How to Make Clear Impressions Of Hands

PRINTER's ink, especially the kind employed by the police for fingerprints in all cities, is the best means found for making good impressions of hands.

You can also buy ink at any establishment where they sell print materials. At the same place get a gelatine roller, which is generally fitted, in a metal frame with a wooden handle.

Next get a few quires of white-coated paper about the size of an ordinary sheet of typewriting paper. Coated or glazed paper takes the best imprints. When you have obtained these requisites go to any hardware store and get a rubber mat about a quarter to a half inch thick what is called a ‘kneeling mat’ will do very well. These are necessary to make a springy cushion so that the fine lines come out clearly.

Place a sheet of the coated white paper on the upper surface of the rubber mat. Smooth out a small portion of the printers ink by running the gelatine roller over it on a piece of glass.

When all is ready run the gelatine roller over the subject’s left and right hands press them firmly down on the sheet of paper, turn the hand over on the back and with the flat part of the thumb press the paper lightly into the hollow of the palm and wrist, peel off the sheet of paper, starting from the fingers and you will find you have obtained a clear impression of all the lines of the hand.

You may at first find some difficulty with persons who have a dry, acid skin, which may in many cases make the imprints look spotted. This can be got over by first washing the hands you are going to treat with warm water, drying them thoroughly and sprinkling with a light dusting of some powder like talc. If you have not got talc a little chalk will do as well.

There are many ways of removing the printer’s ink from the hands. The simplest and best is to get a small tin of the powder sold at all motor supply stores for cleaning oil and grease off hands, rub this on the hands in hot water and the ink will come off easily.