Glass, hard plastic moldings (bare metals are not included) and surfaces treated with paint or varnish.
TREATMENT Powders, Iodine, Small Particle Reagent (SPR) and Cyanoacrylate/fluorescent dyes.
Rough, textured surfaces and grained plastic moldings.
TREATMENT Small Particle Reagent (SPR) or Cyanoacrylate/ fluorescent dyes. Powders are usually unsuitable on these surfaces.
Paper and cardboard (including plaster board) that have not been waxed or plastic coated.
TREATMENT Iodine, Ninhydrin, DFO, Silver Nitrate or physical developer. (Note: powders are generally insensitive to older fingerprints.)
Polyethylene, polypropylene, acetate and laminated paper surfaces.
TREATMENT Iodine, Small Particle Reagent (SPR), Cyanoacrylate/fluorescent dyes and powders. Cyanoacrylate is especially useful on Styrofoam.
Simulated leather and cling film.
TREATMENT Iodine, SPR, Cyanoacrylate and powders.
Untreated, bare metal surfaces— not metal surfaces that have been painted or lacquered.
TREATMENT SPR, powders, Cyanoacrylate/fluorescent dyes and powders.
Unfinished wood surfaces that have not been painted or treated.
TREATMENT Ninhydrin. Use powders on smooth wood and Silver Nitrate or physical developer on light woods.
Items made of wax (such as candles) and wax-coated paper, cardboard and wood surfaces.
TREATMENT Nonmetallic powders and Cyanoacrylate/fluorescent dyes.
Tapes and similar surfaces that are not likely to dissolve in water.
TREATMENT Adhesive side powders.