What materials do I need to fill out an FD-258 card?

You need four items: (1) An FD-258 fingerprint card - either standard or the SlapEFT version with alignment markers, (2) A fingerprint ink pad with black ink (not stamp ink), (3) A smartphone or scanner with 12MP+ camera, and (4) Good lighting - natural or bright indoor light.

What are 'slaps' and why does SlapEFT only capture them?

Slaps are four-finger simultaneous impressions where you press all four fingers flat onto the card at once (not rolled). The FD-258 has three slap areas: Left Four Fingers, Both Thumbs, and Right Four Fingers. The ATF eForms system uses slap prints for quick verification. While rolled prints capture more detail, slaps are sufficient for ATF background checks and result in faster processing and smaller file sizes.

What is the proper technique for rolling fingerprints?

Start with your finger at a 45 degree angle to the card. Roll the finger from one nail edge to the other in one smooth motion. Apply firm, consistent pressure throughout the roll. Do NOT slide or smear - this ruins the print. The goal is a complete print showing all ridge detail. Practice on scrap paper first.

What camera settings should I use to photograph my FD-258?

Use the highest resolution available (12MP or higher). Disable any beauty or smoothing filters. Turn OFF flash and use natural or ambient light instead. Focus on the fingerprint area of the card. For scanning, use minimum 300 DPI (500 DPI recommended) and save as PNG or TIFF format.

What are common reasons the ATF rejects fingerprints?

The ATF may reject fingerprints that are: smeared from sliding instead of rolling, too dark from too much ink (fills in ridge details), too light from not enough ink (incomplete print), showing only partial ridge detail, or have gaps from lifting your finger mid-roll. Take your time to get quality prints.

What resolution and file size requirements apply to fingerprint scans?

For best results: Minimum resolution is 300 DPI, but 500 DPI is recommended. The maximum file size is 12MB per ATF requirements. If using a flatbed scanner, scan at 500 DPI and save as PNG or TIFF format for the best quality.

FD-258 Fingerprint Card Guide | Complete Instructions | SlapEFT

01 Required Materials

A

FD-258 Card

FBI standard fingerprint card

B

Fingerprint Ink Pad

Black ink, not stamp ink

C

Smartphone or Scanner

12MP+ camera recommended

D

Good Lighting

Natural or bright indoor light

TIP: Purchase FBI-approved fingerprint ink pads from Amazon or law enforcement supply stores. Stamp pad ink is too thin and will produce poor quality prints.

RECOMMENDED: Download our special FD-258 card with alignment markers for better results. Our card includes corner markers that help the software automatically align your scan, even from phone photos.

Download slapEFT FD-258 Card (PDF)

Print at 100% scale. Do not resize. Cut along dotted lines.

02 What We Capture: Slaps

Your FD-258 card has two types of impressions. The ATF eForms system only requires the "slaps" (plain impressions) - not the individual rolled prints. Here's what that means:

FD-258 APPLICANT FINGERPRINT CARD

Name, DOB, Address, etc.

ROLLED IMPRESSIONS

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Not needed for ATF eForms

PLAIN IMPRESSIONS (SLAPS) - WHAT WE CAPTURE

Left Four Fingers Pressed flat together

Both Thumbs Side by side

Right Four Fingers Pressed flat together

What Are Slaps?

"Slaps" are four-finger simultaneous impressions where you press all four fingers flat onto the card at once (not rolled). The FD-258 has three slap areas at the bottom:

Left Four Fingers - Index through pinky, pressed flat together
Both Thumbs - Left and right thumb, side by side
Right Four Fingers - Index through pinky, pressed flat together

WHY SLAPS? The ATF eForms system uses slap prints for quick verification. While rolled prints capture more detail, slaps are sufficient for ATF background checks and result in faster processing and smaller file sizes.

Still Fill Out the Rolled Impressions

Even though we only capture the slaps, you should still complete all 10 rolled impression boxes on your FD-258. This ensures you have a complete card if you ever need to mail physical copies for other purposes.

03 Rolling Technique

Preparation

Wash and dry your hands thoroughly - no lotions or oils
Place the FD-258 card on a firm, flat surface
Have paper towels ready for cleanup
Work in a well-lit area

Inking Your Fingers

Press your finger firmly onto the ink pad
Roll from nail edge to nail edge to cover the entire fingerprint area
The ink should be even - not too thick, not too light

Rolling the Print

Start with your finger at a 45 degree angle to the card
Roll the finger from one nail edge to the other in one smooth motion
Apply firm, consistent pressure throughout the roll
Do NOT slide or smear - this ruins the print
The goal is a complete print showing all ridge detail

AVOID THESE MISTAKES:

Sliding instead of rolling (causes smearing)
Too much ink (fills in ridge details)
Too little ink (incomplete print)
Lifting finger mid-roll (creates gaps)

TIP: Use scrap paper to practice your rolling technique before using the actual FD-258 card.

04 Photographing Your Card

IMPORTANT: Card Orientation

Our system automatically detects fingerprint positions, but correct orientation helps ensure accuracy.

Recommended

Demographics & Text Fields

Rolled Impressions

12345

Right Hand

678910

Left Hand

Plain Impressions

L. Four

Thumbs

R. Four

TIP: Position your card so the demographic information (name, DOB fields) is at the TOP, and the fingerprint boxes are at the BOTTOM. This is the standard orientation and provides the most reliable detection.

Camera Settings

Use the highest resolution available (12MP or higher)
Disable any beauty/smoothing filters
Turn OFF flash - use natural or ambient light
Focus on the fingerprint area of the card

Photo Tips

Place card on a flat, dark contrasting surface (not white)
Position camera directly above, parallel to the card
Ensure even lighting with no shadows on the prints
The entire card should be visible in frame with some margin
Check that fingerprint details are sharp and clear
Keep the card flat - avoid any bending or warping

Recommended Resolution

For best results when scanning:

Minimum: 300 DPI
Recommended: 500 DPI
Maximum file size: 12MB (ATF requirement)

TIP: If you have access to a flatbed scanner, scan at 500 DPI for the best quality. Save as PNG or TIFF format.

USING OUR CARD? If you printed our slapEFT FD-258 card, the corner alignment markers will automatically correct for rotation and perspective distortion - even from angled phone photos.

05 Quality Checklist

Before uploading, verify your card meets these criteria:

All 10 fingerprint boxes are filled
Each print shows clear ridge detail
No smearing or sliding marks
Prints are not too dark (over-inked) or too light
The image is in focus and well-lit
The card is flat with no wrinkles or folds

REJECTION REASONS: The ATF may reject fingerprints that are smeared, too light, incomplete, or show only partial ridge detail. Take your time to get quality prints.

06 Ready to Convert

Once you have a quality photo or scan of your completed FD-258 card:

Go to our conversion page
Upload your FD-258 image
Verify the detected fingerprints look correct
Enter your demographic information
Pay $10 and download your EFT file
Upload the EFT to your ATF eForm application

Convert Your FD-258 Now

07 Learn More

Help Center NFA Glossary FD-258 vs EFT Form 1 vs Form 4 Can I Reuse My EFT? DIY Fingerprinting How to Scan FD-258 FAQ

FD-258 Fingerprint Card Guide

Video Tutorial Coming Soon