Image Processing Software Tools for the Automated Segmentation of Finger, Slap, Palm, and Hand Images

Aware’s SequenceCheck software includes image analysis and processing tools that perform a variety of automated image segmentations. They are designed to automate the creation of derivative image types from a particular livescan or card scan platform, and can be used to facilitate the efficient extraction of multiple fingerprint images from a single slap impression.

Palm and handprint images are becoming increasingly useful tools complementary to fingerprints for criminal identification applications. Just as electronically stored, forensic-quality fingerprint images have been indispensable in the identification of thousands of individuals, the additional information captured in palm and handprints can significantly add to their effectiveness. Hand and palm images are considerably larger than fingerprints sets, and thus require more storage space; yet it is still critical to compress these images as quickly and efficiently as possible without sacrificing image quality.

In addition, SequenceCheck can be used to automatically generate four individual fingerprint images by scanning a single "slap" image of all four fingers simultaneously, or two thumbprints from a simultaneous scan of both thumbs. This can dramatically reduce the time required to capture an entire set of ten flat fingerprints.
Aware SequenceCheck software can be used for a variety of segmenting functions:

Fingers
Extracts an image of the fingerprint area above the first inter-digital crease from a whole-finger image. Images are properly framed and background noise, fogging, and shadow artifacts are removed.

Thumbs
Segments an image of two thumbs into individual flat thumbprint images and identifies the thumbs as left or right. Images are properly framed and background noise, fogging, and shadow artifacts are removed.

Slaps
Extracts an image of the fingerprint area above the first interdigital crease of each of the four fingers in a "slap" image. SequenceCheck properly distinguishes between small, ring, middle, and index fingers and identifies them. Images are properly framed and background noise, fogging, and shadow artifacts are removed. NISTPack can be used to submit the fingerprint images to an AFIS as a Type 4 fingerprint set record, or a Type 14 record for 1000 ppi images.

Hands/Palms
For handprints and palmprints, SequenceCheck automatically segments and extracts each finger image. NISTPack can be used to include the images in Type 15 records for submission to an AFIS.

SequenceCheck can be used to collect a full set of ten flat fingerprint images from just three scanned impressions:
once slap impression of the four fingers of each hand, and one image including both thumbs

Features and Functions

• Segmentation and extraction of fingerprint images from handprint images
• Fully compatible and complementary to NISTPack, SequenceCheck, QualityCheck, and Aware WSQ
• Facilitates use of handprints to check for proper sequence of rolled prints Useful for efficient scanning of multiple flat fingerprints
• Fully standards-compliant read, write, edit, and validation of ANSI/NIST EFTS Type 4, Type 14, and Type 15 records