Due to the activities, vocation, or age of some people, their damaged and worn fingerprint ridges or lack of hydration of the skin can make it difficult to obtain legible fingerprints. EZ Scan Ridge Enhancer was developed to enhance ridge detail in these instances using a new proprietary rehydration formula. Once applied to the fingers with the built-in foam applicator pad, EZ Scan Ridge Enhancer rehydrates the skin and expands the friction ridges—producing improved detail in subsequently recorded fingerprints. It works equally well with traditional fingerprint inking methods and live scan apparatus and won’t leave any residue on ink surfaces or a live scan platen glass. EZ Scan may also be used to restore desiccated, mummified fingers on cadavers. In cases where finger tips are dehydrated, one or two applications of EZ Scan will restore the ridges enough to permit gaining legible prints. Mummified fingers can be soaked in EZ Scan solution to restore ridge detail. Once complete, fingers can be processed through casting or conventional cadaver fingerprint taking methods.