Putty vs Ink Impressions: Choosing how to capture a loved one’s fingerprint.

Two Ways to Honour. One Intention: Love.

When you lose someone you love, it’s the little things you miss most. The sound of their voice. The way they held your hand. The feeling of being close.

At Still by Coveted, we help families hold on to those small but powerful details by engraving fingerprint impressions onto jewellery - creating a meaningful memorial piece. The impressions we work with are created using ink and these are often taken with the help of your funeral director, but there is another option too. Putty impressions, available through our sister brand Coveted, offer a different way to preserve touch.

Both options are beautiful. Both create a lasting memory. But they serve different purposes. This guide is here to help you understand the difference and to explain why Still works with ink impressions only.

Putty Impressions

Crafted and cast by Coveted

Putty impressions are made by pressing a fingerprint, or another meaningful texture, into a soft, skin-safe material. It is a tactile, hands-on process that captures every ridge and curve with physical depth.

These impressions are cast directly into metal by Coveted to create heirloom-quality jewellery.

Why some families choose putty:

• It feels interactive. Taking the impression can be a moment of presence and connection.
  

• The result is textured and tangible. You can feel the detail in every piece right down to the flaws and wrinkles and scars.
  

• The Coveted Impression Kit is thoughtfully designed and beautifully presented, making the process feel like a gift in itself.
  

• Putty can capture more than fingerprints. It can capture baby footprints, seashells, pet noses or paws, heirloom crests on a signet ring, fabric textures or even the texture of a sentimental dried flower.
  

• Each piece is cast from the original putty impression, making it incredibly personal.
  
  

A few things to keep in mind:

• You need to take the impression before burial or cremation, so it does require some advance planning (e.g. ordering the kit on overnight courier).
  

• The master putty impression is physical so it must be kept safe. Unlike ink impressions which can be uploaded and shared easily between family members.
  

To summarise putty; Coveted’s Impression Kit is a beautiful and gentle way to capture a loved one’s impression if you have the luxury of time.

Ink Impressions

Engraved into keepsakes by Still

At Still, we create fine memorial jewellery using ink fingerprint impressions. These can be taken with a fingerprint pad, funeral documents, or even a photo of an existing print.

Once we receive your image, we carefully digitise and enhance the fingerprint to create a high-resolution engraving.

Why ink is a beautiful option:

• It is simple to create. No special kit or materials are required.

• Ink impressions can be taken at any time, even after your loved one has passed.

• You can use an ink impression you already have. Many families discover this later on.

• The digital file can be shared with family, so multiple people can create keepsakes from the same print.

• Our engraving process captures the detail in a way that is delicate and timeless.
  
  

A few differences to note:

• Your loved one did not physically press into the final piece.

• The process is less interactive than using putty.

• Ink does not come with the gift-like presentation or the upfront cost of a putty kit, but the results are still deeply meaningful.
  
  

To summarise Ink: When time is of the essence making a simple but effective ink impression ensures you have that lasting impression ready create with when you are ready.

Two Ways to Honour. One Intention: Love.

There is no right or wrong choice. Only what feels right for you.

Putty impressions, available through Coveted, are ideal when you are able to plan ahead. They capture a three-dimensional imprint that can include more than just fingerprints. Ink impressions, which we use at Still, are perfect when timing is limited or if you already have a print on hand.

Whichever path you take, we will honour it with care and help you hold on to something real. A piece that brings comfort. A piece that keeps them close.