Abstract: An electro-optic palm scanner system employing a non-planar platen for obtaining high quality palmprints and heelprints. The platen includes an upper contact surface having a convex portion for contacting a palm to be imaged, and a planar portion for contacting the heel of the hand. The imaging system includes an optical carriage movably secured to a frame. The carriage supports a light source, lens system, and light detector. Total internal reflection occurs when light is incident on the platen at an angle greater than a critical angle of the platen, providing identifying information. The detector may include a linear CCD array which detects ridges and valleys in the hand to obtain image data. The image data is processed and the corresponding print of the heel or hand may be displayed on a video screen, and stored. The images of the palm and heel may be merged to form a single image.