<p>Under certain conditions, metal surfaces undergo chemical passivation or corrosion. By selecting a suitable electrolyte, oxidation processes can be used to visualize latent fingerprints. Latent fingerprints were deposited on clean metal substrates (copper, brass, and aluminium), and an electrolytic method was evaluated using Britton-Robinson buffer at pH values of 2, 7, and 12, with and without methylene blue. The visualization efficiency was evaluated using a stereomicroscope as a function of deposition time, and the developed latent fingerprints were further characterized by SEM. The best contrast was achieved on brass and copper at neutral pH of Britton-Robinson buffer without methylene blue, while for aluminium, under acidic conditions. Methylene blue was effective only under certain conditions; otherwise, it caused staining or blurring of ridge details. This simple and low-destructive method shows the potential for latent fingerprint visualization on metals and offers scope for further optimization in forensic applications.</p> Graphical abstract <p></p>