Line #21 Main/FluorescentFootprints


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4	%% This list of examples has been alphabetized. Please add your example in the proper place. Thanks!
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9	[[quoteright:318:[[VideoGame/PsiOpsTheMindgateConspiracy https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/PsiOpsFootprints_2830.gif]]]]
10	[[caption-width-right:318:[[Literature/TheLordOfTheRings Aragorn]], eat your heart out.]]
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12	Rather than track by means of [[SherlockScan conventional detective skills]], the character uses something akin to AuraVision to track the footsteps of their prey. Even on surfaces or terrain that would never show their passing otherwise, or where their tracks would disappear into those of a crowd. TheEmpath may even be able to tell the emotional and physical condition of the person being tracked by the color of their footprints.
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14	Robots and characters/animals with SuperSenses can get in on this too by using infrared sight to track the heat left in their prey's footsteps. Here the downside is that in extremely hot environments it's useless, or if too much time passes.
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16	This is usually because of the {{Rule of Perception}}: if the trail didn't light up, it [[EditorialSynaesthesia wouldn't be visible to the audience]]. The ScarilyCompetentTracker usually has their tracking and/or SuperSenses depicted this way.
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18	!!Examples:
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20	[[foldercontrol]]
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22	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
23	* In ''Manga/DrStone'', Senku distracts [[DarkActionGirl Homura]] with a flash grenade long enough to grab her, but she easily overpowers him and runs off. Senku then reveals that he only grabbed her to plant scheelite dust on her, allowing him to track her footprints by making them glow with his new invention, a black light.
24	* This is briefly featured in ''Literature/SwordArtOnline'' when Kirito uses a tracking skill to find Sachi.
25	[[/folder]]
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27	[[folder:Films -- Animated]]
28	* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Coco}}'', Pepita can illuminate footprints with her breath which helps to track down Miguel and Hector.
29	* Taken [[ExaggeratedTrope Up To Eleven]] with Captain [=DuBois=] of ''WesternAnimation/Madagascar3EuropesMostWanted'', who not only can see the tracks of animals but colorful afterimages of their whole bodies as they re-enact their last movements.
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32	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
33	* Not quite ''footsteps'' but in ''Film/ShortCircuit2'', Johnny Five is able to spot tyre tracks in a similar way.
34	* In a deleted scene in ''Film/TRONLegacy'', Rinzler uses this to determine the heroes fled on a Light Train.
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37	[[folder:Literature]]
38	* In Creator/HarryTurtledove's ''Literature/DarknessSeries'' an IneptMage trying to hide his squad's tracks in the snow instead makes them glow in the dark.
39	* In the ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' novels, Angua in her wolf shape sees the world through a sort of synesthesia: smells show up as different trails of colors, which she then follows.
40	[[/folder]]
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42	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
43	* Michael and Fi in ''Series/BurnNotice'' found infrared paint a thief planned to use to retrace their footsteps after they stole an item and shut off the power in the building. [[spoiler:This turned out to be a diversion that the real thief used to frame a patsy.]]
44	* A variant in a ''Series/TheManFromUncle'' episode. One agent sprays the soles of his shoes with a chemical before carefully walking through a minefield with a handheld detector. His partner who lacks a detector uses a pair of special goggles to see the ultraviolet footprints left by the first agent and walks in his footprints to also safely pass through the mines.
45	* ''Series/TheMandalorian'''s helmet is shown to have this ability, first demonstrated in "Sanctuary".
46	* ''Series/{{V 1983}}'': The Visitors use a ScarilyCompetentTracker to track down LaResistance members. He wears a [[GogglesDoSomethingUnusual fold-down eyepatch]] that makes their footprints appear from his POV.
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49	[[folder:Toys]]
50	* ''Toys/SuperThings'': Spybulb’s power allows his light to reveal the tracks of anyone who’d recently walked across whatever ground or floor his light is pointed at, with the tracks taking the form of luminescent footprints.
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53	[[folder:Video Games]]
54	* In ''VideoGame/ANNOMutationem'', during some side-missions, Ann can use the [[EverythingSensor Grom System]] to scan the area to follow a footprint trail and find who left it.
55	* On tailing missions in ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedII'' and ''[[VideoGame/AssassinsCreedBrotherHood Brotherhood]]'' you can turn on Eagle Vision to have a glowing trail appearing after the target you're trailing. There's also the mystical red footprints in modern-day Monterriggioni in ''Brotherhood''. The red trail is [[spoiler:where a bleeding Ezio entered the villa after he was shot.]]
56	** WordOfGod [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QoEt3F-RYg states]] that the footprints in modern-day Monterriggioni were simply put there to lead lost players back to the hideout; the red color (which led to some WildMassGuessing by fans) was simply an oversight.
57	* The ''Franchise/BatmanArkhamSeries'' has this as one of the staple components in the Dark Knight's arsenal, referred to as "Detective Mode". It allows the user to see enemies through walls and note important items like destructible walls and Ridder trophies. It also shows the active heart rate of an enemy as they go from calm to nervous to terrified.
58	** In ''[[VideoGame/BatmanArkhamAsylum Asylum]]'', Batman uses several specialized programs in Detective Mode when he has to follow a trail, such as alcohol vapor, tobacco trails, fingerprints, etc.
59	*** For owners of the [=PS3=] version and the ''Return to Arkham'' remaster, the Joker is available as a playable character in Challenge Mode and possesses a pair of X-ray glasses that serve this purpose in Predator challenges. However, in contrast to Detective Mode, these must be selected in the gadget wheel, and when in use, Joker stands completely still and looks through a first-person perspective.
60	** In ''[[VideoGame/BatmanArkhamCity City]]'', in addition to Batman, Robin, and Nightwing's Detective Mode, Catwoman possesses her own version of this, called Thief Vision. It isn't as advanced as Detective Mode, only showing her where enemies are through walls and, for a specific quest, indicating [[spoiler:which enemies possess a piece of the loot Two-Face stole from her]].
61	** In ''[[VideoGame/BatmanArkhamKnight Knight]]'', towards the mid-point of the story, the Arkham Knight's Militia begins deploying specialists that use tracking technology allowing them to detect the signal generated by using Detective Mode; long periods of usage risk Batman's discovery. This can be turned into an advantage in a number of ways, such as using the Disruptor gadget to cause the tech's activation to neutralize its user or, more amusingly, [[StealthHiBye standing right behind the specialist and letting Batman be counter-detected, whereupon the soldier is utterly baffled]].
62	* The Siren in ''Videogame/BioShockInfinite'' leaves behind glowing footprints as she moves unseen throughout Emporia.
63	* A ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty'' mainstay, the Tracker perk, allows you to notice where the enemies passed through in the last 60 seconds.
64	* In ''VideoGame/Crysis2'', one of Stealth modules for the Nanosuit is the Tracker, which displays recently-made footprints of enemies. In multiplayer, it can be upgraded to display the direction the enemy was walking, and then upgraded again to display the footprints almost immediately after they appear.
65	* Footprints and handprints of the culprit appear this way in the ''VideoGame/DetectiveBarbie'' games when using the magnifying glass.
66	%% Needs Context * ''VideoGame/Doom3'':
67	%% -->'''Ethereal Whispering Voice From Nowhere:''' "Follow me!"
68	* One quest in ''VideoGame/DragonQuestVII'' requires the heroes to [[InvokedTrope Invoke]] this by collecting some glowing moss and spreading it on the feet of a monster so that they can track it to its hideout.
69	* ''VideoGame/DukeNukem3D'' level "Rabid Transit": in a certain area, you can use your night vision goggles to see big bearpaw footprints (that lead you to a secret). The message "TELLTALE FOOTPRINTS" also becomes visible nearby.
70	* ''Videogame/{{Evolve}}'' uses this on the monster's footprints, allowing hunters without more specialized gear to track the monster. The monster can also use this to see the hunters' tracks while smelling, allowing it to track down fleeing hunters or locate cloaked ones.
71	* ''Videogame/GoldenSunDarkDawn'': Sveta's Track ability works like this, but only sees use once or twice.
72	* Agent Norman's [[GogglesDoSomethingUnusual ARI]] in ''VideoGame/HeavyRain'' highlights the footprints this way.
73	* ''VideoGame/HorizonZeroDawn'': Justified because Aloy is wearing an AugmentedReality device called a Focus that can highlight the tracks of a scanned machine or creature, letting her see its patrol path and unerringly follow it.
74	%% Needs Context * The Trace biochip in ''VideoGame/TheJourneymanProject''.
75	* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess'' uses a floating colored fog of scent which you track using your wolf's senses. It also prevents you from taking in much of the scenery.
76	* In ''VideoGame/LuigisMansionDarkMoon'' and ''VideoGame/LuigisMansion3'', Luigi can use the [[SeeTheInvisible Dark-Light Device]] to track the pawprints of the ghost dog Polterpup and, in the latter game, the ghost cat Polterkitty.
77	* In the ''VideoGame/MetalGear'' series, footsteps can be seen this way with the aid of thermal/night vision goggles, notably in [[VideoGame/MetalGearSolid4GunsOfThePatriots MGS4]], where there is an entire segment based on following footsteps this way. "Whose footprints are these?"
78	* In ''VideoGame/MiddleEarthShadowOfMordor'', the player can track Gollum by going into Wraith mode and following the glowing footprints.
79	* Invoked by the Scoutflies in ''VideoGame/MonsterHunterWorld'', a swarm of tiny bioluminescent insects carried by hunters to track their quarry. They trail out along a monster's scent and illuminate footprints and other signs of their passage.
80	* A variation exists in the ''VideoGame/MountAndBlade'' series -- in the world map, tracks of NPC parties are depicted as bright arrows, giving more information on the party leaving the tracks on mouseover (the information available depends on your or your highest-skilled party member's tracking skill).
81	* In ''VideoGame/MySimsAgents,'' your magnifying glass has the power to make ''regular'' footprints (among other things) that would otherwise be rendered invisible into highly visible, colorful trails for you to follow.
82	* In ''VideoGame/Persona5'', the Third Eye is a special ability that, when activated, highlights enemies(the color determines how strong or weak they are in comparison to you), usable objects and otherwise hidden things, among others. Using this ability can highlight footprints at a few points in Kamoshida's Castle, leading you to the switches that you need to pull.
83	* ''VideoGame/{{Phasmophobia}}'' and the act of finding fingerprints (as a clue to identify the type of ghost you're dealing with) and footprints is basically this.
84	* A variant in ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneySpiritOfJustice'', during the last cases Apollo uses Ema's fluorescent around the crime scene and finds a trail in the room leading towards the sealed coffin at the center.
85	* In ''VideoGame/PsiOpsTheMindgateConspiracy'', AuraVision allows you to see footprints leading to secret rooms and secret messages.
86	* ''VideoGame/RainbowSixSiege'' has Jackal, whose special gadget highlights and scans enemy footprints to expose their owner's location.
87	* The Mask of Kan'ami in ''VideoGame/TheSecretWorld'' can see the trails of people who are feeling strong emotions. These emotion trails are shown as brightly colored ribbons of light.
88	* ''VideoGame/SkinwalkerHunt'': If your cursor is over a Skinwalker footprint, it'll glow orange-ish yellow.
89	* ''VideoGame/SpiderMan3'': In the first Daily Bugle mission, Spider-Man is able to use his own senses to follow the footprints of the lizard men, making them appear as such.
90	* ''VideoGame/StarTrekEncounters'': In one of the early levels, you have to track a spaceship by its warp trail. Just sweep your sensors through space, and ''swoosh!'' a bright neon green track will be found!
91	* In ''VideoGame/TheWitcher3WildHunt'', [[ScarilyCompetentTracker tracking]] a quarry for a quest often involves following a trail illuminated by focusing [[PlayerCharacter Geralt]]'s [[SuperSenses Witcher Senses]].
92	* "Senses" mode in ''VideoGame/X2WolverinesRevenge''. See the world through Wolverine's enhanced senses, which includes glowing footprints, smells, and mines.
93	[[/folder]]
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95	[[folder:Web Animation]]
96	* ''WebAnimation/ElementsOfJustice'' has a more justifiable version of this trope in the first mystery case: at the crime scene for a murder, a trail of footprints is revealed to have been made by someone who had touched fluorescent paint, but it is only visible in the dark or under a fluorescent flashlight.
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99	[[folder:Western Animation]]
100	* ''WesternAnimation/Ben10UltimateAlien'': This is how Wildmutt sees Prisoner 775's footprints in [[Recap/Ben10UltimateAlienS2E12PrisonerNumber775IsMissing Prisoner 775 is Missing]].
101	* In ''WesternAnimation/KingOfTheHill'' episode ''The Exterminator'', Dale finds a rat by detecting urine trail through a bright light.
102	* ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse'': One of Eberwolf's spells turns his eyes into spotlights that reveal footprints.
103	* Used in the 1969 ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooWhereAreYou'' episode "Kooky Space Kook."
104	* In the ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' WesternAnimation/TreehouseOfHorror segment, the town holds a meeting regarding pranksters who have been pulling tricks through a magic stopwatch. Mayor Quimby reveals he covered the room with ultraviolet powder to find out the culprits and turns off the light to reveal glowing footprints leading to Bart and Milhouse.
105	* In ''WesternAnimation/TronUprising'', Dyson is able to create fluorescent footprints just like Rinzler. Which is a brilliant bit of an homage [[spoiler:considering his former boss Tron becomes Rinzler]].
106	* ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'' has the villain Cheshire have an infrared camera inside her mask.
107	[[/folder]]
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109	[[folder:Real Life]]
110	* When walking or driving, you actually warm up the ground a little bit as you pass by. An infrared camera can actually pick this up. Googling for infrared footprints can get you a lot of examples.
111	[[/folder]]

Context Main / FluorescentFootprints