PAPER
SIZE
Australia and Europe use the A-Series of sizes.
A-Series is based on the ancient architectural principle, ‘The Golden Mean’:
Draw a square
Draw diagonal line
Swing the diagonal out
A-series proportions (1:1.41 - the length is 1.4 x width)
ALL A-series paper has the same proportions, just different sizes.
- A6 - 105 x 148.5mm
- A5 - 148.5 x 210mm
- A4 - 210 x 297mm Standard Size
- A3 - 297 x 420mm
- A2 - 420 x 594mm
- A1 - 594 x 840mm
- A0 - 840 x 1188mm (note this is ‘A-Zero’ and not ‘Oh’)
There are also some smaller A-sizes, B sizes between, and USA sizes.
Each A-size x 2 (side by side longways) = the next size up:
- A6 x 2 = A5
- A5 x 2 = A4
- A4 x 2 = A3
- A3 x 2 = A2
- A2 x 2 = A1
- A1 x 2 = A0
- A0 x 2 = VERY large!
NOTE that this DOES NOT mean each larger size is TWICE as big as the previous size. (There is a difference between doubling all dimensions and just puting 2 sheets next to each other).
That means to enlarge ANY A-series page to the NEXT size up, the enlargement factor is 140% (or 1.4 times). To REDUCE it is 70%.
WEIGHT
Paper is measured in Grams per Square Metre (gsm) - 1 metre square sheets are weighed. Standard paper is 80gsm.
- 80gsm - STD
- 100gsm - slightly heavier
- 110gsm
- 120gsm
- 140gsm - light card
- 150gsm
- 160gsm
- 200gsm - medium card
- 220gsm - heavy card
- 250gsm - max through most digital printers
- 300gsm+ - business card weight
NOTE that WEIGHT is NOT thickness, but it is a good general indicator.