PURPOSE: To obtain a color former having excellent light resistance, water resistance and ground fogging property, by bringing a fluoran derivative having a specified molecular structure into intimate contact with an electron-acceptive substance.

CONSTITUTION: The recording material is a pressure-sensitive or thermal recording paper in which a fluoran derivative of general formula ( I ), whrein R1 is 5W6C alicyclic hydrocarbon residue having oneWfour 1W3C alkyls, R2 is 1W4C alkyl, 3W4C alkoxyalkyl or 3W4C alkenyl, each of R3 and R4 is hydrogen, halogen, methyl or trifluoromethyl, and R5 is hydrogen, halogen, methyl or ethyl, is incorporated as an electron- donative color former on a base. The fluoran derivative is a novel compound, and a pressure-sensitive or thermal recording paper produced by using this in combination with a color developer is particularly excellent in preservation stability, color forming property, light resistance and water resistance. In the case of the pressure-sensitive paper, discoloration of a capsule-coated paper under light is suppressed, and developed color images have excellent light resistance and moisture resistance. In the case of the thermal recording paper, both the ground and developed color images have excellent stability to light, heat and moisture, so that the recording paper is suitable for use in a high-speed facsimile.