How to identify thermal paper and woodfree paper?

Updated on: May 13, 2026

As thermal paper is coated with chemicals that allow the activation of the chemicals to produce a specific color (usually black) when put in contact with a heat source. So the easiest way to identify thermal paper and woodfree paper is scratching the paper surface with your fingernails on double side. If the paper surface turns black, it is thermal paper, otherwise it is woodfree paper.

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