Forgot Password
Pentax Camera Forums Home
 

Reply
Show Printable Version Search this Thread
12-15-2006, 03:56 PM   #1
Senior Member




Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Kirkland, WA
Photos: Albums
Posts: 173
A3 - what the heck is A3 anyway?

I read about folks printing at different sizes - "...if you print up to A3 you'll be fine..."

What are the sizes and corresponding codes?

I'm used to thinking in 4" x 6", 5" x 7", 8" x 10", 11" x 14" etc. - A3 hurts my head...

12-15-2006, 04:42 PM   #2
Veteran Member




Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Virginia Beach VA USA
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 1,363
Take 2 Aspirin and read this. "A" print sizes are used about everywhere except our good ole USA.

Hopefully this will explain it for you.
Paper size - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
12-15-2006, 04:47 PM   #3
Veteran Member
joele's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 1,308
To save time for others its 11.7" × 16.5"
12-15-2006, 04:57 PM   #4
Inactive Account




Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Göteborg, Sweden
Posts: 810
QuoteOriginally posted by doggydude Quote
-snip-
I'm used to thinking in 4" x 6", 5" x 7", 8" x 10", 11" x 14" etc. - A3 hurts my head...
Hmm, thinking in first 4" x 6" and then in 8" x 10" make my heart bleed. Don't you keep the aspect of ratio when going to a bigger paper (whatever those """" signs means, I mean)?



Yes, the planet would benefit from Esperanto and common units.

Any search engine can provide you with a nifty table, btw. Save the aspirin for occassionally pattern noise instead.

regards,

12-15-2006, 05:06 PM   #5
Veteran Member
vievetrick's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Easthampton - Massachusetts - USA
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 5,183
Always wondered that question to. Almost like my Foul Pole at Fenway
12-15-2006, 05:35 PM   #6
Senior Member




Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Kirkland, WA
Photos: Albums
Posts: 173
Original Poster
QuoteOriginally posted by Jonas B Quote
Hmm, thinking in first 4" x 6" and then in 8" x 10" make my heart bleed. Don't you keep the aspect of ratio when going to a bigger paper (whatever those """" signs means, I mean)?
The " symbol means inches - so, 8 inches x 10 inches - it's a standard North American print size. More common, though, are the 4"x6" and 5"x7" sizes.

I'm off to check out the wiki - thanks gang!

...at least no one said, "A3? It's the smallest Audi in North America."
12-15-2006, 05:38 PM   #7
Senior Member




Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Kirkland, WA
Photos: Albums
Posts: 173
Original Poster
I think I see my confusion - these A sizes appear to correspond to actual paper sizes - so paper for printers, for example.

I send all my images to a photo shop for printing on photo paper in standard photographic sizes.

OK - I'm starting to see it - printing up to the A3 size is good, then - that's a big picture.

12-15-2006, 05:55 PM   #8
Veteran Member
clarenceclose's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Pocatello, Idaho
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 1,506
QuoteOriginally posted by doggydude Quote
I think I see my confusion - these A sizes appear to correspond to actual paper sizes - so paper for printers, for example.

I send all my images to a photo shop for printing on photo paper in standard photographic sizes.

OK - I'm starting to see it - printing up to the A3 size is good, then - that's a big picture.
Hate to step on that thought. Our 8 1/2 X 11, 11 X 17, etc. paper is not the same as their A sizes. Have received some correspondence on A size sheets and I believe they are narrower than what our standard paper sizes come out for our machine printing. A3 is a big picture, just not one we use here.
12-15-2006, 09:52 PM   #9
Veteran Member
mingdie's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 630
What makes the A sizes easy to understand and use is the folding in half principle (As close as possible). A0 is 841 x 1189. Fold it in half and you get A1 594 x 841. Fold in half and you get A2 420 x 594 and so on.

Cheers

Eddie
12-15-2006, 10:17 PM   #10
Veteran Member
clarenceclose's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Pocatello, Idaho
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 1,506
Thanks Eddie. At least if something is printed on an A series it has more relationship to actual vs. trying to divide a 4X6 into an 8X10 or an 11X14. Makes one wonder how we ended up with these 'interesting' sizes. Anyone got a clue as to the history?
12-15-2006, 10:47 PM   #11
Veteran Member
Ivan Glisin's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Belgrade
Posts: 656
QuoteOriginally posted by clarenceclose Quote
Have received some correspondence on A size sheets and I believe they are narrower than what our standard paper sizes come out for our machine printing. A3 is a big picture, just not one we use here.
A4 is what you are talking about: slightly narrower and a bit taller than Letter size, which is standard paper size for office use in Europe.

A3 would be double A4 (thus similar to double Letter size, as a reference).
12-16-2006, 06:09 AM   #12
Veteran Member
JCSullivan's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Windsor, Canada
Posts: 3,056
QuoteOriginally posted by roscot Quote
Take 2 Aspirin and read this. "A" print sizes are used about everywhere except our good ole USA.
and Canada unfortunately. Having worked in Europe for several years, it really is better to refer to A sizes. They don't have Full-scap size and their business cards are an odd shape compared to ours. When I have to produce reports for them I need to make sure to remember "their" A4 size otherwise its a complete mess.

Last edited by JCSullivan; 12-16-2006 at 06:19 AM.
12-17-2006, 05:39 PM   #13
Pentaxian
Arpe's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: New Zealand
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 4,450
I thought the US had the Metrication Act of long ago to finally bring you guys up to date? Following from Mingdie - A4=210mmx297mm (why they didn't make it 300mm has always had me rattled!)
12-17-2006, 07:45 PM   #14
Veteran Member
mingdie's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 630
Arpe.
The start is A0 which is 1 m2. How they came up with the lenght and width see below.
The largest standard size, A0, has an area of 1 m˛. The long side of the sheet is calculated by taking the 4th root of 2, approximately 1.189, and the short side is the inverse of that number, approximately 0.841, and multiplying by one metre.

Easy

Cheers

Eddie
12-18-2006, 01:20 AM   #15
Pentaxian
Arpe's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: New Zealand
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 4,450
I knew that!!
Reply

Bookmarks
  • Submit Thread to Facebook Facebook
  • Submit Thread to Twitter Twitter
  • Submit Thread to Digg Digg
Tags - Make this thread easier to find by adding keywords to it!
a3, camera, photography, sizes
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Misc What the heck is that sound? (and fire.) jsherman999 Post Your Photos! 9 04-03-2011 10:16 PM
Light Seals -where the heck are they? EyeSpy Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras 5 10-16-2010 10:19 AM
I just missed a heck of a deal bdery Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 9 08-03-2010 05:17 AM
What the heck is it doing? Flash boodiespost Troubleshooting and Beginner Help 3 12-14-2009 05:00 PM
Landscape Who the heck is this guy bentax Post Your Photos! 2 11-16-2009 12:31 PM



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 01:18 PM. | See also: NikonForums.com, CanonForums.com part of our network of photo forums!
  • Red (Default)
  • Green
  • Gray
  • Dark
  • Dark Yellow
  • Dark Blue
  • Old Red
  • Old Green
  • Old Gray
  • Dial-Up Style
Hello! It's great to see you back on the forum! Have you considered joining the community?
register
Creating a FREE ACCOUNT takes under a minute, removes ads, and lets you post! [Dismiss]
Top