It's hard to imagine how one could unwarp them to make levelling possible.

University of Warwick researchers have unveiled a new fingerprint recognition technology, which allows them to "unwarp" distorted prints.

However, the majority of these distortions can be corrected for by collecting a Field Map and using it to unwarp the distortions.

I never shall account it marvelous, That our infirm affection here below Thou mov'st to boasting, when I could not choose, E'en in that region of unwarp'd desire, In heav'n itself, but make my vaunt in thee!

The system allows researchers to "unwarp" any finger print that has been damaged through smudging, uneven pressure or other distortion, and create a clear digital representation of the fingerprint that can then be mapped onto an "image space" of all other fingerprints in a database.