ABSTRACT
Processing at a crime scene involves three different types of fingerprint impressions: latent, patent, and plastic. A latent print is not visible to the naked eye, which means a person must process the scene and enhance the latent print using black powder or chemicals. A patent print is visible without processing and includes fingerprints left in blood, oil, and dirt. A plastic print is a three-dimensional impression where the friction ridge skin of the finger sinks into a surface, such as window caulk.
