Ink Fingerprinting - sometimes called wet fingerprinting or hard-card fingerprinting is when you capture the unique characteristics of the "friction ridges" on an individual's fingerprints through making an impression with ink. These impressions are characterized by the ridges, whorls, loops, and arches. The unique combination of friction ridges serve as a wholly unique biometric identification feature used by the FBI, Various State departments, and other agencies to identify an individual. "Wet Prints" are not really that "wet"- especially with the ink fingerprint pads that Colorado Springs Fingerprinting uses to transfer the ink onto your fingertips and then onto the fingerprinting cards. We use the same professional equipment Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) uses for their non-civil case fingerprinting. We also have treated handwipes to ensure you leave your appointment squeaky-clean. Typically, these ink cards get mailed off to the FBI directly, as part of a request for an FBI Fingerprint-Based Identity History Summary Check- often referred to as a Criminal History Report, a "rap sheet" or simply, a background check. Unless your employer or licensing agency asked you to send the fingerprints directly to their offices, most people will need to initiate a request for FBI fingerprint based "departmental order" directly from the FBI or EDO CJIS website: https://www.edo.cjis.gov/ When mailing in your fingerprint card, you'll include your receipt from the order you placed online with the FBI which will have your order number. At the FBI, your fingerprint "hard-card", called an FD-258, will be associated with your online order. The FBI will, by default, email you your results in what's called a "return letter". You can then forward this return letter containing your background check to your employer or licensing agency. This is the most common and cost efficient way to get an FBI fingerprint-based background check and takes 2-4 weeks for the FBI to process AFTER receiving your fingerprint card in the mail. If you're in need of results faster, we also offer a "Digital Channeling" also know as "Livescan Fingerprinting" service which the FBI processes in 2-5 days. If you were told to send your "wet fingerprints" to another State or licensing agency, then they are likely running a background check themselves using the FBI's system or they are using a State-specific or an industry-specific database to run a background check (such as the Financial Industry's FINRA background check database). Colorado Springs Fingerprinting uses FBI FD-258 cards which are included for free in every fingerprinting service. If we think your prints are not clear enough, we will re-roll you again on a new fingerprinting hard card free of charge until our technicians are confident in the results. If you have a different State-Specific or Industry-Specific fingerprinting card on which you need to record your fingerprints- such as Maryland's CJIS-015, a Security Clearance SF-87 chart (card), or FD-1164, then simply bring it in and our fingerprinting technicians will make your fingerprint impressions on whatever you need and help you mail it out. Despite any examples on this website or the internet, always consult YOUR employer or Agency/Licensing organization for guidance as they will have the most accurate information pertaining to why you are getting fingerprinted, what form to use, how they want you to fill it out, and submit it.