The paper we use every day comes in different formats, depending on its intended use. We're used to A4 sheets on our standard printer, the A5 format of flyers or notepads, and the A6 format of our postcards. The ISO 216 standard classifies the different paper formats according to their dimensions, so that all European countries can communicate on the same basis. In the USA and Canada, the current standard is Letter format; hence the small difference in format between the magazines we find on newsstands in France and those printed in the USA.
The different formats (A series)
So, according to ISO 216, the various formats in the A series are a division of the original A0 format. This same A0 format is thus divided as follows:
FORMATSDIMENSIONS IN MMDIMENSIONS IN CMA0841 x 1189 mm84.1 x 118.9 cmA1594 x 841 mm59.4 x 84.1 cmA2420 x 594 mm42 x 59.4 cmA3297 x 420 mm29.7 x 42 cmA4297 x 210 mm29.7 x 21 cmA5148 x 210 mm14.8 x 21 cmA6105 x 148 mm10.5 x 14.8 cmA774 x 105 mm7.4 x 10.5 cmA8 52 x 74 mm5.2 x 7.4 cmA937 x 52 mm3.7 x 5.2 cm
There are other series: the B series and the C series. The C series is wider than the A series, and the B series is wider than the C series.
Preparing a print-ready file: the 5 settings
A memo to keep handy to deliver a file with no surprises, whatever the format.
| Setting | The rule | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Bleed | 3 to 5 mm beyond each edge | Trimming is never accurate to a tenth of a mm: bleed prevents a white sliver. |
| Safety margin | 3 to 5 mm inside the finished edge | Text and logos must never touch the trim line. |
| Resolution | 300 dpi at final size | Below that, images pixelate in print. (Large format read from afar tolerates less — we check at reading distance.) |
| Colour | CMYK (FOGRA profile), not RGB | Screen RGB doesn't exist in print: once converted it dulls. Flag Pantone spot colours separately. |
| File format | High-resolution PDF, outlined fonts | PDF locks the layout; outlining fonts avoids substitutions. |
Unsure about your file? Our Paris prepress studio checks it free before printing — bleed, resolution, colour — and sends you a proof.
Open and closed formats
When producing brochures, leaflets or folders, we often speak of open and closed formats. The principle is simple: for an A4 brochure or leaflet, we speak of open A3 format, corresponding to two A4s side by side. The open or closed format will also provide additional information when choosing the orientation of the support.
The Italian format corresponds to landscape printing, and the French format to portrait printing.