Standard printer paper has long been a daily attribute of the workflow. Its characteristics are known to any office employee; ratings of the best suppliers are compiled. And the name of the format on everyone’s lips is A4. There are experts who can indicate the exact parameters of the sheet: 29.7 X 21 cm. When it comes to the A3 format, things get a little more complicated. Is it one that is smaller than A4, or vice versa? Not everyone can immediately determine what kind of sheets they are, and what is the size of A3 paper in centimeters.
How did the formats come about?
The prototypes of formats A and B, similar in size to modern ones, appeared even during the French Revolution, at the end of the 18th century. But in general, the basis of the characteristics of paper, which is now used in printing, office work, everyday life, is the standard ISO 216 (international, European). It was put into circulation more than 40 years ago, replacing the German paper format and differing from the latter by permissible errors.
The cornerstone of the reference and separation system is a square meter of paper (84.1 X 118.9 cm) - format A0. The remaining categories, both primary and secondary (B and C), are actually formed by dividing these parameters into two. For example, the size of the A3 format in centimeters will be eight times different from A0. In addition to the European standard, there are also North American (mainly intended for printing electronic documents) and Japanese.
Where is most often used
The standardization of formats was introduced for ease of printing and customization of copying equipment. Today, category “A” sheets are commonly used for paperwork and printing products. Given the size of A3 paper in centimeters (in fact - two A4 sheets), most often it is used for manufacturing:
- Posters
- calendars
- tabloids;
- posters;
- posters.
This format is preferred when you need to print:
- large tables;
- schemes;
- blueprints.
Numbers only: A3 sheet size in centimeters
A total of 10 sizes are presented in the line of basic formats, from A0 to A10. Additional - B (for printing products), C (for printing envelopes). Although, today the borders between the latter are noticeably blurred, and it is likely that there will soon be a division into office paper for everyday use and premium sheets.
A table of basic paper sizes is presented below.
| Format (A) | Size (in mm) | Application options |
| 0 | 841 X 1189 | posters, posters, drawings |
| 1 | 594 X 841 |
| 2 | 420 X 594 | drawings, scale tables, banners, charts |
| 3 | 297 X 420 |
| 4 | 210 X 297 | documents, letters, forms, advertising materials |
| 5 | 148 X 210 | postcards, flyers, cards, forms, notebooks |
| 6 | 105 X 148 | cards, postcards |
| 7 | 74 X 105 | pocket calendars |
Thus, the fixed A3 paper size in centimeters is 42.0 X 29.7 cm. And if the principle of dividing into two from one option to the other is maintained, the units of measurement can vary depending on the situation.
Determining the size of A3 paper in centimeters remains the most common. But, if necessary, it can be millimeters, inches, as well as pixels and megabytes. If you convert the paper size A3 in centimeters, it turns out that at a resolution of 300 dpi, the sheet will contain 4,961 X 3,508 pixels.
Good paper: other specifications
A3-size paper is often used in printing, so its length and width and their errors (up to 2 mm) can seriously affect the process and the total cost of printing. In addition to the main characteristics, that is, paper size A3 in centimeters, a number of parameters are of great importance. We are talking about the type of coating (matte, coated, glossy), density, transparency, thickness, smoothness, whiteness, color, electrical conductivity, humidity.
A3 size office paper may have the following characteristics:
- coating - matte;
- density - 80 grams / m²;
- opacity - 91%;
- brightness - 95%.
Much attention is usually paid to the whiteness of paper: users tend to prefer as white paper as possible. In addition to prestige, this characteristic is also important in color printing, as it has a significant impact on the final result. The degree of usability of paper often depends on its electrical conductivity, because due to the static properties of the sheets can stick together.
The choice should always be made in favor of quality paper, which affects the appearance and level of the finished product, and also protects printers, copying devices and large format printing from wear.