what are latent fingerprints

Latent fingerprints are impressions of the friction skin of the fingers or palms of the hands that have been transferred to another surface. They are made of the sweat and oil on the skins surface and are invisible to the naked eye, requiring additional processing such as dusting, fuming, or the use of chemicals to be seen. Latent fingerprints are an important tool in criminal investigations due to their persistence and uniqueness. They can be detected and captured using various methods such as magnetic and fluorescent powders, alternate light sources, superglue processing, dye stain techniques, and computerized digital imaging. The value of latent prints lies in the fact that everyone has different fingerprints, and fingerprints remain the same from birth until death, allowing for comparisons to known inked impressions to establish identifications with certainty.