AbstractA depletion series was used to evaluate the relative sensitivity of a number of fluorescent powder compositions on a non porous surface. A set of exemplar finger impressions of one particular finger successively impinged on to aluminium foil without recharging the sweat secretions was considered in this investigation. Amongst the studied fluorescent dye based compositions, Rhodamine B and Fluorescein based compositions were adjudged to give best results in terms of ridge clarity of depletion marks.