What is actually lifted during the lifting process of latent prints?

The correct answer focuses on the lifting of the powder grains during the process of capturing latent prints. When latent prints are developed on surfaces, fingerprint powder is applied to adhere to the oils and moisture present in the print. The primary purpose of using powder is to make the invisible print visible. When a lift is taken using tape or another medium, what is captured is essentially the powder that has adhered to the latent print, creating a tangible representation of the print.

The other options do not accurately reflect the process. The latent image itself is not lifted; rather, it is the powdered representation of that image that is captured. While the moisture and oils are responsible for attracting the powder, they are not lifted directly, as they are essentially part of the latent print itself and not a separate entity. The surface beneath the print may have characteristics that help in understanding the print, but it is not what is lifted during the process. Thus, powder grains are the crucial components that are lifted to preserve the latent print for further examination.