A non-contact friction ridge capture device is described. The device comprises a device housing, the device housing including an electronics compartment and an illumination shield, with an opening between the electronics compartment and the illumination shield into which a user can insert the user's hand. The device further comprising a camera disposed in the electronics compartment for capturing an image of at least one friction ridge surface on a user's hand. The device further comprises a light source disposed in the electronics compartment, the light source emitting light in the direction of the illumination shield, wherein the peak wavelength of emitted light is in the range of 440 to 570 nanometers (nm). The user's hand is not required to contact the device when the camera captures the image of at least one friction ridge surface on a user's hand.