What type of imprint is formed when footwear or tires transfer dry residue to a surface?

The correct answer focuses on the concept of what occurs during the transfer of dry residue from footwear or tires to a surface. A positive imprint occurs when the actual pattern of the shoe or tire tread is left behind on a surface due to the presence of this dry material. This type of imprint effectively captures the unique features of the tread and is usually indicative of the object that made it, such as the specific shoe or tire.

In contrast, a negative imprint would represent a situation where an impression is left in a softer material (like sand or mud) that provides a recessed or backwards representation of the pattern instead of the pattern itself. Wet origin refers to imprints made when moisture is involved, such as a footprint in a puddle, which does not apply to dry residue impressions. Contaminated could imply a smear or alteration of the original impression due to other substances mixing with the residue, which also does not accurately describe an imprint formed specifically by dry residue. Therefore, the formation of a positive imprint is the correct identification in this context, as it reflects the direct transfer of a dry pattern onto a surface.