The time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry was used for characterization, visualization and anal. of fingerprints left after the fingers were contaminated with traces of amphetamine and methylenedioxymethamphetamine drugs and with gunshot residues. The photocopy and printer toners as well as inks, paper substrates, gunshot residues and human bones were studied by inductively coupled plasma time-of-flight mass spectrometry with laser ablation. Both techniques were found powerful tools in forensic studies.