Abstract: A method for determining if a papillary print is comprised of living human tissue or not, using a papillary print sensor comprising in superposition, a contact surface, an array optical sensor, and a plurality of illuminating devices parallel between them. The method comprises illumination of the papillary print by the illuminating devices forming together, on the contact surface, a light pattern which is uniform along an axis that extends from one side to the other of a detecting surface of the array optical sensor, and acquisition of an image by the array optical sensor, with these steps being implemented at least once; in each image, selection of the pixels corresponding to the valleys or ridges of the print; and using the pixels selected, extraction of an optical characteristic defining the response to illumination, of the material comprising the papillary print.