Test YOUR Skills

Are you as good as our fingerprint people?

This fun test consists of two parts:  Part 1 is Pattern Identification;  Part 2 is Print Comparison.

To help you get started on Part 1, here is a quick lesson on the basic pattern types:

ARCHES:

          1. The Plain Arch - ridges enter on one side of the impression and flow or tend to flow out

                                           the other with a rise or wave in the center.

          2.  The Tented Arch - most of the ridges enter upon one side of the impression and flow or

                                                tend to flow out upon the other side, however the ridges at the center

                                                do not. Tend to form an upthrust or angle at the center of the pattern.

LOOPS:A loop is that type of fingerprint pattern in which one or more of the ridges enter on either

              side of the impression, recurve, touch or pass an imaginary line drawn from the delta to the

              core, and terminate or tend to terminate on or toward the same side of the impression from

              whence such ridge or ridges entered.  Essentials of a loop: Sufficient recurve; a delta; a ridge

              count across a looping ridge.

WHORLS:  The type of pattern in which at least two deltas are present with a recurve in front of each.

                1.  The Plain Whorl - Has two deltas and at least one ridge making a complete circuit,

                                                     which may be spiral, oval, circular or any variant of a circle.  An

                                                     imaginary line drawn between the two deltas must touch a

                                                     recurving ridge in the pattern area.

                2.  The Central Pocket Loop - Has two deltas and at least one ridge which makes a

                                                                    complete circuit.  A line drawn between the two deltas

                                                                    must not touch or cross any recurving ridges within the

                                                                    inner pattern area. 

                3.  The Double Loop - Two separate loop formations, with two separate and distinct

                                                       sets of shoulders and two deltas.

                4.  Accidental - Combination of two different types of patterns, with the exception of the

                                           plain arch, with two or more deltas; or a pattern which possesses some of

                                           the requirements for two or more different types or a pattern which conforms

                                           to none of the pattern definitions.

Think you're ready to give it a try?

Test Your Skills Part 1 Pattern Identification