  CDs and DVDs are forensically important substrates for latent fingermarks.
Upright columnar thin films (CTFs) grown conformally over these substrates were
shown to significantly enhance the visual quality of fingermarks. Enhancement
to maximum possible grade for visual quality occurred, even for the samples
that were developed three days after the fingermarks were placed on them. The
CTFs were deposited by directing a collimated vapor flux of an evaporant
material towards the substrate placed at an angle and made to rotate rapidly.
