d to the
easy position. This requires that the thumbs be rolled toward and the
fingers away from the center of the subject's body. This process
relieves strain and leaves the fingers relaxed upon the completion of
rolling so that they may be lifted easily from the card without danger
of slipping which smudges and blurs the prints. Figures 362 and 363
show the proper method of holding a finger for inking and printing a
rolled impression.

The degree of pressure to be exerted in inking and taking rolled
impressions is important, and this may best be determined through
experience and observation. It is quite important, however, that the
subject be cautioned to relax and refrain from trying to help the
operator by exerting pressure as this prevents the operator from
gaging the amount needed. A method which is helpful in effecting the
relaxation of a subject's hand is that of instructing him to look at
some distant object and not to look at his hands. The person taking
the fingerprints should stand to the left of the subject when printing
the right hand, and to the right of the subject when printing the left
hand. In any case, the positions of both subject and operator should
be natural and relaxed if the best fingerprints are to be obtained.

To obtain "plain" impressions, all the fingers of the right hand
should be pressed lightly upon the inking plate, then pressed
simultaneously upon the lower right hand corner of the card in the
space provided. The left hand should be similarly printed, and the
thumbs of both hands should be inked and printed, without rolling, in
the space provided. Figures 364 and 365 show the correct method of
taking plain impressions of the fingers and thumbs.

[Illustration: 362. Proper method of holding finger.]

[Illustration: 363. Proper method of printing rolled impressions.]

[Illustration: 364. Proper method of taking plain impressions of
fingers.]

[Illustration: 365. Proper method of taking plain impressions of
thumbs.]

CHAPTER IX

_Problems in the Taking of Inked Fingerprints_

From time to time various problems arise concerning the taking of
inked impressions. It is believed that these problems can be divided
into four phases:

- Mechanical operation

- Temporary disabilities

- Permanent disabilities

- General

_Mechanical operation_

In order to take good fingerprints, the necessary equipment should be
maintained in a neat and orderly