How to Recover Faded Thermal Paper Writing

Two key ingredients allow the thermal paper to develop color: a color-changing dye that is colorless initially the other is a color developer that reacts with the invisible dye to form a color when heated.

High heating temperatures are not required for the thermal coating to react, and the color change can occur even with the friction of a finger across the paper. Thermal printing has the advantages of convenience and speed, and the required printing equipment is also very small, so it is very popular among merchants. However, the colored substances generated by this method are unstable and will slowly change their structure and return to a colorless state.

Can thermal paper not fade?

The fading of thermal paper is an inevitable trend of chemical reactions. By improving the coating formula and storage conditions, fading can be slowed down, but fading cannot be completely prevented. Usually, the disappearance of handwriting may be caused by environmental factors such as long-term sunlight, high temperature, humidity, etc.

If you want to preserve thermal paper as long as possible, you need to pay attention to the following points:

1. Avoid high temperatures, and the storage temperature should not exceed 25 degrees.
2. Avoid moisture, do not let the paper come into contact with water, and place it in a dry environment.
3. Store in a dark place away from sunlight.

Even if the above points are achieved, the writing on the thermal paper will only last for a few years. If the information on the paper is very important, taking a photo or scanning it in advance and making a backup file is better.

What are the methods to restore faded writing on thermal paper?

1. Temperature recovery method: Heat the paper using a heating device (hair dryer or electric heating splint). The entire thermal paper will change color. The color of the originally printed area will be relatively lighter, and the writing content will appear. Pay attention to safety during operation to prevent burns, and be sure not to use open flames.
2. Freeze recovery method: Put the faded thermal paper into a plastic bag and seal it, freeze it in the refrigerator or freezer for some time, then take out the thermal paper and slowly defrost it, removing the moisture from the thermal paper. Resume printing content.
3. Use chemical reagents: There are chemical reagents on the market specially designed to restore writing on thermal paper. Still, you need to be careful when using chemical reagents because improper use may cause further damage to the paper.
4. Optical restoration: Use a UV lamp to scan over the thermal paper, which will cause the print to reappear on the thermal paper. This method requires certain professional skills and equipment.
5. Use digital photography: Place the thermal paper flat and use a digital camera to photograph the paper's surface. In post-processing, you can use software to adjust the brightness and contrast of the image to help restore the lost writing content.

Note that the above methods are tentative and may not achieve satisfactory results. If you have any other questions about thermal paper, please get in touch with us.