Spectroscopic and Photophysical Studies of Fingerprint Dusting Compositions

The two fingerprint dusting compositions considered here were based on fluorescent brilliant blue R and acridine orange stains. The bonding material in each case was a combination of silica gel and hydrated magnesium silicate. Spectral and photochemical studies revealed that the compositions were not merely physical mixtures of bonding material and colorant but the constituents interact chemically with each other, profoundly affecting the quality of developed prints.