| In today's electronic age, making copies of documents | | | | impresses the ink from the carbon paper to the |
| is as easy as putting the document in a photocopier or | | | | underlying blank sheet of paper. This creates a |
| a scanner. However, there are times when an | | | | "carbon copy" of the original document. You can make |
| electronic means of copying cannot be used. Perhaps | | | | as many as four or five legible copies using this |
| the copy machine or scanner is down or simply not | | | | method as long as there is a carbon sheet between |
| available. Perhaps instant copies of written or typed | | | | each blank sheet of paper. |
| documents need to be made along with the original. | | | | A single piece of carbon copy paper can be used |
| Whatever the reason, there is another solution -- albeit | | | | several times until the impression gets too light to see |
| low-tech--for making copies. | | | | clearly. |
| Have you ever heard of carbon paper? Not often | | | | Carbon paper is still used occasionally for receipts at |
| used in today's modern office and home environments, | | | | point of sale (POS), or for backups when electronic |
| carbon paper can be a great way to make a copy of | | | | POS devices are inoperable. They are still used in law |
| the original document. It won't work for all documents -- | | | | enforcement for making copies of fines and traffic |
| but it will work well for any handwritten or typed | | | | tickets, by individuals who need to make duplicate |
| documents. Carbon copy paper can be used to make | | | | checks, and by banks who issue money orders. It is |
| one or more at the same time the original document is | | | | also used by shipping companies and mail services to |
| created. | | | | make multiple copies of bills, manifest documents, |
| If you are unfamiliar with carbon paper, here's a little | | | | tracking slips, packing slips, etc. |
| overview of what it is. Carbon paper is a specially | | | | In conclusion, we've seen that there is another |
| manufactured piece of paper that has a layer of dry | | | | alternative to photocopying machines and scanners for |
| ink or pigmented coating on one side which is bound | | | | making duplicate copies. While carbon paper is not |
| by wax. | | | | used as widely as it once was, it is still provides a |
| To make a copy, all you have to do is place a piece | | | | useful-- if not low-tech alternative to other copy |
| of carbon paper between the original document and a | | | | methods. Carbon paper has been around for a long |
| blank sheet of paper. As you write or type on the | | | | time, and has seen its heyday, but it is not yet quite |
| original, the pressure exerted by the pen or typeface | | | | ready to go the way of the dinosaur. |
