Paper size
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There are different systems for specifying paper size. The one in most widespread use has been specified by ISO 216. It specifies the DIN format for paper. Originally, there are different series (A,B,C). Each series is written as the name of the series and a number, to specify the size of the paper.
If you increase the number by one, you halve the size of the paper. DIN A4 is half the size of DIN A3. The biggest fo them is DIN A0. DIN A0 has the surface of 1 m2.
In this system the aspect ratio (width to height) does not change. it is always the square root of 2 (1.4142..).
The B series and the C series are obtained by scaling.When something is made bigger or smaller, but the aspect ratio does not change people say it is scaled. B1 is halfway between A0 and A1. C0 is halfway between A0 and B0.
In the United States, Canada, and some other countries of the Americas, the formats US Letter (slighlty smaller than A4) and US Legal (slightly larger than A4) are still in use. The scalability also means that less paper (and hence money) is wasted by printing companies.
A | B | C | |
---|---|---|---|
0 | 841 × 1189 | 1000 × 1414 | 917 × 1297 |
1 | 594 × 841 | 707 × 1000 | 648 × 917 |
2 | 420 × 594 | 500 × 707 | 458 × 648 |
3 | 297 × 420 | 353 × 500 | 324 × 458 |
4 | 210 × 297 | 250 × 353 | 229 × 324 |
5 | 148 × 210 | 176 × 250 | 162 × 229 |
6 | 105 × 148 | 125 × 176 | 114 × 162 |
7 | 74 × 105 | 88 × 125 | 81 × 114 |
8 | 52 × 74 | 62 × 88 | 57 × 81 |
9 | 37 × 52 | 44 × 62 | 40 × 57 |
10 | 26 × 37 | 31 × 44 | 28 × 40 |
The tolerances specified in the standard are
- ±1.5 mm for dimensions up to 150 mm,
- ±2 mm for lengths in the range 150 to 600 mm, and
- ±3 mm for any dimension above 600 mm.
[edit] Common sizes in use
- A4 is used mostly for writing letters (the standard office paper).
- C6 and B5 are in common use for envelopes.
[edit] Paper Sizes in the US and Canada
In the United States and Canada, there is another system of standard paper sizes. Getting the DIN sizes is very hard.
Name | Inches | mm | Ratio |
---|---|---|---|
Quarto | 10 × 8 | 254 × 203 | 1.25 |
Foolscap | 13 × 8 | 330 × 203 | 1.625 |
Executive | 10½ × 7¼ | 267 × 184 | 1.4483 |
Government-Letter | 10½ × 8 | 267 × 203 | 1.3125 |
Letter | 11 × 8½ | 279 × 216 | 1.2941 |
Legal | 14 × 8½ | 356 × 216 | 1.6471 |
Ledger, Tabloid | 17 × 11 | 432 × 279 | 1.5455 |
Post | 19¼ × 15½ | 489 × 394 | 1.2419 |
Crown | 20 × 15 | 508 × 381 | 1.3333 |
Large Post | 21 × 16½ | 533 × 419 | 1.2727 |
Demy | 22½ × 17½ | 572 × 445 | 1.2857 |
Medium | 23 × 18 | 584 × 457 | 1.2778 |
Royal | 25 × 20 | 635 × 508 | 1.25 |
Elephant | 28 × 23 | 711 × 584 | 1.2174 |
Double Demy | 35 × 23½ | 889 × 597 | 1.4894 |
Quad Demy | 45 × 35 | 1143 × 889 | 1.2857 |
Statement | 8½ × 5½ | 216 × 140 | 1.5455 |
A | 11 × 8½ | 279 × 216 | 1.2941 |
B | 17 × 11 | 432 × 279 | 1.5455 |
C | 22 × 17 | 559 × 432 | 1.2941 |
D | 34 × 22 | 864 × 559 | 1.5455 |
E | 44 × 34 | 1118 × 864 | 1.2941 |