1. A method for segmenting prints, said method comprising the steps of: providing a print image; optionally pre-processing said print image; thresholding the print image or processed image; detecting at least a plurality of image components of said print image; determining at least one segmentation boundary for said print image; computing the convex hull of said image components; detecting the orientation of said image components; identifying the relative orientation and placement of said image components; deleting image components which are substantially inconsistent with the zone lines of said segmentation boundary; identifying an anchor component and deleting/merging image components in accordance with geometric relationships among the components; assigning a finger number in accordance with said anchor print component; and segmenting said print image in accordance with said segmentation boundary