What type of fingerprints are actual indentations left in soft materials?

Plastic fingerprints are actual indentations left in soft materials, such as clay, wax, or fresh paint. When a person presses their finger into a pliable substance, the ridges and patterns of their fingerprint are imprinted into that material. This type of fingerprint evidence is unique because it preserves the three-dimensional characteristics of the fingerprint, making it valuable for forensic analysis.

Latent fingerprints are typically invisible to the naked eye and require special techniques to be made visible, such as dusting with powder or using chemical methods. Patent fingerprints are those that are visible, formed when a person touches a surface with a substance on their fingers, like ink or blood. Visible fingerprints refer to prints that can be seen without any enhancement, which can fall under similar characteristics to patent fingerprints. However, plastic fingerprints stand out because they involve actual physical impressions in a medium rather than just the transfer of material.