The Clandestine Art of Dactylography. -SubinSherry

Fingerprints are one of the most popular methods of identification used in modern society. It is well-known today as a form of biometric technology that uses an individual's unique finger patterns to identify them. We often take for granted the incredible arrangements and composition of ridges on fingerprints, but it is actually a highly sophisticated, entertaining and complex field known as Dactylography.

Every individual has their own unique pattern, which makes it possible to accurately and reliably identify them. Now if these fingerprints are each unique in their own way and not identical in anyway to the fingerprints of another person’s, how do we study them? To put it in a better perspective, there are eight different types of fingerprints; the plain arch, tented arch, ulnar loop, radial loop, double loop, plain whorl, central pocket loop whorl and an accidental whorl. Sounds like a lot to take in right? The arch types are one of the rarest in the world with less than 5% of the world population having them. This is mainly due to the absence of deltas and cores.

It sounds odd at first glance to just look at a fingerprint and study its composition. As a dactylographer, it will sound weird to newcomers who don’t really know about this field. However, these studies contribute to society more than think. You use this on a daily basis! From fingerprint identification in forensic laboratories, banking/traveling credentials to the biometrics security on your devices, these patterns and arrangements of friction ridges are recognised.

One of the most common things you can do when you enter the world of dactylography is create a dactylographic manuscript—or a dactylogram. There are several ways in which you can create a dactylogram. Creating a dactylogram requires the creation of six finger systems on a special board. The board should have spaces for each finger and markings that guide you in creating each system. Afterward, one must copy each system onto a special paper using ink, brushes or even a pen. The end product may look like this:

By creating a manuscript, it gives you a much clearer perspective at the true patterns. Analysing fingerprints from cellophanes tapes or an ink stamp on paper is much more complex in which the ridges overload the network of patterns. The dactylogram allows you to identify the true pattern of a fingerprint and whether it fits under the eight types of fingerprint classifications mentioned earlier.

At a much more global scale, it is understandable why dactylography is not a common study. There are deeper advancements into this study such as the Henry Classification system, used by forensic scientists and several investigative bureau agencies to differentiate between fingerprints, that are worth looking into. To dactylographers, fingerprints are what a Mona Lisa is to painters so it is no surprise that I have geeked out about it in this piece. Glancing at a finger is certainly not for everyone but it is undeniably one of the building blocks that society thrives off in both the past and the present.