What is the primary method for obtaining latent fingerprints from a surface?

The primary method for obtaining latent fingerprints from a surface is lifting prints. Latent fingerprints are impressions left by the natural oils and sweat on a person's fingertips, which are usually invisible to the naked eye. To make these prints visible and obtain them for analysis, investigators typically use a variety of techniques, such as powder dusting or chemical methods.

Once the latent prints are made visible, the actual lifting process involves using special adhesive tapes or lifting sheets to capture the print from the surface. This allows forensic experts to preserve the print for further analysis and comparison with known fingerprints in databases or records.

Other methods mentioned, such as visual inspection, fingerprint analysis, and digital scanning, play different roles in the investigative process, but they do not serve as the primary means for physically obtaining the latent prints directly from surfaces.