A HANDBOOK FOR THE PRINTED PAGE

Of useful things, carefully measured.

Paper sizes
& proportions.

A practical reference to dimensions, scales and the printed page. Carefully worked tools for the paper in your hands.

Consult the size tables The print calculators

Freely available, for makers, printers & the curious.

210 mm297 mm

NOMINAL DIMENSIONSA4IN FINE PROPORTION

210 × 297 mmView format

Plate I. The proportions of a sheet, shown at a reduced scale.

I · THE INSTRUMENTS

Instruments for the printed page.

Practical calculations for the work in front of you.

Print scale calculator

A4 to A3? A3 to A5? Get the percentage that fits your page.

Find your print scale II

Pixels to print size

Find out how large an image can print at your chosen resolution.

Check your image size III

Print sheet layout planner

Compare layouts with bleed, margins and gaps. Export a plan you can measure.

Plan a printed sheet IV

Paper weight calculator

From one sheet to a full ream. Estimate the weight using GSM.

Calculate paper weight V

Booklet page-order planner

Map pages and blanks across a folded booklet. Download a folding proof.

Plan booklet page order VI

Print calibration

Measure a test print in both directions and check its scaling.

Check an actual print VII

Image print check

Check an actual image at your chosen print size. Compare cropping, borders and pixel density.

II · THE REFERENCE

A compendium of paper sizes.

A quick reference to the most familiar A-series paper sizes. All dimensions are width × height.

Full paper size chart

Nominal ISO A-series paper sizes in portrait orientation
Format	Dimensions	Often used for
A3	297 × 420 mm	Posters, diagrams, folded booklets
A4	210 × 297 mm	Letters, documents, everyday printing
A5	148 × 210 mm	Notebooks, flyers, small booklets
A6	105 × 148 mm	Postcards, small invitations

III · THE PRACTICAL DETAILS

Notes from the printing room.

A MORE ACCURATE PRINT

Why your PDF prints at the wrong size

Understand actual size, fit to page and the margin your printer needs.

LESS GUESSWORK

PPI, DPI and what makes a sharp print

The difference between image pixels and printer dots, explained simply.

Take the reference to the printing room.

Explore the print lab

ON PRECISION & PLAIN DEALING

No mysterious results. Every calculator comes with its formula, a worked example and the assumptions behind the answer.

How this reference is made