History Main / FluorescentFootprints

* In the ''VideoGame/MetalGear'' series, footsteps can be seen this way with the aid of thermal/night vision goggles, notably in [[VideoGame/MetalGearSolid4 MGS4]], where there is an entire segment based on following footsteps this way. "Whose footprints are these?"

* The ''VideoGame/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.

* This is briefly featured in ''LightNovel/SwordArtOnline'' when Kirito uses a tracking skill to find Sachi.

* Not quite ''footsteps'' but in ''Film/ShortCircuit2'', Johnny Five is able to spot tyre tracks in a similar way.

* 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 hand held 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.

* 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.]]
** 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.
* The ''VideoGame/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, note important items like destructible walls and Ridder trophies, and even shows the active heart rate of an enemy as they go from calm to nervous to terrified.
** In ''[[VideoGame/BatmanArkhamAsylum Asylum]]'', Batman uses several specialized programs in Detective Mode for when he has to follow a trail, such as alcohol vapor, tobacco trails, fingerprints, etc.

* ''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.

* ''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.

* ''VideoGame/StarTrekEncounters'': In one of the early levels, you have to track a spaceship by it's warp trail. Just sweep your sensors through space, and ''swoosh!'' a bright neon green track will be found!

* ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamAsylum'' displays clues this way in Detective Mode.

* Taken UpToEleven with Captaine [=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.

* Not quite ''footsteps'', but in ''Film/ShortCircuit 2'' Johnny Five is able to spot tyre tracks in a similar way.

* ''Series/TheMandalorian''. The Mandalorian's helmet is shown to have this ability, first demonstrated in "Sanctuary".

* ''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 as this trope from his POV.

* In ''[[Videogame/{{Crysis}} Crysis 2]]'', 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.

* ''[[VideoGame/{{Doom}} Doom 3]]'':
-->'''Ethereal Whispering Voice From Nowhere:''' "Follow me!"

* The Trace biochip in ''VideoGame/TheJourneymanProject''.

* In the ''VideoGame/MetalGear'' series, footsteps can be seen this way with the aid of thermal/night vision goggles, notably in [[VideoGame/MetalGearSolid4 MGS4]], where there is an entire segment based on following footsteps this way.
** "Whose footprints are these?"

* ''[[Videogame/{{Phasmophobia}} 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.

* ''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.

[[folder:{{Literature}}]]

* 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.

[[folder:LiveActionTelevision]]
* ''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 as this trope from his POV.
* 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 hand held 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.

* "Senses" mode in ''X2: Wolverine's Revenge''. See the world through Wolverine's enhanced senses, which includes glowing footprints, smells, and mines.
* The Trace biochip in ''VideoGame/TheJourneymanProject''.
* 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.
* 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).
* ''[[VideoGame/{{Doom}} Doom 3]]'':
-->'''Ethereal Whispering Voice From Nowhere:''' "Follow me!"
* 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.
* ''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.
* ''Star Trek: Encounters'': In one of the early levels, you have to track a spaceship by it's warp trail. Just sweep your sensors through space, and ''swoosh!'' a bright neon green track will be found!
* In ''[[Videogame/{{Crysis}} Crysis 2]]'', 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.
* The Siren in ''Videogame/BioShockInfinite'' leaves behind glowing footprints as she moves unseen throughout Emporia.

* ''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.
* ''Videogame/GoldenSunDarkDawn'': Sveta's Track ability works like this, but only sees use once or twice.
* ''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.

* In ''VideoGame/MiddleEarthShadowOfMordor'', the player can track Gollum by going into Wraith mode and following the glowing footprints.
* 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.
* 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.
* Footprints and handprints of the culprit appear this way in the ''Detective Barbie'' games when using the magnifying glass.

[[folder:WebAnimation]]

[[folder:WesternAnimation]]
* ''{{WesternAnimation/Young Justice}}'' has the villain Cheshire have an infrared camera inside her mask.
* 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]]

* ''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 are revealed to have been made by someone who had touched fluorescent paint, but are only visible in the dark or under a fluorescent flashlight.

* ''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 are revealed to have been made by someone who had touched fluorescent paint.