Carbon Paper

Carbon Paper

Carbon paper is a thin sheet of paper coated with a layer of carbon or other pigmented substance that can be transferred to another surface when pressure is applied. This type of paper was invented in the early 1800s and became widely used in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as a way to make copies of written or typed documents. Carbon paper was particularly useful before the advent of photocopiers and other modern copying technologies. To use carbon paper, a sheet is placed between the original document and a blank sheet of paper. When pressure is applied to the original document, the carbon layer on the carbon paper transfers to the blank sheet, creating a copy of the original. Carbon paper was commonly used for making copies of business documents, receipts, and other paperwork. While carbon paper is not as widely used today as it once was, it is still used in some applications. For example, it is still used in some legal and financial transactions where multiple copies of a document are required. Carbon paper is also used in some art and craft projects, as well as in the creation of stencils for screen printing.

sheet, carbon layer, copies, technology, legal

— Thomas Smith

CITATION : "Thomas Smith. 'Carbon Paper.' Design+Encyclopedia. https://design-encyclopedia.com/?E=371132 (Accessed on September 05, 2025)"