CONTINUOUS STATIONERY although in decline is still widely used in a number of applications where speed volume and multi-copies are a consideration. Impact printers ie. dot matrix and cylinder(line) printers are the only solution to printing a multi part document in one pass, the quality is not as good as a laser or inkjet printer and also the print image produced on NCR paper has a limited shelf life.

A continuous form can incorporate a variety of features that are not available in cut-sheet form such as de-sensitised area, security hatching all of which are usually associated with multi-part forms. In addition, a number of specialist combination forms can be manufactured in continuous form such as integrated labels, plastic cards, etc all of which require either the use of glueing or NCR paper which means the form cannot be adapted to laser or ink-jet printing.

A recent development has been a special NCR paper that can be used in laser printers. Previously the heat from a laser printer would affect the carbon corpuscles impregnated in the paper and affect the image - now it is possible to pass NCR paper through a laser printer combine the multi copies of the form to produce an NCR set. This is particularly useful for customers wishing to produce consignment notes or contracts which require signatures or handwriting at a later date.