Lumicyano
Definition
A proprietary Foster + Freeman formulation that combines a fluorescent CA monomer with standard CA developer, enabling simultaneous development and fluorescent marking in a single fuming step without a separate dye-staining operation.
- Manufacturer
- Foster + Freeman
- Function
- Fluorescent CA monomer combined with CA developer
- Advantage
- Single fuming step, no separate dye stain
- Viewed with
- Alternate light source
Common questions
How does Lumicyano save time over conventional cyanoacrylate fuming?+
Standard CA fuming develops a print in white polymer and then requires a separate dye-staining step, such as basic yellow or rhodamine 6G, plus a rinse to make it fluoresce. Lumicyano builds the fluorescent dye into the fuming chemistry itself, so development and fluorescent marking happen in one step.
Does it remove the need for an alternate light source?+
No. Examiners still need an ALS or forensic light source with a matching excitation wavelength and viewing filter to see the fluorescence Lumicyano produces. It only removes the separate staining step.
Related terms
- 1:1 Macro Photography
- Photography at a reproduction ratio of 1:1 (image sensor size equals subject size); the mandatory standard for all latent fingerprint photography before...
- Alternate Light Source (ALS)
- A device emitting light at selected wavelengths (typically 415 to 535 nm) used to detect biological fluids that fluoresce or absorb light...
- Ardrox
- A commercial fluorescent dye mixture (originally for aircraft-skin crack detection) that fluoresces broadly under 365 nm UV illumination; used as a post-CA...
- Barrier Filter
- An optical long-pass filter placed over the camera lens and worn as goggles by the examiner during ALS examination; blocks the excitation...
- Basic Yellow 40 (BY40)
- A fluorescent dye (excitation 450-490 nm, emission ~530 nm) applied immediately after CA fuming with a simple aqueous rinse to remove excess;...
- Cyanoacrylate (CA) Fuming
- The development of latent prints on non-porous surfaces by exposing the item to ethyl or methyl cyanoacrylate vapour in a humidity-controlled environment;...
- Ethyl Cyanoacrylate (ECA)
- The active monomer in forensic CA fuming products and most consumer Super Glue formulations; undergoes anionic polymerisation initiated by nucleophiles (water, amines)...
- Inherent Fluorescence
- The luminescent signal from latent print residue itself under ALS illumination, without any development agent; primarily from sebaceous components such as squalene...
- Rhodamine 6G
- A fluorescent dye applied as a post-treatment to cyanoacrylate-developed fingerprints; excited at 530 nm (green), it emits at 565-590 nm (yellow-orange), greatly...