Ink & Roll Versus Digital Fingerprinting
Fingerprints have long been recognized as a reliable means of personal identification. For over a century, the traditional ink and roll method was the standard for recording fingerprints. However, advances in technology are rapidly transforming the landscape of fingerprinting with the introduction and widespread adoption of live scan fingerprinting technology. This new method is revolutionizing how fingerprints are captured, offering significant improvements in efficiency, accuracy, and convenience.
Ink & Roll Fingerprinting Process
A special fingerprint ink pad is used, or a thin layer of fingerprinting ink is spread on a glass or metal surface with a rubber roller.
For rolled impressions the individual’s fingers are rolled, from nail edge to nail edge, on the ink layer. Each finger is then rolled on the fingerprint card or paper, using controlled pressure to avoid smudges and ensure complete coverage of the fingerprint pattern.
For flat impressions the fingers are pressed flat against the ink layer. The inked fingers are then pressed on the paper surface with controlled pressure, ensuring a clear, flat impression without rolling.
The ink & Roll fingerprinting process has the following limitations:
- The manual process can be slow, particularly when large numbers of fingerprints need to be recorded.
- Errors such as smudges, incomplete prints, and inconsistent pressure can lead to poor-quality fingerprints that may be rejected or require reprints.
- 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.
- Storing and managing physical fingerprint cards can be cumbersome, requiring significant space and being vulnerable to damage or loss.
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.
The fingerprints can also be printed on a fingerprint form for sending them to different countries to obtain a police clearance certificate.
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?
Fore sure the 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 is one of the leading fingerprinting agencies in Canada.
Equipped with the world’s best live-scan device by Crossmatch Technologies and Ink & Roll fingerprinting station, Worldwide Forensic Services Inc can take your fingerprints with a live scan machine or ink.
In case you are outside of Canada and need Canadian police clearance, Worldwide Forensic Services Inc can also digitize inked fingerprints and transmit them to the RCMP via a secure server.