Ink & Roll Versus Digital Fingerprinting
Fingerprints are well-known as a reliable means of personal identification. For over a century fingerprints have been recorded with the traditional ink & roll method. Now live scan fingerprinting technology is replacing the old school ink & roll fingerprinting at a fast pace.
Ink & Roll Fingerprinting Process
A special fingerprint ink pad is used or a thin layer of fingerprinting ink is spread with a rubber roller on a glass or metal surface. For rolled impressions, the individual’s fingers are rolled, nail edge to nail edge, on the ink layer, and then on the paper surface. For flat impressions, the fingers are pressed on the ink layer and then paper with controlled pressure.
The ink & Roll fingerprinting process has the following limitations:
- If the pressure is not controlled or the ink layer is not uniform, the fingerprints may show smudging of ink.
- If the ink is too fluid, it may get into the furrows and cause loss of the ridge details.
- For electronic transmission, the inked fingerprints need to be digitized and encrypted.
- In case some of the fingerprints are not clear, they cannot be retaken on the same fingerprint form, and the whole process needs to be repeated.
- The applicant’s hands get dirty with black ink and need to be cleaned.
Live-Scan Fingerprinting Process
These days, digital fingerprinting is becoming more popular and convenient. A fingerprinting technician simply scans an individual’s fingerprints on the glass plate of a live-scan device and electronically transmits them to the law enforcement agency with the click of a button.
If you are in Canada, you can make an appointment with an RCMP’s accredited and certified fingerprinting agency and get fingerprints taken with a live scan. The process takes 10-15 minutes and is not as messy as the ink & roll method. You can get fingerprints taken and transmitted for all civil purposes including:
- Citizenship
- Immigration
- Employment
- Record Suspension (Pardon)
- Adoption
- Visa
- US Waiver
- Foreign Travel and Employment
- Security Screening
- Child Custody etc.
Once the fingerprints are taken with live-scan, they are encrypted and electronically transmitted to the RCMP via a secure server. The RCMP compares these fingerprints with the fingerprints in the National Repository of Criminal Records and sends out a Certified Criminal Record Check via Canada Post regular mail.
In case, the applicant needs to send a set of fingerprints to the FBI on the standard FBI fingerprint card, the fingerprints can be taken with a live-scan device and printed on the fingerprint card with an FBI-certified printer. The FBI accepts these cards without any issues.
Similarly, if the applicant wants to get a police clearance from another country and that country requires a set of fingerprints on paper, the live-scan fingerprints can be printed on the standard RCMP fingerprint form C-216C and sent there. Most of countries accept fingerprints taken on the standard RCMP fingerprint form.
Benefits of Live-Scan Fingerprinting
-Error-free process.
-No messy ink or long waits.
-Fingerprint capture takes only 10-15 minutes.
-Encryption of digital fingerprints and secures electronic transmission.
-Fingerprint quality is better than the ink & roll method.
-Fingerprints can be retaken to choose the best ones.
-No smudging or smearing of ink.
-No over or under-inking.
So which is the better option?
Live-scan fingerprinting is the better option. In case you received a fingerprints form/card from a nursing board or another organization asking you to get fingerprints taken on that particular form or card, you are left with no option other than to get fingerprints taken with ink & roll method.
How Worldwide Forensic Services Inc can help you?
Worldwide Forensic Services Inc.
Toronto Canada
Worldwide Forensic Services Inc.
55 Town Centre Court, Suite 642
Toronto ON M1P 4X4 Canada
Business Hours:
Mon-Fri: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Saturday: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Sunday: Closed
Phone: 416-915-7139