Effects of JPEG 2000 Image Compression on 1000ppi Fingerprint Imagery

This paper presents the findings of a study conducted to measure the impact of JPEG 2000 compression on fingerprint imagery at various levels of compression. The impact of compression is measured in terms of impact to both Galton and non-Galton based features of a fingerprint by utilizing the professional judgment of trained and seasoned fingerprint examiners. This impact is analyzed by consolidating and quantifying multiple decisions and associating a cost with the different levels of image compression loss incurred during compression. In addition to measuring the perceived visual impact of compression on the aforementioned features of the fingerprint as a result of compression, this paper also examines the impact of compression on the examiner's ability to render identification decisions.