When fingerprinting, how should ink be used?

When fingerprinting, using ink sparingly is important for several reasons. A light application of ink ensures that the fingerprint pattern is clear and well-defined without excessive ink blurring the details. Too much ink can lead to smudging, making it difficult to identify the ridge patterns accurately, which is critical in forensic science and law enforcement. Additionally, using a minimal amount of ink reduces the likelihood of transferring excess ink to the fingers or the fingerprint card, which can result in unclear or unusable prints.

In practicing fingerprinting techniques, the goal is to achieve a professional-quality impression that can be easily analyzed. Therefore, using ink thoughtfully helps produce a clean and sharp fingerprint, crucial for identification purposes.