Exemplary embodiments of method and apparatus for processing the images of fingerprints can be provided. For example, aligned images can be subjected to a tessellation process, whereas each image can be partitioned into a number of regions. Within each region at least one parameter associated with the ridges can be measured and stored. Such exemplary parameter can include, e.g., the prevailing ridge orientation, the average ridge separation and the phase of the ridges. The data can be projected and stored in a multidimensional coordinate system, whereas the representations of any two data can be separated by an amount corresponding to the dissimilarity of these data.