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Create a Fingerprint

There may come a time when you need to add something as subtle as a fingerprint to your photographs. In this tutorial, we will learn how to create a fingerprint that is on its own layer, so that it can be overlayed with objects in photos to create the illusion of a fingerprint on that object.

1. Open a blank canvas in Photoshop. Choose 400x400 or which ever canvas size you feel comfortable to make your fingerprint.
2. Create a new layer. Call it "Fingerprint".
3. Select the Eliptical Marquee tool and create an oval selection for the fingerprint.
4. Use the Paint Bucket tool and fill the selection with a grey color.

5. Goto Filter > Artistic > Rough Pastels.
Choose the settings that create the effect below. You may need to tweak the sliders around a bit. Make sure you have Canvas selected.

6. Duplicate the "Fingerprint" layer.
7. With Duplicate layer active, goto Image > Adjustments > Invert.
8. Change the Blending Mode for the duplicated layer to "Color Dodge".
9. Goto Blur > Gausian Blur. Adjust the slider until you get the effect shown below:

10. Merge the duplicate layer with the "Fingerprint" layer by pressing CTRL + E.
11. Goto Image > Adjustments > Brightness/Contrast. Adjust the sliders to get a clearer definition of the lines as shown below:

12. Goto Filter > Sketch > Note Paper. Adjust sliders to get the following effect similar to the image below. Click OK.

13. Goto Filter > Liquify.
14. When Liquify pop-up appears, use a brush size that is not too big or too small. Begin pushing the lines into a circular pattern.

15. Click OK when you're done and you should have the following image:

16. Click CTRL + D to deselect the image.
17. Select the Eraser tool and erase around the edges of the fingerprint.

18. You should now have your fingerprint image that is on its own layer and can be used to place onto objects in a photograph.