explained, which can be annotated on the photographs and / or on the
practitioner’s notes.

FACT: Knowledge or information based on something that has occurred or exists and can be confirmed
by observation.

FAINT: The lack of visual definition and subsequent difficulty in examining the friction ridge flow.

FAULT RIDGES: The friction ridges at the tips of the thumbs deviate from the normal semi-circular flow
and take on a diagonal sloping appearance towards an ulnar direction. These friction ridges are known
as fault ridges. When they slope downwards to the right, then the impression will be that of a right
thumb, and when they slope downwards towards the left then the impression will be that of a left
thumb.

FEATURES: These are any notable part of the friction ridge detail. All information assisting with
establishing the identification of an area of friction ridge detail can be termed as 'features'.
FINGER MARK: An impression from the finger deposited under noncontrolled conditions .

FINGERPRINT: An impression of the friction ridges of all or any part of the finger.

FINGERTIPS: The extreme end or „tip‟ of the finger.

FIRST LEVEL DETAIL: First level detail refers to the friction ridge flow and / or pattern type.

FIXED POINTS: The core and any deltas.

FLEXION CREASE: These are creases that are formed during friction ridge formation, completely lacking
of any ridge detail. Flexion creases are unique and permanent. These creases allow for movement in the
surface of the hand and foot. The flexion creases can be useful for orientating a mark and with the digit
/ palm / plantar determination. S

FLEXURE: The act of moving the finger, which is assisted by having Flexion Creases on the surface of the
skin.

FLIPPED: Term used on IDENT1 and the lift printer software to reverse the direction of an image.

FRAGMENTED: Where the friction ridge flow of the mark appears broken up, making it difficult to
interpret the detail present. This can be a result of chemical development and / or the surface the mark
was left on.

FRICTION RIDGE(S): During fetal development in the womb, individual friction ridge units join together
to form ridges. This process occurs at random. The friction ridges flow across the surface of the hands
and feet to form friction ridge detail. The friction ridges may deviate instead of flowing constantly. The
friction ridges have sweat pores along their summit.

FRICTION RIDGE DETAIL: An area comprised of the combination of friction ridge flow, friction ridge
characteristics, and friction ridge structure to include creases.

FRICTION RIDGE FLOW: The path and arrangement of the friction ridges across the surface of the hands
and feet. The friction ridge flow on the top section of the fingers flows into patterns .

FRICTION RIDGE SKIN: The fingers, palm of the hand and the sole of the foot are comprised of an
intricate system of friction ridges and furrows which is known as friction ridge skin. The arrangement
and sequencing of characteristics within friction ridge skin are unique to each individual, persist
throughout life and are accepted as a reliable means of human identification. This type of skin is
present to aid grip and elevate the pores to aid temperature control.

FRICTION RIDGE THICKNESS: The width of the friction ridge. It can aid with the analysis and comparison
stages. The deposition pressure can affect the friction ridge thickness, with a heavier pressure making
thicker ridges. The thickness of the friction ridges and the furrows may also indicate if an impression is
reverse color.

FURROWS: These are valleys or depressions between friction ridges.

GEL LIFT: A thin film of gel used to lift and transfer friction ridge detail from a surface (substrate) onto a
piece of flexible plastic.

GRANULATED: The chemical treatment or the age of the mark can affect the appearance of the friction
ridges. The impression may have friction ridges that have a dotted appearance, where the friction
ridges are broken up. This appearance means the friction ridge flow is difficult to interpret and could
have an impact on the outcome.

GROUND TRUTH: A dataset made up of known source material, such as marks produced by known
donors, used for validation, proficiency and competency testing purposes.

HENRY CLASSIFICATION: A manual fingerprint classification system historically used for filing, searching
and retrieving „Ten print‟ forms

HIGH COUNT LOOP: A loop will have a high ridge count if there are a large number of intervening ridges
between the delta and core, when completing a ridge count.

HYPOTHENAR: The friction ridge detail on the palm, below the triradiate inter-digital area on the ulnar
side of the palm between the little finger and wrist.

IDENT1: The current name for the computerized UK Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS).

IDENTIFIED/IDENTIFICATION (IDENT): A practitioner term used to describe the mark as being attributed
to a particular individual. It is the opinion of the practitioner that there is sufficient quality and quantity
of ridge flow, ridge characteristics and / or detail in agreement with no unexplainable differences to
conclude that two areas of friction ridge detail were made by the same person.

IDENTITY VALIDATION: The comparison of a full set of fingerprints against a previously taken set of
known prints to determine the identity of the person based on the personal data previously recorded,
i.e. ten print to ten print comparison.

IMMUTABILITY: This refers to the persistence of fingerprints as they are not subject or susceptible to
change unless injured at the basal / dermal layer.

IMPRESSION: This is friction ridge detail deposited on a surface. This can refer to a mark or print.

INCIPIENT RIDGE: An immature friction ridge which will appear as a thinner and shallower ridge than
those surrounding it. The incipient ridge may or may not contain pores. Due to deposition pressure the
incipient ridges may not appear in every impression, but they can be used when making comparisons.
They are also known as nascent ridges, rudimentary ridges or subsidiary ridges.

INCONCLUSIVE: The determination by a practitioner that the level of agreement and / or disagreement
is such that, it is not possible to conclude that the areas of friction ridge detail originated from the same
donor, or exclude that particular individual as a source for the unknown impression.

INDENTED MARKS: An impression left in a soft pliable surface, such as clay, putty, wax, etc.
INKED PRINT: The finger and palm prints of an individual, associated with a known or claimed identity,
and recorded by ink under controlled conditions on a fingerprint form.

INNER TRACING: A tracing is classified as an Inner tracing when the friction ridge being traced from the
left delta passes inside the right delta and there are at least three friction ridges intervening between
the point on the friction ridge where the tracing stops and the delta ridge.

INTERFERENCE: A factor affecting the appearance and resultant interpretation of the friction ridge flow
or ridge details .

INTERVENING RIDGES: The number of friction ridges between two characteristics. The intervening ridge
count is used when creating a coincident sequence.

INSUFFICIENT: The opinion that the ridge flow and / or ridge characteristics revealed in the area of
friction ridge detail (mark) are of such low quantity and/or poor quality that a reliable comparison
cannot be made. The area of ridge detail contains insufficient clarity of ridges and characteristics or has
been severely compromised by extraneous forces (superimposition, movement etc.) to render the
detail present as unreliable and not suitable to proffer any other decision.

JOINT (of the finger): The hinged areas that divide the sections of the finger. There is a flexure on the
surface of the hand in front of each joint.

KNOWN PRINT: The prints of a person, associated with a known or claimed identity, and recorded either
electronically, by ink, or by another medium under controlled conditions.

LAKE: A friction ridge characteristic. Lakes are formed when a single friction ridge bifurcates then
converges back to a single friction ridge, thus forming a generally small, elliptical shape or “lake”.

LASER: Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. A LASER is a device that generates
wavelengths of light that can be used on exhibits, at scenes and on chemically treated items to detect
latent marks.

LATENT MARK: Friction ridge detail not generally visible to the eye and must either be enhanced by
development powders or by physical and / or chemical treatments.

LATERAL POCKET: Lateral Pockets are patterns that possess two loops which have the same directional
slope, the uppermost loop being mutant, and forming a pocket which is filled by the friction ridges of
the underlying loop. There are two deltas, both of which must be on the same side of the underlying
loop. In some patterns, the pocket formed by the mutant loop is filled by friction ridges conforming to
the tented arch pattern.

LIFT / LIFT EXHIBIT: An adhesive tape or other medium (e.g. gel) is used to transfer friction ridge detail
from a surface (substrate) onto a piece of flexible clear plastic. The lift is endorsed with details from the
crime scene, the date of examination and information from the crime scene examiner including
signature. The lift is allocated an exhibit number which is referred to in all subsequent documentation.
LIGHT SOURCING / SOURCE: The use of light to detect friction ridge detail. It can be a simple white light
or could include laser, ultra violet light and other type of lights (i.e. Crime-lite). For full details of light
sources and their uses please refer to the CAST or HOSDB handbook - Fluorescence Examination
(Weblink in Useful Pages of Reference).

LIKELIHOOD RATIO: The likelihood ratio is the ratio of the answers to two questions: (a) what is the
probability those observations would have been made if the prosecution proposition were true; (b)
what is the probability of those observations if the defense proposition were true. A likelihood ratio of 1
is neutral; a large likelihood ratio means that the observations support the prosecution proposition;
conversely, a small or negative likelihood ratio means that the observations support the defense
proposition.

LIVESCAN: „Live scan‟ is an electronic biometric platform for capturing, storing and transmitting friction
ridge detail.

LIVESCAN DISTORTION: Blurring or distortion of the images of the friction ridges of the fingers and
palms taken on the Live scan system. The system continually captures the friction ridge detail as it is
rolled across the glass plate of the Live scan terminal. Any jolting during the rolling process, as well as
dirt, grease etc. on the donor’s hand or Live scan plate could affect the appearance of the impressions
generated, giving the ridges a straight, angular or even wavy appearance. As the technique relies on
digital capture technology the final image may also appear pixelated or blurred.

LOOP: A pattern type in which one or more friction ridges enter upon one side of the pattern area, re-
curve and flow out on the same side the friction ridges entered. They may be described as radial or
ulnar.

MAGNA FLAKE/POWDER: Magnetic powder is a type of development powder. A fine magnetic powder
is held by a magnetic applicator, which is moved across the surface being examined.

MARK: The term used to refer to an area of friction ridge detail from an unknown donor. Usually
recovered, enhanced or imaged from a crime related item, or directly retrieved from a crime scene.

MARK STATUS: This is the description or standing of an area of ridge detail following comparisons
and/or searching. It describes the status of an area of ridge detail when all actions have been
completed. The mark may be Identified Unidentified or Insufficient. Where a mark is Unidentified it may
be Excluded for certain individuals.

MATRIX: This refers to what the mark is made up of (or left in). This is the substance that is actually
deposited by the finger and eventually developed, i.e. sweat, ink, foreign material (drugs), blood, etc.

MEASUREMENT OF UNCERTAINTY: The estimation of the uncertainty of measurement is a BS

EN ISO/IEC 17025:2005 requirement and is based upon the principle that all measurements are subject
to uncertainty and that a value is incomplete without a statement of accuracy. Sources of uncertainty
can include unrepresentative samples, rounding errors, approximations and inadequate knowledge of
the effect of external factors.

MEDIAL / MIDDLE: The center or middle, for example the medial section of phalange.

MEETING TRACING: friction ridge being traced from the left delta either meets the right delta or there
are no more than two friction ridges intervening between the point on the friction ridge where tracing
stops and the delta ridge.

METAL DEPOSITION: Vacuum Metal Deposition (V.M.D.).

MINUTIAE: Minutiae are small details. They can be events along a friction ridge path, including
bifurcations, ending ridges, and dots.

MOVEMENT: The disruption to the friction ridge flow or friction ridge detail within the impression due
to movement of the finger/phalange/palm at the time of the deposition of the impression. Movement
may make the friction ridge details appear blurred or distorted.

MULTIPLE CORE: Fingerprint patterns may have more than one core.

NOTE TAKING: A contemporaneous record of the practitioner’s observations and findings when
undertaking certain aspects of their work, for example noting areas with information such as
„movement‟ or „background interference‟.

NUTANT LOOP: Also referred to as a lazy loop or a drooping loop. A mutant Loop has the same basic
attributes of a loop but in addition at least one of the staples at the core bends, turns down or droops
towards the delta. In the 'pocket' formed by the loop, there is the appearance of a plain arch.

OBJECTIVE: Undistorted by emotion or personal bias; based on impartial, transparent, observable

phenomena.

OPEN DELTA: The delta is formed when two ridges running side by side then diverge and open out,
trying to enclose the core area.

OPEN FIELD: A large area of ridge detail, in an impression where there are no characteristics

OPINION: The matter of an opinion is the conclusion of the practitioner, who by study or experience has
specialist knowledge and would be able to form a sound judgement on that subject matter to render
his/her opinion of value. The opinion forms part of a body of knowledge or experience which is
sufficiently organized or recognized to be accepted as a reliable body of knowledge or experience. The
opinion is the conclusion of the practitioner established at the evaluation stage of the ACE process. If
necessary, the opinion will be supported and evidenced by demonstrating their decision-making
process by the use of working notes.

ORIENTATION: The logical direction of the friction ridge detail if it had been deposited under controlled
conditions. Information from the Scene Examiners examination report or the laboratory disposition
sheets can assist the practitioner with the orientation of the impression. The ridge flow, position of the
delta’s and other detail such as creases are also used to orientate the mark.

OUTER TRACING: The friction ridge being traced from the left delta passes outside the right delta and
there are at least three friction ridges intervening between the point on the friction ridge where tracing
stops and the delta.

OVER INKED: The application of excessive ink onto the friction ridge skin during the taking of a control
set of prints; excess ink may cover the friction ridges and also fill the adjacent furrows. When applied to
the paper „Ten print‟ form the friction ridge detail will appear dark and the characteristics may not be
visible. This might hinder the comparison and may affect the outcome.

OVER POWDERED: Where an excessive amount of powder is used to develop a latent mark and it is not
cleaned out before the mark is lifted. Friction ridge detail will not be clearly seen due to the excess
powder filling up the furrows and obscuring the natural deviations on the friction ridges. The mark will
appear dark and thick.

PALM MARK: An impression from the palm left under non-controlled conditions.

PALM PRINT: An impression of the friction ridges of all or any part of the palmar surface of the hand,
taken under controlled conditions.

PRINT PATTERN: The arrangement of friction ridges formed during fetal growth. The pattern is classified
into one of a number of types of pattern:

*ACCIDENTAL, * APPROXIMATING ARCH, * ARCH (PLAIN), * CENTRAL POCKET, * COMPOSITE,

*ELONGATED WHORL, * LATERAL POCKET, * LOOP, * NUTANT LOOP, * TENTED ARCH, * TWINNED
LOOP, * WHORL

Pad: The abbreviation for the Police Elimination Database. This is a database of finger and palm prints of
police officers, and members of police staff. It can be used to identify marks inadvertently left at scenes
or on exhibits by police or police staff. Copies of the finger and palm print forms are stored
electronically and as paper sets, enabling manual comparisons or electronic searches to be carried out
as appropriate. The database acts as an elimination database and if „Ten print‟ sets or the database are
to be used in other way, then permissions should be obtained following the procedures set out in the
relative Home Office directive.

PERSISTENCE: The continuous production of new friction ridge cells results in friction ridge skin and
patterns being persistent and unchanged throughout life. Injury that does not penetrate the
regenerative layer is repaired by the constant proliferation of the basal cells erasing the surface
damage. The friction ridge system is not permanently affected. However, if the basal layer is damaged
this may lead to scarring and some loss of detail in the affected area. The fact that the friction ridge
detail does not change is one of the principles behind why fingerprints are a reliable method of human
identification
PHALANGE: Any bone in a finger is referred to as a phalanx (or phalange). The fingers have three:

Distal phalanx - the portion of finger containing the 'pattern'.

Medial or middle phalanx - the central or middle portion of finger.

Proximal phalanx - the portion of finger immediately above the palm.

The thumb has two: the distal phalanx and the proximal phalanx.

PLAIN IMPRESSION: The friction ridge detail is recorded by being placed straight down onto a surface,
without any rolling. Primarily these impressions are taken to ensure that the rolled impressions have
been taken in the correct order on the fingerprint form. They can also be very useful in providing extra
information to the Fingerprint Examiner, which may have been missed or poorly recorded when taking
the rolled impressions.

PLANTAR: The friction ridge detail on the underside of the foot.

PLANTAR MARK: An impression from the foot left under non-controlled conditions.

PLANTAR PRINTS: An impression of the friction ridges of all or any part of the foot taken under
controlled conditions.

POLYDACTYLISM: The hand or foot has more than five digits.

PORES: Small openings on friction ridges through which sweat is released.

POROSCOPY: A study of the size, shape, and arrangement of pores on the friction ridges. This was
previously referred to under Third Level Detail.

POST MORTEM SET: The controlled recording of the friction ridge detail from a cadaver. The set is taken
under controlled conditions, usually at a mortuary. Generally, the finger and palm prints are taken, but
in certain cases it may also be necessary to take plantar sets as well. Also referred to as a DEAD SET.

PRACTITIONER: An individual providing a forensic science service at any level or stage in the criminal
investigation and trial process.

PRESSURE DISTORTION: Pressure distortion may be described as deposition pressure (downward

pressure on the object), directional pressure (vertical, horizontal, or twisting), or a combination of both
deposition and directional pressure.

PRINT: An impression of the friction ridges left under controlled conditions. See Finger Print, Palm Print,
Plantar Print, Ten print, Elimination Print, Inked Print.

SUBJECTIVE: The opposite of objective, activity taking place within the mind that is modified by an
individual’s personal
PROFICIENCY TESTS: Is the determination of the calibration or testing performance of a laboratory by
means of inter laboratory comparison, i.e., tests to evaluate the competence of analysts and the quality
performance of a laboratory.

Open or declared proficiency test: a test in which the analysts are aware that they are being
tested.

Blind or undeclared proficiency test: a test in which the analysts are not aware that they are
being tested.

External proficiency test: a test conducted by an agency independent of the analysts or

laboratory being tested.

PROPOSITION: A statement about the state of the world that may be true or false. In the context of
fingerprint comparison there may be two propositions such as: the impression was made by the same
area of friction ridge detail that made the control print, and; the impression was made by some
unknown area of friction ridge detail.

PROXIMAL: Situated at the closest point of attachment; direction toward the body.

QUALITY: The totality of features and characteristics of a product or service that bear on its ability to
satisfy stated or implied needs. For Fingerprint examination this also applies to the clarity of information
contained within an area of friction ridge detail.

QUANTITY: The amount of information contained within an area of friction ridge detail.

RADIAL: Radial Loops.

REFERENCE POINT: Anchor Point.

REGENERATIVE LAYER: Basal Layer.

REPEATABILITY: The ability to obtain consistent results when repeatedly undertaking the same task. This
repeatability is required in order to validate a process. It should be possible for a process to be repeated
with the same result achieved each time.

REPORTING OUTCOME: The conclusion reached after the analysis and comparison of marks in a case has
been completed. This is the decision that is communicated to the investigator or officer in the case and
is currently recorded as one of the four following possibilities - See: Identified, Excluded, Insufficient and
Inconclusive. Where a mark is excluded the Mark’s, Status is also given as either Unidentified or
Insufficient.

REVERSE COLOUR/TONAL REVERSE: An effect that renders the ridges to appear as white lines and the
furrows as black lines (the opposite of a mark left under controlled conditions). Partial Reverse Color: In
a particular area friction ridges appear as white lines and corresponding furrows as black lines (the
opposite of a mark left under controlled conditions).
REVERSE DIRECTION: The friction ridge detail in the impression appears as a mirror image of its true
appearance. This may be due to the transference of a mark from one surface to another, or the
incorrect labelling and photography of a mark from the opposite side of the exhibit.

RIDGE COUNT: The number of friction ridges between the core of the impression and the delta in a
straight line.

RIDGE DETAIL: An area comprised of the combination of friction ridge flow, friction ridge characteristics,
and friction ridge structure to include creases.

RIDGE ENDING: A friction ridge characteristic that comes to a natural stop or finish. The adjacent ridges
on either side converge to take its place. It is a characteristic that a practitioner will use when searching
or making a comparison.

RIDGE TRACING: A method of sub dividing whorls. To determine the trace of a whorl you locate the
starting point which is the lower ridge on the left delta. If the delta is closed, the starting point is the
point of bifurcation, but if the delta is open, the starting point is at the point of divergence of the two
inflowing ridges. If the ridge being traced forks, tracing continues along the lower arm of the fork. If the
ridge being traced stops short, tracing continues on the ridge immediately below. From this starting
point, the course of the ridge forming the lower limb of the delta is followed or traced to the right. This
process continues until a point is reached either inside, meeting, or outside the lower limb or the right
delta.

ROLLED IMPRESSION: The recording of the friction ridge detail by rolling the digit to capture the
maximum surface of the friction ridge skin. When completing a rolled impression of a finger, the whole
pad of the finger should be rolled across the surface, i.e. from nail edge to nail edge. The sides of palm
can be rolled to capture the detail there. In sets of Fingerprint taken under the Prevention of Terrorism
Act, 2000, finger tips and phalanges are rolled to obtain the maximum amount of friction ridge detail.

ROTATED: A circular movement in an area of the friction ridge detail, seen when a point stays fixed and
the impression moves in a circular movement. This could be due to the elasticity of the skin or
movement by the surface. This may cause distortion / movement in the observed ridge flow.

SALIENT RIDGE CHARACTERISTICS: A „focus‟ group of characteristics or details that a practitioner will
look for when making a comparison. The small group of characteristics is what the practitioner will
initially look for in both the mark and the print. If they are unable to locate them (i.e. there may be areas
not revealed on the „Ten print‟) then the practitioner will select another group of characteristics and
the comparisons will be remade. Also known as a Target Group.

SCAR: A scar may be temporary or permanent. If the injury is superficial e.g. a paper cut or similar, then
this injury will be repaired because of the regenerating nature of the skin. However, if the injury is of a
more serious nature such as a burn or laceration and the basal layer of the dermis is penetrated, then a
permanent scar will occur as a result of damage to the tissue and the regenerative cells. If apparent in
two impressions under comparison this information once again may prove useful in the identification
process.

SCOPE OF ACCREDITATION: The range of examinations or tests for which the organization has been
accredited by the national accreditation organization.

SEARCH: A comparison of friction ridge detail against other friction ridge detail held in files or databases.
Searches can be manual or automated.

SECOND LEVEL DETAIL: Second level detail refers to ridge characteristics. such as ridge endings and
bifurcations.

SEQUENCE/SIMULTANEOUS IMPRESSIONS: The friction ridge detail appearing in the same relative order
and position that you would expect to see them on the hand or the foot.

SEQUENTIAL TREATMENT: Where an exhibit is subjected to all suitable physical, chemical treatments
and light sources to maximize the development of friction ridge detail. Types of treatment will vary
depending on the material composition of the exhibit. If necessary, an exhibit may be split if different
components require different treatments.

SET: An abbreviation referring to a „Ten print‟ set of finger and palm prints, which are taken under
controlled conditions.

SHORT INDEPENDENT RIDGE: A characteristic that is a short small friction ridge that is not connected to
another friction ridge. It is also sometimes called an Island.

SLIPPAGE / SLIPPED: The interruption to friction ridge flow due to movement within a fluid matrix, for
example, excessive sweat or blood. This may also be interpreted as movement.

SMUDGED: Movement in an area of friction ridge detail causing blurring to all or part of it; this could be
from movement of the hand / foot or the surface. The friction ridge detail may become hard to analyses
due to decrease in the clarity of the friction ridges.

SPLIT MARK: The mark appears to split up due to either the surface when the mark was left or the
development process. For example, the mark could be left on a plastic bag which was screwed up but
when chemical treatments have been used and the bag has been flattened for examination the mark is
split into smaller sections.

SPUR: A bifurcation with one short friction ridge branching off a longer friction ridge.

SPR: Small Particle Reagent.

SPURIOUS MINUTIAE: A situation that can occur in a friction ridge impression where additional friction
ridges and / or characteristics can appear but are not a true copy of the digit leaving the impression. It
usually occurs in a „Ten print‟ that is captured by the Live scan system or captured digitally.
STAPLE: Cores of Loops consist basically of a staple or „hairpin‟, which may or may not enclose other
friction ridges, may be plain or may have other friction ridges branching from it. To be construed as a
staple, the backward turning friction ridge must be rounded at the top.

STARBURST: Originating from the same area as the thenar crease is the 'Starburst', or a number of
creases flowing in different directions. These are seen with varying amounts of clarity, depending on the
position of the thumb and whether it is far or near from the rest of the hand. It can help to orientate a
mark.

SUBJECTIVE: The opposite of objective, activity taking place within the mind that is modified by an
individual’s personal experiences and bias.

SUBSIDIARY RIDGE(S): Subsidiary ridges, also called incipient ridges, appear in some areas of friction
ridge detail as smaller, finer, fragmented ridges - the summits of which lie below and between the
summits of the primary ridges. These are undeveloped, immature ridges whose pore formations may
also have remained undeveloped.

SUBSTRATE: The surface upon which friction ridge detail is deposited.

SUFFICIENT: The quantity and quality of characteristics and / or detail present in an area of friction ridge
detail reaches the practitioners threshold and a conclusion / outcome can be made.

SUITABILITY: The determination that there is sufficiency in an impression to be of value for further
analysis or comparison.

SUPERIMPOSITION: The overlapping of two or more areas of ridge detail. The impressions must be
treated separately. Indicators of superimposition may include; ridges running at 90 degrees to each
other, variances in ridge / furrow thickness and tonal value and unnaturally shaped impressions.

SWEAT: Sweat is a clear, colorless, neutral or slightly alkaline fluid, its constituent varies from person to
person and even hour by hour, but is basically composed of 98.0% - 99.5% water. The remaining 0.5% -
2.0% is composed of solids in various forms, consisting mainly of fats and oils, urea, chlorides (salts),
amino-acids etc.

SWEAT PORES: Along the tops of the friction ridges are pores which serve to secrete sweat. When an
article with a surface capable of retaining a finger mark is touched, the sweat that runs along the
summit of the ridges of the skin may be transferred to and adheres to these surfaces, leaving behind an
impression of the friction ridge detail and of the characteristics.

TACT SETS: A controlled set of friction ridge detail impressions recorded in ink usually as a result of an
individual’s detention on suspicion of involvement in terrorism. The set is taken to record as much of
the friction ridge skin as possible to maximize the opportunities for identification due to the serious
nature of the offence. The set includes multiple impressions of virtually all areas of friction ridge detail
including phalange, plantar and the tips of fingers. The term TACT derives from Prevention of Terrorism
Act.
TENPRINT: A generic reference to a controlled recording of an individual’s fingers and palms using ink,
electronic imaging, or other medium.

TENTED ARCH: Ridges flow from side to side as per a plain arch but with a prominent upward thrust at
the (near) center of the impression. However, if on one side of the axis there is a separated staple, the
impression is a loop, provided a friction ridge count can be obtained.

THENAR: The large cushion of the palm located at the base of the thumb.

THIRD LEVEL DETAIL: Third level detail refers to friction ridge shape, relative pore location, edge details
and ridge width.

THRESHOLD: There are three different types of threshold:

PRACTITIONER THRESHOLD: The outcome of a fingerprint examination is based on the

practitioners‟ objective observations and subjective interpretations of the ridge flow, features
and characteristics observed in areas of friction ridge detail. This objective approach, defined as
the ACE process, is also affected by an individual’s rules, ideas and beliefs, which form part of
their dynamic decision framework. The threshold is the point or boundary at which a
practitioner observes, interprets and considers enough detail to reach a particular conclusion
that satisfies their decision framework and rejects all others.

QUANTITATIVE-QUALITATIVE THRESHOLD: The quantitative– qualitative threshold (QQ) can be

explained simply as the balance between the level of detail and the quality of the mark , this is a
matter that has to be assessed on an individual basis of number of minutiae versus quality of the
mark Sufficiency for same source determinations depends on a quality/quantity relationship.

SYSTEM THRESHOLD: This is a limitation imposed by a system. For example, in order to be able
to search a mark on the electronic database a minimum of 8 characteristics must be plotted -
the system will not permit searching of multiple records below this threshold.

TOLERANCE: The acceptance of dissimilarity caused by distortion, usually involving an individualization;

the opposite of the rejection of differences caused by different friction ridge sources involving an
exclusion. Generally expressed as "within tolerance" or "out of tolerance" for the level of clarity that is
present in both impressions.

TRAMLINES / TRAMLINING: Creases running in parallel to each other to give the appearance of tramlines
or train tracks. This may assist in the orientation of the impression.

TRANSFERENCE: The action of an area of friction ridge detail being transferred from one surface to
another by touch.

TRIRADIATE: A delta is a triradiate. The area on the palm towards the top underneath the fingers, which
contains a number of deltas, is also called the triradiate area.
TWINNED LOOP: Twinned Loops possess two well-defined loops, one super incumbent upon,
surrounding or embracing the other. Where both loops are formed by a continuous unbroken friction
ridge, (an „S‟ formation), a single friction ridge must appear in the core of at least one of the loops.
There are two deltas and the pattern are sub-divided by friction ridge tracing. As with ordinary loops,
both loops in a twinned loop pattern must be well defined and have proper staples rounded at the head.

TWISTED: The friction ridge flow is altered or distorted from the true friction ridge detail by some factor.
These factors could include movement in the surface, movement in the digit leaving the impression, the
impression being left in a matrix such as blood which could cause slippage etc. There could be differing
levels of twisting movement.

ULNAR: Ulnar Loops

UNABLE TO COUNT THROUGH: The inability to form a coincident sequence across the full area of friction
ridge detail due to one or more factors of interference including background interference, such as
printing on a surface.

UNCLEAR: The friction ridges, characteristics and / or detail in an impression are not clearly defined or
are ambiguous, so hindering the analysis and comparison.

UNCERTAINTY OF MEASUREMENT: The estimation of the uncertainty of measurement is a BS EN ISO/IEC

17025:2005 requirement and is based upon the principle that all measurements are subject to
uncertainty and that a value is incomplete without a statement of accuracy. Sources of uncertainty can
include unrepresentative samples, rounding errors, approximations and inadequate knowledge of the
effect of external factors.

UNIDENTIFED: The status of a mark after it has been compared to a nominated individual (elimination or
suspect) or has been searched on a database and has not been attributed to any individual.

VALIDATION: The process of providing objective evidence that a method, process or device is fit for the
specific purpose intended. It is a method to validation should demonstrate that the same result should
be obtained to show that the process works.

VERIFICATION: In fingerprint examination it is the final step of the ACE-V process. It can be defined as
the independent application of the ACE process, utilized by a subsequent examiner to either support or
refute the conclusions of the original examiner. This independent examination by another examiner or
examiners, using the ACE process provides a cross check to ensure that the outcome decision is not
based on a subjective judgment of one individual but acceptance as the consensus conclusion of more
than one examiner.

Blind verification: Is the independent application of the ACE process conducted by another
examiner who has no prior knowledge of the findings of previous examiners, the information on
which any previous conclusions have been based and any further information relating to case
context or stakeholder communications. Blind verification can form part of a risk management
approach adopted to mitigate risks associated with cognitive bias.
 Open verification: Is conducted by another examiner who has knowledge of the conclusions
proffered by the original examiner in the previous examination.

VESTIGE: An unusual configuration of ridge flow that is most often found in the thenar area of palm. In
the thenar the formation often includes two opposing „square-nosed‟ loop patterns separated by ridges
which run perpendicular to the prevailing ridge flow.

VISIBLE MARK(S): Friction ridge detail that is visible to the naked eye.

VOLAR PADS: Fetal tissue growths / swellings that affect friction ridge skin development and patterns on
both the ventral surfaces of the hands and soles of the feet. There are 11 volar pads on each hand of a
fetus, upon which friction ridge units develop into friction ridges.

WET SET: A set of „Ten prints‟ that has been taken using ink and rolled onto paper .

WET / WETTED MARKS: The friction ridges do not appear as distinct structures, but rather as wet
impressions, often prevalent in blood marks. This can make the detail appear watery or have the
appearance of feathering.

WHORL: A fingerprint pattern type that consists of one or more friction ridges that make, or tend to
make, a complete circuit, with two deltas, between which, when an imaginary line is drawn, at least one
recurving friction ridge within the inner pattern area is cut or touched. They can be sub-divided by
completing a Ridge Tracing.

Xylene and Xylene Substitutes - A laboratory solvent used as a carrier in reagents, also used as a clearing
agent. Xylene is considered a hazardous chemical. Over exposure can produce headaches, nausea or
dizziness. Xylene substitutes are available under different names that are less hazardous to the user.

Zar-pro - A method developed by Jessica Zarate to lift and visualize fingerprint images left in blood. Zar-
pro is a florescent protein lifting strip made of titanium dioxide and fixative.

ZIMOX(YS) - A system used in South Africa to further sub-divide single fingerprint classifications based
on ridge count whereby each symbol Z,I,M,O,X,Y,S indicates a ridge count within a certain range. E.g. Z =
ridge count of 1-4, I = ridge count 5-8 etc. Used until AFIS automation in 2002.

ADDITIONAL ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYM:

ACE - Analysis, Comparison and Evaluation,

ACPO - Association of Chief Police Officers

ACPOS - Association of Chief Police Officers of Scotland

AFIS - Automated Fingerprint Identification System

AFR - Automatic Fingerprint Recognition

AS - Arrest Summons Number

BTP - British Transport Police

BTR - Bailed to Return

BY40 - Basic Yellow 40

CAD - Computer Aided Dispatch

CC - Collection Copy

CJU - Criminal Justice Unit

CNA - Cyanoacrylate

COO - Central Operations Office

COSHH - Control of Substances Hazardous to Health

CPD - Continued Professional Development

CPS - Crown Prosecution System

CRB - Criminal Records Bureau

CRIMINT - Criminal Intelligence System

CRIS - Crime Reporting Information System

CRO - Criminal Records Office

CSE - Crime Scene Examiner

CSM - Crime Scene Manager

CT - Counter Terrorism

DDO - Designated Detention Officer

DNA - Deoxyribonucleic Acid

DFO - 1, 8-Diazafluoren-9-One

DVI - Disaster Victim Identification

ELIM - Elimination
EPI - Epidiascope

ERU - Evidence Recovery Unit

FIN - Form Identification Number

FBI - Federal Bureau of Investigation

FE - Fingerprint Examiner

FFU - Forensic Firearms Unit

FLO - Family Liaison Officer

FOI - Freedom of Information

FP - Fingerprints

FPTS – Fingerprints

FSS - Forensic Science Service

HIDO - Higher Identification Officer

HOLMES - Home Office Large Major Enquiry System (Computerized)

IABS - Immigration and Asylum Biometric System

IAI - International Association for Identification

IDENT - Identified

IDENT1 - A brand name for the current NAFIS system

IDO - Identification Officer

INTERPOL- International Criminal Police Organization

IPCC - Independent Police Complaints Commission

ISO - International Organization for Standardization

LASER - Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation

MIT - Major Investigation Team

MD - Metal Deposition

Nabi’s - National Ballistics Intelligence Service

NAFIS - National Automated Fingerprint Identification System

NCALT - National Centre for Applied Learning Technology

NFA - No Further Action

NFB - National Fingerprint Board

NFO - National Fingerprint Office

NI - Not Identified

NIN - Ninhydrin

NPIA - National Policing Improvement Agency

NSPIS - National Strategy for Police Information Systems

NUM - No Useful Marks

OIC - Officer in Charge or Officer in the Case

OP NAME- Operation Name

O/S - Outstanding

PACE - Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984

PEDB - Police Elimination Database

PD - Physical Developer

PITO - Police Information Technology Organization

PNC - Police National Computer

QA - Quality Assurance

QQ - Quantitative Qualitative

SCC - Serious Crime Cache

SCD - Specialist Crime Directorate

SC & O - Specialist Crime and Operations

SFR - Streamlined Forensic Reporting

SFS - Specialist Forensic Services

SOCO - Scenes of Crimes Officer

SOIT - Sexual Offences Investigation Team

SOP - Standard Operating Procedure

SPOC - Single Point of Contact

SSU - Scientific Support Unit

TFE - Trainee Fingerprint Examiner

UIDB - Unidentified Marks Database (IDENT1)

UV - Ultra Violet

VMD - Vacuum Metal Deposition

VIS - Visible

VRM - Vehicle Registration Mark

FORENSIC PHOTOGRAPHY Definition of Terms

Ambient Light - Light already existing in an indoor or outdoor setting that is not caused by any
illumination supplied by the photographer.

Actinic rays - light rays of short wavelengths occurring in the violet and ultraviolet parts of the spectrum,
which produce chemical changes, as in photography.

Angle of incidence - the angle of incidence as used here conforms to that used in optics to describe
reflection and refraction of light rays. The angle is measured with respect to the normal to the surface,
rather than to the surface itself. The normal is an imaginary line perpendicular (90°) to the plane of the
surface. Thus, a straight-on impact (along the normal) is said to have an angle of incidence of zero.

Aperture - Adjustable opening, also referred to as f-stop, that controls the amount of light that is
focused on the film.

Aperture preference - Term used to describe the automatic exposure system used on some cameras, in
which a specific aperture is selected but the shutter speed adjusts automatically to expose the film to
the correct amount of light.

Artificial light - Any light other than daylight.

Artificial light film - Color film balanced for use in tungsten artificial light, usually of 3200°K. Packs are
usually marked tungsten or Type B.

ASA - American Standard Association, formerly a standardized rating number for film based on its
sensitivity to light.

Aspect Ratio - The ratio of width to height in photographic prints; a ratio of 2:3 in 35 mm pictures
produces photographs most commonly measuring 3.5 × 5 inches or 4 × 6 inches.

Auto iris - Automatically regulates the amount of light entering the camera.
Auto white balance - Electronically adjusts camera color levels.

Auto focus - Automatically sets the focus (distance) from scene to camera.

Automatic camera - A camera with a built-in exposure meter that automatically adjusts the lens
opening, shutter speed, or both for proper exposure.

Auxiliary lens - A lens element added to a regular lens to shorten or increase the focal length.

Background - The part of the scene that appears behind the principal subject of the picture.

Backlighting - Light shining on the subject from the direction opposite the camera; distinguished from
front lighting and side lighting.

Backscatter - The light reflected back to the camera in underwater photography caused by flash
reflection of particles suspended in the water.

Blur - Indistinct image caused by movement or inaccurate focusing.

Bounce lighting - A light source reflected off of another surface and then onto the subject. Flash or
tungsten light bounced off the ceiling or walls in order to give the effect of natural or available light.

Bulb - A shutter speed setting used to hold the shutter open for extended periods with the use of a
shutter release cord or continuous pressure on the shutter release button.

Cable release - A flexible, enclosed wire used to release the shutter mechanism.

Camera - A photographic apparatus used to expose sensitized film or plates to reflected light images
formed by a lens. Also, an electronic device to change film or live action into video signals.
Camera angle - The photographer’s point of view of a subject or scene as viewed through the lens or
viewfinder.

Capture - The process of recording data, such as an image, video sequence, or audio stream.

Cartridge - A lightproof container that is loaded with film in the dark and can be handled and placed in
the camera in the light.

Cassette - A film cartridge or magazine. A lightproof holder used in autoradiography for exposing x-ray
film to radioactive blots.

Circle of confusion - An optical term describing the size of an image point formed by a lens.

Close-up - A photograph taken close to the subject or evidence, often requiring an auxiliary lens. Macro
and micro are degrees of close-up.

Color - The sensation produced in the eye by a particular wavelength or group of wavelengths of visible
light.

Color balance - The ability of a film to reproduce the colors of a scene. Color films are balanced in
manufacture for exposure to light of a certain color quality daylight, tungsten, etc. Color balance also
refers to the reproduction of colors in color prints, which can be altered during the printing process.

Color balancing filter - Filters used to balance color film with the color temperature of the light source
and to prevent the formation of colorcasts. An 85B filter is used with tungsten film in daylight, an 80A
filter with daylight film in tungsten light.

Color compensating (CC) filters - Comparatively weak color filters used to correct for small differences
between the color temperature of the illumination and that for which the film was manufactured.
Color conversion filters - Fairly strong color filters used for exposing film in light of a type markedly
different from that for which the film was made.

Color Correction - To correct or enhance the colors within an image.

Color negative film - Film that records the colors of the subject in complementary hues that are
subsequently reversed again in the printing paper to give the correct colors.

Color reversing film - Film that produces a direct positive by effectively reversing the negative image
during processing. Transparency (slide) film is of this type.

Contrast - The difference in intensities of light falling on various parts of a subject. The density range of a
negative, print, or slide; the brightness range of a subject or the scene lighting.

Contrast filter - A colored filter used to make a colored subject stand out either lighter or darker (for
black-and-white film).

Correction filter - Filters used to alter colors to suit the color response of the film.

Coupled exposure meter - Exposure meter built into the camera and linked with the aperture or shutter
speed controls, or both.

Coupled rangefinder - A rangefinder connected to the focusing mechanism of the lens, which is focused
while measuring the distance to the subject or object.

Cropping - The elimination of part of an original image on a single negative during printing either
because of automation or enlargement.

Daylight color film - Color film designed to be used with daylight or a light source of equivalent color
temperature, including blue flashbulbs and electronic flash. The film is balanced to 5400 EK.
Dense - Dark negative or positive film on paper that is overexposed, overdeveloped, or both.

Depth of field - The zone between the foreground and background that appears in sharpest focus for a
particular lens, distance, and aperture.

Depth of field scale - Scale on a lens barrel showing the near and far limits of depth of field possible
when the lens is set at any particular focus and aperture.

Developer - A solution used to turn the latent image into a visible image on exposed films or
photographic papers.

Electronic flash - Lighting unit utilizing the flash of light produced by discharging a current between two
electrodes in a gas-filled tube.

Electronic viewfinder (EVF) - A small TV monitor attached to a video camera for viewing of recorded
images.

Emulsion - a suspension of a salt of silver in gelatin or collodion used to coat film.

Evidence Quality Photos - Images of sufficient size and quality to allow comparison and examination by a
qualified forensic expert.

Existing light - That light present at any one time in a given area no matter what the source.

Exposure index - Methods of rating film speed developed by the American Standards Association (ASA),
now known as the American National Standards Institute, Inc. (ANSI).

Exposure setting - The lens opening and shutter speed selected to expose the film.
Extension tube - Increases the distance between the lens and the sensitive film in the camera and
changes the lens capability.

Eyepiece - The optic found on a camera, microscope, telescope, and so on, used to look through the
instrument.

Fade-in/Fade-out - Gradually changing video from dark to picture or picture to dark.

Fast film - Film that has an emulsion that is very sensitive to light. Such films have high ASA ratings.

Fast lens - lens with a large aperture, requiring less light.

Field of vision - The area a person is able to see through the viewfinder, scope, or lens.

Fill-in - Secondary illumination to keep shadow areas from photographing too dark; also known as the fill
light.

Film - A sheet or strip of celluloid coated with light-sensitive emulsion for exposure in a camera.

Film plane - That portion of the camera body that holds the sensitized film in place during the exposure
process. It is also that position of the camera where the image is focused.

Film speed - A means of representing numerically the response of a photographic emulsion to light.

Filter - A colored piece of glass or other transparent material used over the lens to emphasize, eliminate,
or change the color or density of the entire scene or certain areas within a scene.

Finder - A viewer through which the picture to be taken may be seen and centered.
Fish-eye lens - Wide-angle lens with angle of view that may reach 180°. Depth of field is practically
infinite.

Flash - A general term for any auxiliary, sudden, brilliant light. A unit holding flashbulbs is referred to as
a flash.

Flash sensor - Electronic unit actuated by light flash.

Flood - Light source providing a wide, diffused beam of light.

Fluorescence - Property possessed by various substances that glow when exposed to light of a short
wavelength. The phenomenon in which some substances absorb light and re-emit part of it as light of a
longer wavelength. Fluorescence ceases when incident or exciting illumination ceases.

Focal length - The distance in millimeters (mm) from the center of the lens to the point where the image
comes into critical view.

Focal plane shutter - A shutter that operates immediately in front of the focal plane. Usually contains a
fixed or variable-sized slit in a curtain of cloth or metal that travels across the film to make the exposure.

Focus - Point at which converging rays of light from a lens meet.

Focusing - The adjustment of the lens-to-film distance to produce a sharp image of the subject.

Format - Size, shape, and general makeup of negatives, slides, photographic prints, camera viewing
areas, or video equipment.
Frame - An individual picture on a roll of film or one full onscreen image of displayed computerized
information.

Frame buffer - A separate area of memory where an image or frame is stored in a computer.

Frame counter - A dial on the camera indicating the number of exposures or frames used.

f-stop (f-number) - Focal setting for the diaphragm controlling the size of the aperture; the higher the f-
stop, the smaller the aperture opening.

Fully automatic - Term indicates that camera aperture and speed settings can be combined to give
complete automatic exposure for a picture.

Gain select - Increase sensitivity to light. Used when sufficient illumination is not available for video
recording.

Gamma - A process that improves the video image by correcting for the lack of picture clarity.

Glare - Intense light reflected off highly reflective surfaces such as water, glass, and very light-toned
objects.

Grain - Individual silver particles or groups of particles in the emulsion

which, when enlarged, become noticeable and sometimes objectionable.

Graininess - The grainy appearance of photographic enlargements. More prominent on higher-speed

film. The sand-like or granular appearance of a negative, print, or slide resulting from the clumping of
silver grains during development of the film. Graininess becomes more pronounced with faster film,
increased density in the negative, and degree of enlargement.
Guide number - An indication of the power of a flash unit, enabling the correct aperture to be selected
at a given distance between flash and subject. The number divided by the distance gives the f-stop that
should be used. A film speed is specified with the guide number and recalculation is needed for different
speeds.

Haze filter - Lens filter that reduces the effect of atmospheric haze. Red reduces most, green the least. A
blue filter induces haze.

Illumination - A specific amount of light present in any given area. Expressed in lux or foot-candles; the
lower the lux of equipment, the less light required for a good picture.

Image - The photographic representation of an object or scene formed by optical or chemical action.

Image aspect ratio - Ratio of the width to the height of a displayed computer-generated image.

Image resolution - Number of pixels displayed per unit of printed length in an image, usually measured
in pixels per inch (pip).

Infrared photography - Recording of images produced by infrared radiation.

Iris - The opening of a camera lens that controls the amount of light let in.

ISO Speed - The sensitivity of a given film or sensor to light, indicated by a number such as ISO 200. The
higher the number, the more sensitive or faster the film or sensor.

Lens cap - A cover used to protect a lens from dust and damage when not in use.

Lens Speed - The largest lens opening at which a lens can be set. A fast lens transmits more light and has
a larger opening than a slow lens. For example, f/1.8 would set a larger opening than f/5.6 and would,
therefore, be a faster lens.

Lumen - Photometric unit equal to the luminous flux on 1 ft2 of

surface from a standard candle 1 ft away.

Luster - The gloss or shine possessed by a fiber, resulting from its reflection of light. The luster of
manufactured fibers is often modified by use of a delustering pigment.

Macro lens - Lens designed to work at close distance, permitting image

magnification.

Macro photography - Photography usually involving close-up capabilities, whether with lens or bellows,
with a magnification from life size (110) up to 50 times (501).

Magenta - A reddish-blue (minus green) color.

Micro photography - The term used in Europe for the making of large photographs of small objects,
usually through a microscope. In the United Kingdom and the United States this is called
photomicrography, and microphotography is used to refer to the technique of making microscopically
small photographs by the process of optical reduction.

Monochrome - Single colored; for instance, black-and-white photographs and sepia- or other-toned
images in one color. Similar light rays of one-color wavelength (i.e., a single, pure color).

Motor drive- Device for advancing the film and tensioning the shutter by means of an electric motor.

Multiple flash - The use of more than one flash unit, usually operating

simultaneously.

Natural size - A photograph enlarged to the true size of the content.

Near point - The closet object to the camera in focus for a given distance.

Negative - Photographic image in which the amount of silver present is more or less based on the
reflectivity from the original object. Black is white, white is black. The developed film that contains a
reversed-tone image of the original scene.
Normal lens - A lens that makes the image in a photograph appear in a perspective similar to that of the
original scene.

Objective - The first lens, lens system, or mirror through which light passes or from which it is reflected
in an optical system.

Open flash - Method of using the flash in which the shutter is opened, the flash is fired, and then the
shutter is closed. It is used when the shutter speed is unimportant because existing lighting is poor or
nonexistent.

Open up - The term used in reference to changing to a larger aperture (f-stop) opening.

Optical microscope - An instrument used to obtain an enlarged image of a small object, utilizing visible
light; in general, it consists of a light source, a condenser, an objective lens, and an ocular or eyepiece
that can be replaced by a recording device. Also known as a light microscope.

Pan-and-tilt head - Tripod head with separate locks for horizontal (pan) and vertical (tilt) movements of
the camera.

Panning - The movement from left to right and right to left of the camera; normally associated with
movie and video cameras.

Parallax - Difference between the image seen in a viewfinder and that

recorded by the taking lens. Most pronounced at close distance with twin-lens reflex and rangefinder
cameras. Single-lens reflex and studio cameras are free from parallax error.

Peak - The visual image representing an allele on an electropherogram.

Photo flash lamp - An electronic lamp working at higher than the normal voltage, giving brighter light.
Photoelectric cell - Light-sensitive cell used in exposure meters and for remote triggering of the shutter.

Photoflood - Photographic lamp designed to produce a high output of light during a comparatively short
life.

Photogrammetry - The process of surveying or mapping through analysis of photographs. A scientific

method used to determine from photographs the length of skid marks, width of roadways, or any other
types of measurements needed.

Photographic negative - A transparency produced when black-and-white film is exposed in a camera and
then developed. The term is derived from the appearance of the transparency, in which white areas of
the original appear the darkest or most opaque, while the darkest portions of the original are almost
clear. With color film the light–dark reversal is coupled with a change of colors to the complements of
those in the original material.

Photographic positive - A print made by passing light through the negative generally onto photographic
paper. In this print the tonal values are directly proportional to those of the original; i.e., light areas of
the original appear light, and the dark areas are dark.

Photography - To write or draw with light. Recording with light is closer to the modern meaning of the
word.

Photomicrographs - Photographs that are made through a compound microscope and may be a greatly
enlarged image of a small area. Similarly, enlarged photographs, which may be prepared with only a lens
of very short focal length, are accurately termed photomicrographs. It is extremely difficult to
distinguish between photographs made by these two processes, and both are often incorrectly referred
to as a photomicrograph.

Projected prints - A print made by focusing light from the negative on the printing paper by means of a
lens system. These positives are generally enlargements. Some workers refer to them as bromides
because of the type of paper emulsion originally used.
Quartz lens - A special lens used for ultraviolet photography.

Rangefinder - A viewer system found on cameras without a through-the-lens viewing capacity (SLR
cameras).

Raw File - The data captured by a digital camera sensor before it is converted into an image file by
software, either inside the camera or on a stand-alone computer.

Record/review - Automatically rewinds and plays back the last few seconds of videotape recording.
Provides a smooth transition from one segment to another.

Reflection - The bouncing back of rays of light striking a surface.

Reflex camera - A camera in which the image can be seen right side up and full size on the ground-glass
focusing screen.

Refraction - The bending of a light ray when passing obliquely from one medium to a medium of
different density.

Refractive index (N) - The change in direction (apparent bending) of a light ray passing from one medium
to another of different density, as from air to water or glass. The ratio of the sine of the angle of
incidence to the sine of the angle of refraction is the index of refraction of the second medium. Index of
refraction of a substance may also be expressed as the ratio of the velocity of light in a vacuum to its
velocity in the substance.

Resolution - The capability of an optical device to separate into

two or more objects (or points) what to the unaided eye appears to be one object (or point), thus
yielding details not otherwise perceptible. Measurement in units per inch of the amount of detail in an
image file: dpi = dots per inch; pip = pixels per inch; lip = liners per inch.

Reversal - A positive film such as slide film (either color or black-and-white).

Rogues’ gallery - A file of photographs of arrested individuals; usually includes full face and profile
photographs (mug shots) along with detailed physical description, age and place of birth, Social Security
number, fingerprint classification, nicknames and aliases, modus operandi, etc. (also called mug shot
file).

Scale - The enlargement or reduction of an object or texture.

Schlieren optics - Imaging system in which the transparent or translucent object to be examined is
placed between two spherical mirrors. The illuminant is a point light source placed at the focal point of
one of the mirrors. Parallel light rays from the mirror pass through the object to the second mirror,
which projects the image onto a screen. A knife edge is placed at the focal point of the second mirror to
block underacted light rays. Only light rays refracted by the object reach the screen. Schlieren optics can
produce images of thickness, density, and refractive index differences.

Self-timer - A timing device permitting the photographer to delay shutter.

Shoot (shot) - A slang term for taking or having taken a photograph.

function.

Shot sheet - A form for recording all pertinent photographic information on a particular roll of film.

Shutter - Mechanical device that regulates the time light can act upon the film.

Shutter preference - An automatic exposure system in which shutter speed may be selected and the
aperture is adjusted automatically to give correct exposure.

Shutter speed - The action of the shutter that controls the duration of an exposure. The faster the
speed, the shorter the exposure.
Silhouette - A photograph that shows only the mass of a subject in black against a white or colored
background.

Single-lens reflex - Camera system utilizing a hinged mirror between the lens and the film that swings
out of the light path when the shutter is open, allowing the taking and viewing functions of a lens to be
combined.

Slide - A positive film mounted in a slide mount or a positive print on glass for projection upon a screen.

Slide film - Direct reversal film; usually color film used in cameras for full-color projection positives.
Sometimes called color transparency film.

Slit-width - Size of the opening of the slit through which light emerges. Size depends on wavelength
range, separation ability of wavelength selector, and desired isolation of specific wavelength.

Slow film - Film having an emulsion with low sensitivity to light. Typically, such films have an ASA rating
of 32 or less.

Slow lens - A lens with a relatively small maximum aperture, such as f-8.

Snapshot - A casual picture taken by amateurs, usually with simple equipment.

Snow Print Wax - Registered name of an aerosol product used to assist in the photography and casting
of footwear impressions in snow.

Speed - The sensitivity of a photographic emulsion to light. ISO, ASA, or DIN numbers indicate their
relative speed characteristics. The higher the number, the faster the film reacts to light.
Spotlight - Lamp unit with a reflector and lens that can either focus light into a small, concentrated circle
or give a wider beam.

Standard lens - Lens whose focal length is approximately equal to the diagonal of the film format with
which it is used. It is also referred to as the prime or normal lens.

Static streak- Light streak that appears on photographic film, usually in cold weather when film is
advanced too quickly. Static streaks can be harmful to development of clear photographic images.

Still - A photograph lacking motion; a single frame.

Stop - A lens aperture or diaphragm opening, such as f-4 and f-5.6.

Strobe - Electronic flash unit. An electrical power supply charges the gas-filled flash tube emitting light
between 1/1000 sec and 1/50,000 sec. A strobe can be manual or manual and automatic.

Surveillance photography - A secretive, continuous, and sometimes periodic visual documentation of

activities involving persons, places, or objects of importance to an investigation.

Sync-cord - An electrical power cord used to connect the flash unit to a power source.

Synchroflash - A term applied to flash photography in which a flash bulb is ignited at the same instant
that the shutter is opened.

Time exposure - The camera shutter is opened and closed manually, not automatically.

Time-lapse - A timing device that can be set to take a photograph every few seconds, minutes, hours,
etc.
Transmission - The ratio of the light passed through an object to the light falling upon it.

Transmitted light - Light that is passed through a transparent or translucent medium.

Transparency - A positive photographic image on film, viewed or projected by transmitted light (light
shining through film).

Trash mark - Mark left on a finished copy during photocopying; results from imperfections or dirt on the
cover glass, cover sheet, drum, or camera lens of a photocopy machine.

Tripod - A three-legged stand used to support a camera or lens and camera.

Tungsten light - Incandescent light, from a bulb having filaments usually of lower wattage, 15 to 500 W.

Tungsten light film - Color film balanced to suit tungsten light sources, with a color temperature of
3200°K.

Twin-lens reflex (TLR) - Camera having two lenses of the same focal length; one is used for viewing and
focusing, the other for exposing the film. The lenses are mounted above each other.

Ultraviolet filter - A filter that transmits ultraviolet light as used for photography by the reflected
ultraviolet light method.

Ultraviolet light - Light rays beyond the visible spectrum of light at its violet end with wavelengths longer
than x-rays, but shorter than visible light.

Ultraviolet photograph - Any photograph that records the document under ultraviolet illumination. With
some of these the ultraviolet radiation strikes the film, but with others a filter is employed so that only
the visual fluorescence caused by the ultraviolet is recorded.
Underexposure - Results of insufficient light exposing the film. A condition in which too little light
reaches the film producing a thin negative, a dark slide, or a muddy-looking print.

Uniped - A one legged support for a camera.

Videography - The recording of visual images electronically on magnetic tape. Usually accompanied by a
recorded soundtrack.

Viewfinder - A viewing instrument attached to a camera that is used to obtain proper composition.

Washed out - A negative or print lacking detail and contrast.

White balance - A procedure used to tune a video camera’s color by setting it to perfectly reproduce a
white object.

Working Copy - A copy or duplicate of a recording or data that can be used for subsequent processing
and/or analysis.

Zoom lens - A lens with the capacity to have varied focal lengths while maintaining focus on a particular
subject at a given distance.

Zooming - Moving a variable focus lens during an exposure.

Forensic Ballistics Definition of Terms

Acetone - The simplest ketone. A solvent for gun powder. A highly flammable, water-soluble solvent.

ACP - Automatic Colt Pistol

Action - the action of the gun consists of all the moving parts that facilitate the loading, firing,
discharging of the empty case and unloading of the gun.

Action, revolver - a firearm, usually a handgun with a cylinder having several chambers so arrange as to
rotate around an axis and be discharge successively by the same firing mechanism.

Action, semi-automatic - a repeating firearm requiring a separate pull of the trigger for each shot fired
and which uses the energy of discharge to perform a portion of the operating or firing cycle (usually the
loading portion).

Actuator - part of the firing mechanism in certain automatic firearms that slides forward and back in
preparing each cartridge to be fired. Also called trigger actuator.

Air Gun - a gun that uses compressed air or gas to propel a projectile also called air rifle, pellet rifle,
pellet gun, and gun.

Air Resistance - (Drag) decelerates the projectile with a force proportional to the square of the velocity.

Armelite – occasionally, the home of manufacturing company becomes almost a generic term. It
happens with the colt produced M16, which has been designed and develop at Carmelite. The Armalite
business was formed by Charles Dorchester and George Sullivan in 1950. Armalite employed Eugene
Stoner, Chief Engineer and one of the top designers of the country.

Ammunition - one or more loaded cartridges consisting of a primed case, propellant and with one or
more projectiles.

Anvil marks - microscopic marks impressed on the forward face of the rim of a rimfire cartridge case as it
is forced against the breech end of the barrel by the firing pin. These marks are characteristic of the
breech under the firing pin and have been used to identify firearm.

AP - abbreviation for armor-piercing ammunition.

Apogee - the maximum altitude a projectile will reach when shot in the air.

Assault rifle - automatic weapon designed to be fired by one man. Ammunition is fed from a magazine.

Automatic - a firearm capable of ejecting a cartridge casing following discharge and reloading the next
cartridge from the magazine.

Automatic action - a firearm design that feeds cartridges, fires, and ejects cartridge cases as long as the
trigger is fully depressed and there are cartridges available in the feed system.

Auto-safety - a locking device on some firearms designed to return to the on or safe position when the
firearm is opened.

Azo dye - a result of the Griess test where nitrates from gunpowder residues are converted to an
orange-red dye.

Ball ammunition - military small arms ammunition with full metal jacket bullets, also known as hard ball.

Ballistics - the study of a projectile in motion, following the projectile travel from primer ignition to
barrel exit, to target entry and until motion is stopped.

Ballistics, exterior - The study of the motion of the projectile after it leaves the barrel of the firearm.

Ballistics, Interior - the study of the motion of the projectile within the firearm from the moment of
ignition until it leaves the barrel.

Ballistics, terminal - the study of the projectiles impact on the target.

Barium - alkaline earth metal with chemical symbol Ba, atomic number 56. Present as barium nitrate in
the primer.

Barium nitrate - a common oxidizer of the primer compound used in gun cartridges.

Barrel - that part of a firearm through which a projectile travel under the impetus of powder gases,
compressed air, or other like means, may be rifled or smooth.

BB - air rifle projectile of 0.177 in. diameter or a shotgun pellet of 0.18 in. diameter.

BBB shot - shotgun pellet of 0.19 in. diameter.

Beretta - is an Italian firearms manufacturer. It is the oldest active firearms manufacturer in the world.

Berthold Schwartz - the inventor of gunpowder. His real name is Constantin Ankleted, a Franciscan monk
in the town of Freiberg in Germany.
Beveling - (external or internal) defects that occur when a projectile pass through a flat bone. The
perforation in the bone is typically larger and more cone shaped as the bullet passes from the entrance
through the bone to the exit.

Bipod - is an attachment for a weapon that creates a steady plane for whatever it may be attached. A
two-legged rest or stand as for rifle or machine gun.

Black powder - the earliest form of propellant. It is a mechanical mixture of potassium nitrate or sodium
nitrate, charcoal and sulfur.

Blasting cap - a small explosive charge triggered by lighting a safety fuse or applying an electric current
used to detonate high explosives.

Blowback - In firearm, an automatic and semi-automatic firearm design, that directly utilizes the breech
pressure exerted on the head of the cartridge cases to actuate the mechanism. In ammunition, a
leakage of gas re-ward between the case and chamber wall from the mouth of the case.

Blunderbuss - is a muzzle-loading firearm with a short, large caliber barrel which is flared at the muzzle
and frequently throughout the entire bore and used with shot and other projectiles of relevant quantity
and/or caliber.

Bolt action - is a type of firearm action in which the weapons bolt is operated manually by opening and
closing of the breech (barrel) with a small handle most commonly placed on the right-hand side of the
weapon for (right hand users). A firearm in which the breech closure is in line with the bore at all times.
It is manually reciprocated to load, unload and cock and is locked in place by breech-bolt lugs and
engaging abutments usually in the receiver.

Bore - the interior of a barrel, forward of the chamber.

Bore brush - A brush usually having brass, nylon, or plastic bristles which is used to clean deposits from
the bore of a firearm.

Bore diameter - in a rifled barrel, it is the minor diameter of a barrel which is the diameter of a circle
formed by the tops of the lands. In a shotgun, it is the interior dimensions of the barrel forward of the
chamber but before the choke.

Brass - a slang term sometimes used for fired cartridge cases.

Breech - the part of the firearm at the rear of the bore into which the cartridge of propellant is inserted.

Breech block - the locking and cartridge head-supporting mechanism of a firearm that does not operate
in line with the axis of the bore.

Breech blot - the locking and cartridge head-supporting mechanism of a firearm that operates in line
with the axis of the bore.
Breech face - that part of the breech block or breech bolt that is against the head of the cartridge case or
shot shell during firing.

Breech face markings - negative impression of the breech face of the firearm found on the head of the
cartridge case after firing.

Breech-loading weapon - is a firearm in which the cartridge or shell is inserted or loaded into a chamber
integral to the rear portion of a barrel.

Broach - rifling tool consisting of a series of circular cutting tools mounted on a long rod. The rifling is cut
in on pass of the broach through the gun barrel.

Broach Cutter - used to create a rifling impression on a barrel.

Broach, Gang – A tool having a series of cutting edges of slightly increasing height used to cut the spiral
grooves in a barrel. All groves are cut with a single pass of the broach.

Broach, Single – a non-adjustable rifling cutter that cuts all the grooves simultaneously, and is in a series
of increasing dimensions until the desired groove depth is achieved.

Browning arms co. - is a maker of firearms founded in Utah in 1927.

Browning, J.M. - born in 1855. Started the production of a single shot rifle that was adopted by
Winchester.

Buffer - in a firearm, any part intended to absorb shock and check recoil.

Buckshot - lead pellet ranging in size from 0.20 in. to 0.36 in. diameter.

Bullet - is a projectile propelled by a firearm, sling, or air gun.

Bullet-bearing surface - that part of the outer surface of a bullet that comes into direct contact with the
interior surface of the barrel.

Bullet creep - the movement of a bullet out of the cartridge case due to the recoil of the firearm and the
inertia of the bullet. Also called bullet starting. Also known as popping.

Bullet, frangible - a projectile designed to disintegrate upon impact on a hard surface in order to
minimize ricochet or spatter.

Bullet jacket - usually a metallic cover over the core.

Bullet, lead - a standard lead bullet having a harder metal jacket over the nose formed from a lead alloy,
also known as metal-point bullet. This non spherical projectiles are for use in a rifled barrel.
Bullet recovery system - any method that will allow the undamaged recovery of a fired bullet. Water
tanks and cotton boxes are most commonly in use.
Bullet Splash - The spatter and fragmentation of a bullet upon impacting a hard surface.
Bullet wipe - a dark ring-shaped mark made up of lead, carbon, oil and dirt brushed from a bullet as it
enters the skin and found around the entry wound. The discolored area on the immediate periphery of a
bullet hole, caused by bullet lubricant, lead, smoke bore debris or possibly, jacket material. Sometimes
called burnishing or leaded edge.

Burr striations - a roughness or rough edge especially one left on metal in casting or cutting. A tool or
device that raises a burr.

Butt - in handguns, the bottom part of the grip frame. In long guns, it is the rear of shoulder end of the
stock.
Caliber - the approximate diameter of the circle formed by the tops of the lands of a rifled barrel.
Cane gun, Knife pistols - many devices primarily designed for other purposes will have a gun mechanism
incorporated in them. (also known as FREAKISH DEVICE)
Cannelure - a circumferential groove generally of a knurled or plain appearance in a bullet or the head of
a rimless cartridge case.

Carbine - a rifle of short length and lightweight originally designed for mounted troops.

Cartridge - is also called a round, packages the bullet, propellant (usually smokeless powder or gun
powder) and primer into a single unit within a containing metallic case that is precisely made to fit
within the firing chamber of the firearm.

Cartridge case head - the base of the cartridge case which contains the primer.

Cartridge, centerfire - any cartridge that has its primer central to the axis in the head of the case.

Cartridge, rimfire - a flange-headed cartridge containing the priming mixture inside the rim cavity.
Cape Gun – a doubled-barreled shoulder arm with barrel side by side: one being a smooth bore and the
other being rifled.

Case Head - The base of the cartridge case which contains the primer.

Cast-Off - the off-set of the butt of a firearm to the right-handed shooter and to the right for a left-
handed shooter.

Cast-On - the offset of the butt of a firearm to the left for a right-handed shooter and to the right for a
left-handed shooter.
Center of impact - the points of impact of the projectiles being dispersed about a single point.
Centerfire - is a cartridge with a primer located in the center of the cartridge case head. Unlike rimfire
cartridges, the primer is a separate and replaceable component.

Chamber - is that portion of the barrel or firing cylinder in which the cartridge is inserted prior to being
fired.
Chamber mark - individual microscopic marks placed upon a cartridge case by the chamber wall as a
result of any or all of the following 1. chambering 2. expansion during firing 3. extraction.

Choke - (shotgun) the constriction of the barrel of a shotgun to reduce the spread of shot as it leaves the
gun to increase its effective range.

Class Characteristics - Are those characteristics which are determinable only after the manufacture of
the firearm. They are characteristics whose existence is beyond the control of man and which have a
random distribution. Their existence in the firearms is brought about by the tools in their normal
operations resulting in wear and tear, abuse, mutilation, corrosion, erosion, and other fortuitous causes.
Clay pigeon shooting - (clay target shooting) formally known as inanimate bird shooting is the art of
shooting at special flying targets known as clay pigeons or clay targets with a shotgun or any type of
firearm.

Clip - a separate cartridge container used to rapidly reload the magazine of a firearm. Also called
stripper.

Cock - place a firing mechanism under a spring tension. Raise the cock of (a gun) in order to make it
ready for firing.

Coefficient of form - a numerical term indicating the general profile of a projectile.

Colt - Samuel Colt was born in July 1814 in was to be instrumental in making the revolver a practical type
of pistol.

Combination gun - a multiple-barreled firearm designed to handle different sizes or types of

ammunition.
Compensator - (Muzzle Brake) a device attached to or integral with the muzzle end of the barrel to
utilize propelling gases for counter-recoil.
Concentric fractures - patterns of cracks in glass pierced by a missile like a bullet which runs between
the radial fractures and which originate on the side of the glass from which the impact came.

Copper-clad steel - a composite structure of copper and steel used for the manufacture of certain bullet
jackets. Metallic element with the chemical symbol Cu and atomic number 29 that commonly comprises
"cartridge brass" that is typically 70% copper and 30% zinc (Zn)

Cylinder - rotating chambered breech of a revolver. Damascus barrel - an obsolete barrel-making

process. The barrel is formed by twisting or braiding together steel and iron wires or bars. The resulting
cable is then wound around a mandrel and forged into a barrel tube. This type of barrel is also called a
laminated barrel.
DAMSCUS - an obsolete barrel making process the barrel is formed by twisting or braiding together steel
and iron wires or bars. Sometimes called LAMINATED BARREL.
Decant - the process of pouring off the supernatant during separation from a pellet after a mixture has
been centrifuged or left to settle.

Derringer - the generic term applied to many variations of pocket size pistols either percussion or
cartridge made by manufacturers other that Henry Derringer up to present time.
Discharge - to cause a firearm to fire.

Disconnector - a device to prevent a semi-automatic firearm from firing fully automatic. Some pump
action shotguns also have disconnectors.

Distance determination - the process of determining the distance from the firearm, usually the muzzle,
to the target based upon pattern of gunpowder or gunshot residues deposited upon that target. Where
multiple projectiles such as shot have been fired, the spread of those projectiles is also indicative of
distance.

Double action - a gun action where the pulling of trigger to fire a round redocks the gun so that the next
round is ready to be fired.

Drawback effect - the presence of blood in the barrel of a firearm that has been drawn awkward due to
the effect created by discharged gasses. This is seen frequently in close-range contact gunshot injuries.
Drilling - refers to a combination gun that has three barrels.
Driving edge, fired bullet - the driving edge of a fired bullet with a right twist is the left edge of the
groove impression or the right edge of the land impression. The driving edge of a fired bullet with left
twist is the right edge of the groove impression or the left edge of the hand impression.

Ejection - the act of expelling a cartridge or cartridge cases from a firearm.

Ejection pattern - the charting of where a particular firearm ejects fired cartridge cases.

Ejector - a portion of a firearms mechanism that ejects or expels cartridges or cartridge cases from a
firearm.

Ejector marks - tool marks provided upon a cartridge or cartridge case on the head, generally at or near
the rim from contact with the ejector.
Ejector Rod - a metal rod used to help with the removal of the cartridges.
Energy Bullet - the capacity of a projectile to do work.
Extractor - a mechanism for withdrawing a cartridge or cartridge case from the chamber of a firearm.

Extraction mark - tool mark produced upon a cartridge or cartridge case from contact with the extractor.
These are always found on or just ahead of the rim.

Firearm identification - a discipline of forensic science that has as its primarily concern determining
whether a bullet, cartridge case or other ammunition component was fired by a particular firearm.
Firearm - an assembly of a barrel and action from which a projectile is propelled by products of
combustion.

Firing pin - that part of a firearm mechanism that strikes the primer of a cartridge to initiate ignition.
Sometimes called hammer nose or striker.

Firing pin drag marks - the tool mark produced when a projecting firing pin comes into contact with a
cartridge case or shot-shell during the extraction and ejection cycle.
Firing pin impression - the indentation in the primer of a centerfire cartridge case or in the rim of a
rimfire cartridge case caused when it struck by the firing pin.

Flare guns - used in cases such in sending signals and enabling to see enemies in the dark.
Flash hole - vent leading from the primer pocket to the body of the cartridge case.
Flash suppressor - also known as a flash guard, flash eliminator, flash hider, or flash cone, is a device
attached to the muzzle of a rifle or other gun that reduces the chances that the shooter will be blinded
in dark conditions.

Forensic Ballistics - A scientific study of firearm identification with the use of laboratory examination.
The subject gives emphasis on the study of ammunition, projectiles, gunpowder, primer, and explosives,
including the use of the bullet comparison microscope. It also deals with the principles in the
microscopic and macroscopic examination of firearm evidence and the preparation of reports for legal
proceedings in the solution of cases involving firearms.

Fouling - the residual deposits remaining in the bore of a firearm after firing. Fouling can change the
character of the identifiable striations imparted to the projectile from one shot to another.

Fragment - a piece of solid metal resulting from an exploding or exploded bomb or a piece of projectile
from a firearm.
Frame or stock - The frame is the basic structure of the gun to which the other major parts are attached.
The stock is for rifles and Shotguns. Handguns do not have a stock but rather what is called a grip.

Gauge - the interior diameter of the barrel of a shotgun expressed by the number or spherical lead
bullets fitting it that are required to make a pound. Thus a 12 gauge in the diameter of a round lead ball
using 1/12 of a pound.

Gas cutting - an erosive effect in a firearm caused by the high velocity, high temperature propellant
gases.
Gas Guns – these will be found in all shapes and sizes and used for firing tear gas and
other forms of disabling gases.

Gas Operated - an automatic or semi-automatic firearm in which the propellant gases are
used to unlock the breech bolt and then to complete the cycle of extracting and expecting.

Gas Port - an opening in the wall of a barrel to allow gas to operate a mechanism or reduce
recoil.
General rifling characteristics - the number, width and direction of twist of the rifling grooves in a barrel
of a given caliber firearm.

Granules - the individual particles of propellant powder.

Griess test - a chemical test for the detection of nitrates. It is used by firearms examiners to develop
patterns of gunpowder residues (nitrates) around bullet holes.

Grips - a pair of pieces designed to fit the frame of a weapon providing a form fit gripping, usually plastic
or wood.
Groove diameter - the major diameter in a barrel that is the diameter of a circle circumscribed by the
bottom of the grooves in a rifled barrel.

Grooves - spiral cuts along the bore of a firearm that cause a projectile to spin as it travels through the
barrel providing stability in flight.

Gun cotton (nitrocellulose) - the principal ingredient of a single base and double base gunpowder’s. Also
known as cellulose hexanitrate.

Gunpowder - any various powder used in firearms as a propellant charge.

An explosive consisting of a powdered mixture of saltpeter, sulfur, and charcoal.

Gunpowder patterns - the spatial distribution of gunpowder residues deposited upon a surface.
- the test firing of a firearm for a muzzle to target distance determination.

Gunpowder residue - unburned gunpowder, partially burned gunpowder, and smoke from completely
burned gunpowder. Gunpowder residues are the largest part of gunshot residues.

Gunshot residue - the total residues resulting from the discharge of a firearm. It includes both
gunpowder and primer residues plus metallic residues from projectiles, fouling etc.

Gyroscopic stability - the ability of a fired bullet to remain stable in flight due to its spin.

Game - is any animal hunted for food or not normally domesticated.

Griess test - is a chemical analysis test which detects the presence of organic nitrate compounds.
Half-cock - the position of the hammer of a firearm when about half retracted and held by the sear so
that it cannot be operated by a normal pull of the trigger.

Hammer - a component part of the firing mechanism that gives impulse to the firing pin or primer.

Handguard - a wooden, plastic, or metal type of forend/forearm that generally encircles the forward
portion of the barrel to protect the hands from heat when firing.

Handgun - a firearm designed to be held and fired with one hand.

Head, (cartridge case head) - the base of the cartridge case that contains the primer.

Headspace - the distance from the face of the closed breech of a firearm to the surface in the chamber
on which the cartridge case bears.

Headspace Gage - an instrument for measuring the distance from the breech face of a firearm to the
portion of the chamber against which the cartridge bears.

Headstamp - numeral, letters, and symbols or combinations thereof stamped into the head of a
cartridge case or shot-shell to identify the manufacturer, caliber, gauge, or give additional information.

Heel - the part of a rifle or shotgun stock at the top of the butt end.
 - The rear portion of the bullet or its base.

Hinge frame - any of a large array of pistols, revolvers, shotguns, and rifles whose frames are hinge to
facilitate loading and ejection. Generally, the barrel pivots downward.

Holster stock - a holster, usually made of wood that attaches to the rear of the pistol grip of certain
handguns and serves as a shoulder stock.

Hydrochloric acid - a chemical reagent used in the sodium rhodizonate test for lead and other primer
residues.
IBIS (integrated ballistics information system) - a database used for acquiring, storing, and analyzing
images of bullets and cartridge casings. Jacket - cylinder of steel covering and strengthening the breech
end of a gun; the envelope enclosing the lead core.

Jacket - a metallic envelope surrounding the lead core of a compound bullet.

Keyhole - an oblong or an oval hole in a target that is produced by an unstable bullet striking the target
at an oblique angle to the bullets. Longitudinal axis.

Kinetics - a dynamic process involving motion.

Lacquer - a sealant used by some ammunition manufacturers to seal the primer and/or bullet in the
cartridge case. It is used as a waterproofing agent.

Land - the raised portion between the grooves in a rifled bore.

Land and groove impressions (right and left turn) - the negative impressions on the surface of a bullet
caused by the rifling in the barrel from which it was fired.

Lead - element with the chemical symbol (Pb) and atomic number 82. Used in the fabrication of bullet
and shot for its formability and lubrication properties.

Leading - The accumulation of lead in the bore of a firearm from the passage of lead shot or bullets. Also
called metal fouling.

Lever action - is a type of firearm action which uses a lever located around the trigger guard area (often
including the trigger guard itself) to load fresh cartridges into the chamber of the barrel when the lever
is worked.

Luger - a German semi-automatic pistol widely used in Europe as a military sidearm, manufactured in
various calibers most commonly 7.65 mm and 9 mm.

Machine gun - Bipod or tripod mounted or handheld automatic weapon whose ammunition is fed from
a magazine or a belt.

Magazine - is an ammunition storage and feeding device within or attached to a repeating firearm.

Magazine clip - a container for cartridges that has a spring and follower to feed the cartridges into the
chamber of a firearm.
Mannlicher type bolt - a bolt-action rifle that was designed for the receiver bridge; has a gap at the top
to allow passage of the bolt handle.

Mercury bath - a process using mercury for the removal of lead residue from a barrel.

Metal fouling - metallic bullet material left in the bore after firing.

Microscopic marks - striae or patterns on minute lines or grooves in an object. In firearm and toolmark
identification, these marks are characteristics of the object that produced them and are the basis for
identification.

Misfire - failure of the primer mixture to ignite.

Mushroom - used to describe the expansion of a projectile upon impacting a target.

Musket - is a muzzle-loading, smooth-bore long gun fired from the shoulder.

Muzzle - is the end of the barrel from which the projectile will exit.
Obliteration/Obliterated - most often used to refer to serial numbers of firearms that are no longer
readable.

Obturation - the act of sealing or preventing the escape of propellant gasses from the breech of a gun.

Orient - the aligning of two bullets that were fired from the same barrel on the comparison microscope
so that the land and groove impressions on those bullets which were produced by the same lands and
grooves in the barrel are opposite each other. Sometimes called phasing or indexing.
Parabellum - a Latin term meaning "for war" used as a cartridge designation.

Pattern - the distribution of a series of shots fired from one gun or a battery of guns under conditions as
nearly identical as possible to that which occurred at the crime scene.

Pellet - common name for the smooth, spherical projectiles loaded into shot-shells, also referred to as
shot. Also, a non-spherical projectile used in air guns.

Percussion cap - a small metal cap with a priming mix that is placed on the nipple of a percussion lock.

Philadelphia derringer - is a small percussion handgun designed by Henry Derringer and a a popular
concealed carry handgun of the era.

Pinfire - is an obsolete type of metallic cartridge in which the priming compound is ignited by striking a
small pin which protrudes radially from huts above the base of the cartridge.

Pistol - (automatic, semi-automatic, single-shot) a small firearm having a stock that fits in the hand and
contains a short barrel. A firearm designed to be fired with one hand and with a chamber that is integral
to the barrel.

Pistol Whipping - is the act of using a handgun as a blunt weapon, wielding it as if it were a club.
Pitch, rifling - the angle at which the rifling is cut in relationship to the axis of the bore. It is usually
stated as the number of inches required for one revolution. Also known as rate of twist.

Primer - the ignition component of the cartridge; any igniter that is used to initiate the burning of a
propellant.

Primer cratering - the extrusion of the primer into the firing pin hole, this phenomenon can produce
identifiable marks. Also known as primer flowback.

Primer/Fuse - any igniter that is used to initiate the burning of a propellant.

Proof mark - a stamp applied at or near the breech of a firearm after it has passed a proof test.

Proof test - the firing of a deliberate overload to test the strength of a firearm barrel and/or action.

Proof load - a cartridge loaded to specified pressure higher than service loads to test firearms barrels
during manufacture but before assembly, sometimes called blue pill.

Propellant - the chemical composition which when ignited by a primer, generates gas. The gas propels
the projectile. Also called powder, gunpowder, powder, or smokeless.

Propellant gases - the gases created by the burning powder that force the projectile from the gun.

Pump-action - is a rifle or shotgun in which the hand-grip can be pump back and forth in order to eject a
spent round of ammunition and to chamber a fresh one.
Rate of trust - the distance required for the rifling to complete one revolution.

Quarles Decision.- Warrentless search is justified only in emergencies (in absence of arrest or consent.)
Recoil - the backward movement of thrust of a gun caused by the pressure of the propellant gases in the
process of pushing the projectile forward through the bore.

Recoil operation - an operating principle of automatic and semi-automatic firearms. When the weapon
is fired, the barrel and breechblock initially recoil together. After traveling a short distance, the barrel
and breechblock unlock and the breechblock continues to travel to the rear, extracting and ejecting the
expended cartridge.

Reference collections - a collection of various types of firearms and ammunition used by the firearms
examiner for the purpose of test firing weapons for identification of ammunition and firearms.

Reload - a cartridge that has been reassembled with a new primer powder, projectile, or other
components. Also, to place fresh ammunition into the firearm.

Revolver - a type of pistol with a revolving cylinder in the breech chamber to hold several cartridges so
that the revolver may be fired in succession without reloading.

Ricochet - the deflection of a projectile after impact.

Rifle - a firearm having rifling in the bore and designed to be fired from the shoulder.

Rifle slug - a single projectile with spiral grooves and hollow base intended for use in shotguns. The
theory of the grooves is that after leaving the gun barrels muzzle, the slug will rotate and this reach its
target much more accurately.

Rifling - is the process of making helical grooves in the barrel of a gun or firearm which imparts a spin to
a projectile around its long axis.

Rim - the flanged portion of the head of a rimfire cartridge, certain types of centerfire rifles and revolver
cartridges and shot-shells. The flanged portion is usually larger in diameter than the cartridge or shot-
shells body diameter and provides a projecting lip for the extractor to engage. In rimfire cartridge, the
rim provides a cavity into which the priming mixture is placed.

Rimfire - is a type of firearm cartridge. It is called a rimfire because instead of the firing pin of a gun
striking the primer cap at the center of the base of the cartridge to ignite it, the pin strikes the base's
rim.
Sabot - a device that ensures the correct positioning of a bullet or shell in the barrel of a gun.
- a device, “shoe" which enables a sub-caliber projectile to be fired in a larger caliber barrel.

Safety - a type of device that locks a weapon to prevent accidental discharge.

Seating lines - the circumferential striae parallel to the axis of the projectile generated on the surface of
the bullet by the cartridge case.

Semi-automatic/Self-loading firearm - is a weapon which perform all steps necessary to prepare the
weapon to fire again after firing assuming cartridges remain in the weapons feed device or magazine.
- a firearm that uses the forces of combustion to extract and eject a
cartridge and to chamber a new cartridge from the ammunition source with each pull of the trigger.

Shot - a spherical pellet used in loading shot-shells or cartridges.

Shot spread - the diameter of a shot pattern.

Shotgun - a smooth-bore shoulder firearm designed to fire shot-shells containing numerous pellets or
sometimes a single projectile.

Shot-shell - a cartridge containing projectile designed to be fired in a shotgun. The cartridge body maybe
metal, plastic, or paper.

Signatures - in forensic ballistics, represents the location of each feature and mark on an image from the
bullet or cartridge case. The acquired signatures can then be correlated with the IBIS correlation engine.
These signatures which are mathematical representations of the images are sent along with compressed
images and demographics to a server for correlation.

Silencer - a tubular device attached to the muzzle of a firearm to reduce the sound of the report.
Single-action - a type of revolver that needs to be cocked before each shot by pulling back the hammer.
Requires the firing mechanism (hammer or firing pin) to be cocked before pressure on the trigger will
release the mechanism.

Skeet shooting - is a recreational and competitive activity where the participants, using shotguns
attempt to break clay discs automatically flung in the air from two fixed stations at high speed from a
variety of angles.

Skid marks (slippage marks) - rifling marks formed on the bearing surface of bullets as they enter the
rifling of the barrel before rotation of the bullets starts. Skid marks are typically produced by revolvers
and have the appearance of a widening of the land impression at their beginning point.

Slippage - mark on the surface of a fired bullet made when the bullet slides along the tops of the lands
on the riflings. Slippage marks appear when the rifling is worn or when a sub-caliber bullet is fired.

Slug - is a heavy lead projectile that may have pre-cut rifling intended for use in a shotgun and often
used for hunting large game.
- a term applied to a single projectile for shot-shells.

Smokeless powder - propellant composed of nitrocellulose (single-base powders) or nitrocellulose plus

nitroglycerine (double-base powders) Smokeless powders contain additives that increase shell life and
enhance performance. They are made in variety of shapes (rods, perforated rods,
spheres, disks, perforated disks, and flakes.

Smooth-bore - is one in which the gun barrel or bore is without a rifling.

Sporting clays - is a form of clay pigeon shooting often describe as a golf with a shotgun because a
typical course includes from 10 to 15 different shooting stations laid out over natural terrain.

Stabilizer - additive to smokeless powder that reacts with acidic breakdown products of nitrocellulose
and nitroglycerine. Diphenylamine and ethyl centrality are common stabilizers.

Stippling - disposition of fragments of gunshot powder residue into the skin as the result of a gunshot
wound of relatively close range.

Striae - in firearms/toolmarks - these are lines or grooves in an object that are characteristics of the
object that produced them and are the basis for an identification.

Sulfur - a non-metallic yellow element. A constituent of black powder, burns easily when in powder
form.
Tattooing - a characteristic pattern in the skin caused by particles of unburned and partially burned
powder from a gun blast at very close range. Also called stippling.

Test bullet - a bullet fired into a bullet recovery system in a laboratory for comparison or analysis.

Test cartridge case - a cartridge case obtained while test-firing a firearm in a laboratory that is to be
used for comparison or analysis.
Test firing - the term used to designate the actual firing of a firearm in a laboratory to obtain
representative bullet and cartridge case for comparison or analysis. Also used to test the functionality of
a firearm.

TNT (trinitrotoluene) - a high explosive used as a component of some priming mixture.

Tracer bullet - a bullet that contains a pyrotechnic component ignited by the powder charge burn,
leaving a visible trail of the flight path.

Trailing edge - the edge of a land or groove impression in a fired bullet that is opposite to the driving
edge of that same land or groove impression. Also called the "following edge" when used in conjunction
with the term leading edge.

Trajectory - the path of a projectile after leaving the muzzle of a firearm.

Trap shooting - is a shotgun shooting activity in which the gunner shoots at clay target discs launch
single or doubly from one location but at various angle into the range field.

Trigger guard - a protective device consisting of a curved framework surrounding the trigger.

Trigger pull - amount of force applied to the trigger of a firearm to cause it to discharge.

Trigger pull gauge - the mechanism used to release the firing pin of a firearm by applying pressure using
a finger.
- instrument used to measure the needed amount of force to be applied to the trigger of
a firearm to cause it to fire.

Twist of rifling - inclination of the spiral grooves to the axis of the bore of a weapon; it is expressed as
the number of calibers of length in which the rifling makes one complete turn.

Velocity - the speed of a projectile at a given point along its trajectory.

Wad, base - a cylindrical component that is assembled into the head end of a shot-shell.

Wad, shot protector - various designs of shot cups made of plastic and designed to reduce pellet
deformation during barrel travel.

Walker test - the original chemical test for the detection of the spatial distribution of nitrates in
gunpowder residue.
Yaw - the angle between the longitudinal axis of a projectile and a line tangent to the trajectory at the
center of gravity of the projectile.

Yaw angle - angle between the axis of a bullet and its trajectory.

Zwilling - European term for a double-barreled shoulder arm with one rifled barrel and one smooth-
bored barrel.
https://criminologyboardexamreviewer.weebly.com/police-photography-definition-of-terms.html

https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.safeta.org/resource/resmgr/imported/GLOSSARY%20OF%20FORENSIC%2
0TERMS.pdf

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/26
7523/FingerprintTerminology.pdf

http://www.forensicsciencesimplified.org/photo/glossary.html

https://criminologyboardexamreviewer.weebly.com/forensic-ballistics-definition-of-terms.html

https://www.bigwas.com/2014/10/forensic-ballistics-reviewer.html