An automatic fingerprint system includes an optical sensor having a first light source that provides a collimated beam for interrogating a first sample surface, and a camera including a lens and a photodetector array having a camera field of view (FOVCAMERA) large enough to image the first sample surface. The camera is critical angle positioned relative to the first light source to receive specular reflection (glare) from the first sample surface to generate image data from the glare. The first light source and camera have substantially equal and opposite numerical apertures (NAs). A computer or processor that includes reference fingerprint templates receives a digitized form of the image data, and includes data processing software for (i) comparing the image data to reference fingerprint templates to determine whether the image data includes at least one fingerprint and (ii) for generating a fingerprint image if the fingerprint is determined to be present.