Abstract: In this paper，the authors study and realize the algorithm of fingerprint enhancement utilizing Gabor filter.The algorithm improves the extraction method of orientation map of fingerprint image and the frequency of ridges.Meanwhile，the fast realization approach of Gabor filters is studied as well.Firstly，the Gabor filters are decomposed into the combination of a number of one-dimensional Gaussian filters which have different parameters in different directions，and subsequently realize these Gaussian filters respectively using recursive method.And finally the application of the fast algorithm of Gabor filters in fingerprint image enhancement is achieved.Experimental results indicate that this method for fingerprint image enhancement can improve the quality of input images quickly and efficiently.