What Is Carbonless Paper? 2 Ply and 3 Ply Rolls Explained
The DiscountTillRolls.ie TeamCarbonless paper makes an instant copy without a carbon sheet. The back of the top sheet is coated with tiny capsules of colourless ink, and the front of the sheet below has a coating that reacts with it. When a printer pin or pen presses down, the capsules burst and the image appears on the copy underneath. A 2 ply roll gives two copies (usually white and yellow), and a 3 ply roll gives three (usually white, pink and yellow).
Carbonless rolls are bond paper, so they are used in impact printers with an ink ribbon, mostly in kitchens and trade counters.
In this guide
- How does carbonless paper work?
- What do 2 ply and 3 ply mean?
- What are the colours for?
- Where are carbonless rolls used?
- What makes a good carbonless roll?
- FAQ
How does carbonless paper work?
Each layer has a job:
- Top sheet: plain on the front, where the ribbon prints. Its back is coated with micro-capsules of colour former.
- Middle sheet (3 ply only): coated on both sides. The front receives the image from above, and the back passes it on to the sheet below.
- Bottom sheet: coated on the front with a developer that turns the released colour former visible.
That is why the copies are sometimes called "NCR", after the company that popularised "no carbon required" paper. The original print comes from the ink ribbon, and the copies come from pressure alone.
White, pink and yellow carbonless bond paper for impact printers.
What do 2 ply and 3 ply mean?
| Roll | Copies | Usual colours | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 ply | 1 | White | Single kitchen docket, older tills |
| 2 ply | 2 | White and yellow | Kitchen plus pass, customer plus shop copy |
| 3 ply | 3 | White, pink and yellow | Multi-station kitchens, trade counters, accounts |
Strictly speaking, 1 ply is not carbonless, it is just plain bond. It is on the list because it runs in the same printers.
What are the different colours for?
Colours make it obvious who keeps which copy. A common setup in a restaurant is white for the chef, yellow for the pass, and pink for front of house or the office. On a trade counter, it might be white for the customer, yellow for the warehouse and pink for accounts.
There is no legal rule on colours. Pick a system, tell your staff, and stick to it.
Where are carbonless rolls used?
- Restaurant kitchens with impact printers like the Epson TM-U220 and Star SP700. See our kitchen printer guide.
- Trade counters and builders' merchants where a signed copy goes with the goods.
- Deliveries where the driver and customer both need a docket.
- Handwritten orders using carbonless order pads, which work on exactly the same principle with a pen.
What makes a good carbonless roll?
Cheap carbonless paper shows itself fast: faint copies, a bottom copy you can barely read, or sheets that drift apart and jam the printer. Things to look for:
- Consistent paper weight across the plies, so the pressure transfers cleanly through all layers.
- Well-glued edges, so the layers feed together without skewing.
- Clean winding, with no loose or telescoped rolls.
For what it is worth, we have used the same 3 ply specification for over 12 years, because kitchens notice the moment a docket is hard to read.
White and yellow carbonless bond paper for impact kitchen printers.
How should I store carbonless rolls?
Carbonless paper reacts to pressure, so keep boxes upright and do not stack heavy items on top of loose rolls. Store them somewhere cool and dry, away from direct sunlight and steam, and they will keep their copy quality.
Frequently asked questions
What is carbonless paper?
Paper coated with micro-capsules of colour former and a developer, so pressure on the top sheet creates a copy on the sheets below without a carbon sheet.
What is the difference between 2 ply and 3 ply?
2 ply gives two copies, usually white and yellow. 3 ply gives three copies, usually white, pink and yellow.
Can I use carbonless rolls in a thermal printer?
No. Carbonless rolls are bond paper for impact printers with an ink ribbon. A thermal printer will print nothing on them.
Why is the bottom copy faint?
Usually a worn ribbon or light print pressure, or low-grade paper. Try a new ribbon first.
What does NCR paper mean?
NCR stands for "no carbon required". It is another name for carbonless paper.
Clear copies, every docket.
1, 2 and 3 ply rolls and ribbons, dispatched same day from Dublin 12 when you order before 1pm.
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