A method for synthesis of fingerprint images is presented. Global features are condensed in a linear model whose parameters are generated according to the statistical distribution of natural fingerprint patterns. When the major types of global patterns are considered independently, these parameters display a normal behavior. Local features are generated applying iteratively a finite state filter to an initial image. Results show that it is possible to control the location of the minutia in constant orientation regions and that variable orientation regions generate minutia on their own.