Techniques for generating a gradient characterization for a first fingerprint image are provided. One or more fingerprint feature points are selected from the first fingerprint image. A region is obtained for each of the one or more selected fingerprint feature points. The region is a representation of an area proximate a given fingerprint feature point. Each of the obtained regions is divided into a plurality of sub-regions. A histogram is generated for each of the plurality of sub-regions. For each of the one or more selected fingerprint feature points, the one or more generated histograms are combined into a concatenated histogram. The concatenated histogram is used for identification purposes.