Facts about a3 paper

A presentation detailing the exact measurements of the A3 paper, how this was decided and what types of projects it is suited for.

1. Facts about A3 paper-- Its size dimensions, usage and a bit of history

2. A3 paper is part of the ISO 216 standard used all over the world. It is one of the more popular paper formats used internationally. The A3 paper is also now supported by most printer and computer software programs.

3. The dimensions of an A3 paper are 297 × 420 millimetres or 11.69 × 16.54 inches . In PostScript, its dimensions are rounded off to 842 × 1190 points. Its printing surface including margins is 394 x 257 millimetres.

4. The ISO 216 standard is based on the principle that when you fold any size paper in half it will still retain its aspect ratio of the square root of two . By cutting an A3 paper in half in its shortest side you will produce an A4 paper. When you fold two A3 papers next to each in a spread it will result to an A2 paper. The practical and aesthetic advantages of the square root of 2 aspect ratio for paper sizes were probably first noted by physics professor Georg Christoph Lichtenberg, reinvented over a hundred years later in Germany by Dr. Walter Porstmann . They were adopted as the German standard DIN 476 in 1922 to replace the huge variety of other paper sizes in use until then, and to make paper stocking and reproduction methods cheaper and more efficient.

5. The A3 paper format is used for activities in projects that need a large paper space to write, draw or paste all the details. Many presentations, charts and enlargements use A3 paper. It is also used by artists to render large drawings and by architects to draw up their construction plans and structure outlines . In the fashion world, designers use it to render their designs for clothes and costumes with elaborate details. Some map makers also prefer A3 paper when they want a map format that is neither too small to show streets nor too large for the bearer to handle it easily and conveniently.

6. When printing a picture on A3 size, the image will need to meet a certain minimum resolution At 300 ppi the needed image resolution is 3508 x 4961 pixels. This is best for viewing images on a close distance as in coffee table books, calendars, magazines, brochures, etc. Photo books on the same resolution will work fine on a lower pixel count of 250. These dimensions are acceptable for producing good quality images . At 150 ppi the pixel count has to be 1754 x 2480 . This is ideal for viewing images on a fairly short distance as in newspapers and posters.

7. A digital camera that offers a decent image quality and has a resolution of at least 8 or 12 megapixels can already produce A3 size pictures of excellent quality.