The Effect of the Skin Condition on a Fingerprint Image

Total reflection and light-path separation are the primary methods used to detect fingerprint image. Skin condition and illumination intensity influence the image quality. We investigate the influence of these factors on fingerprint images detected by both methods. With dry skin, the reflection method cannot resolve features necessary for identification, but the light-path separation method can. With wet skin, both methods are effective. For both methods, the optimal illumination intensity depends on the skin condition. The light-path separation method is superior to total reflection method.