Which type of fingerprint evidence is formed when material from the fingers is transferred onto a surface?

The correct choice is that fingerprint evidence formed when material from the fingers is transferred onto a surface is known as patent fingerprint evidence. Patent fingerprints are visible to the naked eye, as they occur when the fingers come into contact with a substance such as ink, blood, or dirt, leaving a clear imprint on a surface.

This type of evidence is critical in investigations because it can be directly linked to a suspect. Since the fingerprints can be seen without any additional processes, they often provide immediate leads in an investigation.

In contrast, latent fingerprint evidence refers to prints that are not immediately visible to the eye, requiring special techniques like dusting or chemical development to make them visible. Plastic fingerprint evidence involves impressions that are left in a soft material, like wax or clay, which take the shape of the fingerprint. Impression evidence broadly encompasses any material that has a physical mark or imprint, not limited to fingerprints alone. Therefore, patent fingerprint evidence is the correct identification of the transferred material that is visually apparent.