NCR forms explained: parts, colors, numbering and how to order

What carbonless paper is

NCR (No Carbon Required) paper is coated with micro-capsules of dye on the back of the upper sheets and a reactive clay on the front of the lower sheets. Pen pressure breaks the capsules and the writing appears on the sheet below. The top sheet is coated back (CB), middle sheets coated front and back (CFB), and the last sheet coated front (CF).

How many parts?

Count who keeps a copy. A sales receipt is often 2-part: customer and shop. A work order is often 3-part: customer, office and technician. Bills of lading and some delivery tickets run to 4 parts or more.

Copy colors

The usual sequence is white, canary, pink, then goldenrod. Colored copies make it easy to route each copy to the right place: white to the customer, canary to the office, pink to the file.

Numbering, perforation and drilling

• Sequential numbering makes missing or voided forms easy to find and is expected on invoices and tickets.
• Perforation lets a stub or receipt tear off cleanly.
• Drilling puts holes in for binders.

Sets, pads or books?

Loose sets are glued at one edge so each set stays together. Pads hold many sets in a tablet. Books add a cover and often a writing shield (a card you slip under the set so writing does not go through to the next one). Drivers and field techs usually want books.

What we need to quote

• Size
• Number of parts
• Ink: black, a spot color, or full color
• Numbering (and starting number)
• Pads, books or loose sets
• Quantity of sets