Prints impressed in a bar of soap are referred to as what type of prints?

Prints impressed in a bar of soap are referred to as plastic prints. This terminology is used in forensic science to describe imprints left in a soft, malleable material. Plastic prints are formed when the surface of the material retains the detail of the ridges and patterns of a fingerprint, effectively capturing the three-dimensional features of that print. The bar of soap acts as a medium that can hold these impressions, making it a clear example of this type of fingerprint recovery.

In forensics, understanding the different classifications of fingerprints is crucial. Latent prints, for example, are typically invisible to the naked eye until they are developed using various techniques; these are not impressed but rather left on a surface by natural oils. Visible prints are those that can be seen directly, such as those made in ink or blood, but they do not require a change in the material itself. Impressed prints is a broader term that can include plastic prints but is not specific to the characteristic types found in softer substances like soap. Thus, identifying the specific nature of the print found in soap as plastic print accurately reflects its three-dimensional characteristics.