The short answer

As law enforcement agencies expand AFIS and ABIS enrollment programs, capturing high-quality biometric data has become increasingly critical.

The RealScan-FC is an FBI Appendix F and Appendix P certified palm and tenprint live scanner built for law enforcement. The certification means every fingerprint and palmprint it captures meets the image quality standards established for the FBI's Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS).

Captured images are output in industry standards including WSQ, JPEG 2000, and ISO/IEC 19794-4, ready for AFIS and ABIS integration.

But certification alone is not why agencies choose the RealScan-FC. They also need a scanner that delivers reliable performance and consistently captures high-quality biometric data under real operating conditions.

That is why national police organizations and law enforcement agencies across Japan, the Czech Republic, India, Brazil, Chile, Thailand, Hungary, Germany, South Africa, Italy, and many other countries rely on the RealScan-FC.

The latest hardware revision, V02, introduces practical improvements for more reliable biometric capture, faster workflows, and easier deployment.

The problem we set out to solve

Fingerprint and palmprint capture rarely happens under ideal conditions. During suspect enrollment, operators often face subjects unfamiliar with the capture process and hands that are difficult to position correctly. Capturing high-quality images from dry or worn fingerprints adds another challenge.

These conditions increase capture failures, repeated attempts, and inconsistent biometric records entering AFIS and ABIS systems.

For agencies processing thousands of enrollments, every rejected capture slows operations, reduces throughput, and adds unnecessary workload.

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What changed in RealScan-FC V02

The RealScan-FC V02 retains the same IP64-rated protection, scratch-free optical glass, voice guidance, and foot-switch operation.

V02 builds on that foundation with practical improvements designed to make biometric enrollment more reliable and efficient while simplifying deployment.

1. Built-in heater reduces halo effects

Cold platen surfaces can produce halo effects that reduce ridge clarity during optical capture. The built-in heater warms the platen to its operating temperature and maintains it during operation, reducing halo effects. This helps preserve ridge detail and deliver more consistent image quality.

2. Membrane improves capture on dry skin

Dry skin is one of the most common causes of poor image quality. The optional membrane improves contact between the skin and the platen, allowing ridge detail to remain visible even on dry skin.

This helps operators obtain high-quality images on the first attempt, reducing their effort and enrollment time.

3. Faster data transfer with USB 3.2 Gen 1

Large fingerprint and palmprint images generate large amounts of data. RealScan-FC V02 adopts USB 3.2 Gen 1, providing significantly faster image transfer than the previous USB 2.0 interface.

Faster transfer reduces image transfer time, helping operators continue the capture process with less delay.

The internal testing showed that flat-four capture was approximately 78% faster and lower-palm capture was 80% faster than V01.

4. No driver installation required

Many agencies operate multiple enrollment stations across different offices or correctional facilities. Installing and maintaining dedicated device drivers across every workstation increases deployment time and ongoing maintenance effort.

RealScan-FC V02 supports WinUSB, allowing Windows systems to recognize the device without installing a driver. This simplifies deployment and reduces IT maintenance for agencies, eliminating another source of driver compatibility issues.

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V01 and V02 comparison

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Who it’s built for

National police and law enforcement agencies

Capture high-quality fingerprint and palmprint records for national AFIS and ABIS enrollment during suspect identification and criminal booking.

Agencies operating AFIS and ABIS enrollment programs

Support large-scale fingerprint and palmprint enrollment with FBI Appendix F and Appendix P certified image quality and consistent capture performance.

Correctional facilities

Handle continuous intake operations with reliable biometric capture and consistent performance.

System integrators

Reduce driver installation effort and simplify workstation setup across multiple enrollment stations.

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The bottom line

The RealScan-FC V02 refines a scanner already trusted by law enforcement agencies worldwide with practical improvements for everyday biometric enrollment.

Its enhancements focus on three areas that matter most in the field: reliable biometric capture, faster enrollment, and easier deployment.

Together, these improvements help law enforcement agencies capture high-quality biometric data more consistently while making enrollment systems easier to deploy and maintain.

That is why the RealScan-FC V02 was developed.

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Want to see the RealScan-FC in action? Talk to our team, explore our Criminal Identification solution, or visit the product page for full specifications and documentation.

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