Which factor can affect the quality of fingerprints collected?

The quality of fingerprints collected can be significantly influenced by a variety of physical conditions of the individual being fingerprinted. Injuries and diseases can impact the texture, moisture, and overall condition of the skin, which are all critical in the formation of clear and usable fingerprints. For instance, cuts, scars, or skin conditions such as dermatitis can distort or obscure the ridge patterns that are essential for accurate identification. Additionally, conditions such as excessive sweating or dryness can also affect how well the ridges are lifted and captured during the fingerprinting process.

While other factors like time of day, ambient temperature, and color of ink may play a role in specific contexts, they are not as directly linked to the physiological aspects of fingerprint quality as injuries and diseases are. Time of day might influence aspects like the humidity level in an environment, and color of ink can affect visibility, but these are less pertinent than the direct physiological effects that injuries and diseases impose on an individual’s skin. Ambient temperature can impact ink consistency but does not alter the fundamental quality of the fingerprint itself as much as the state of the skin does.