A method and an apparatus for distinguishing a latent fingerprint is provided to prevent a fingerprint recognition apparatus from mis-recognizing a latent fingerprint as a fingerprint of a biomass due to a fingerprint residual on an imaging surface of an optical fingerprint input apparatus. The selectively-actuated punching processes are performed in one operation by selectively actuating each of the punching units between the active state and the non-active state. A second switching part is provided for each second liquid crystal cell positioned at an ith horizontal line to be controlled by the ith gate line.