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I remember using a carbon paper to copy a science diagram or a geography map in my middle or high school. Trust me I kept trying to avoid using it one way or another!
Trace paper was so much easier put it on the book, use a pencil and trace it back on the copy but it just wasn’t accurate enough plus the trace papers were easily torn. So the other idea suggested was to use a carbon paper. Great! I thought must be easier. The carbon paper was either black or blue; you needed to put the original paper on one face and the paper on which the image was to be copied on the other side. One side was a bit rougher and the other a bit smoother. Not only did you have to keep that in mind but you had to make sure you did your penciling (or pen) on a smooth surface like a glass or wooden table. For multiple copies you had to repeat all of the above steps. It was a hassle that I did not want but no one seemed to listen to me then.

Unknown to me, my dad and countless other office goers were going through the same tiresome routine daily. Every time someone wanted a copy, the 2 part carbonless papers sheet was taken out and a whole process started. Two copies and steps were repeated. Not to say that wasted a lot of valuable time as well as the amount of money spent on buying those carbon paper sheets.

2 things happened almost simultaneously: one was the emergence of computers (and of course printers) and cheaper photocopying machines and another was an increased awareness about environmental degradation/pollution and our part in it. Both in their own ways have helped reduce the use of carbon papers.
With the affordability of computers and printers these were available as desktops for individual users. Whenever you need a large number of copies, 25 or 50 or 100 all you needed was to press the print command and viola. For a lesser number of copies, you could go to a photocopier machine and pay to get them out.

There was still a question about how to get on spot quick copies as soon as someone filled printed carbonless forms? Environmentalists had begun to frown upon the use of carbon papers.