What are the two preferred formats for photographing fingerprints?

The two preferred formats for photographing fingerprints are RAW and TIFF. RAW format is advantageous because it captures the unprocessed data from the camera sensor, allowing for higher fidelity images with more detail and better editing capabilities. This is particularly important in fingerprint analysis where clarity and detail are crucial. TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) is a high-quality format that supports lossless compression, making it ideal for storing images that require precision and retention of all visual information. The combination of these two formats ensures that the images retain the integrity required for forensic examination and analysis while allowing for flexibility in editing and presentation.

The other options, while they represent valid image formats, do not provide the same level of detail retention and editing flexibility that RAW and TIFF offer, which is critical in the context of fingerprint photography used in law enforcement.