Techniques to Find Paper Formats and Sizes
1. Standard Conventions:
- ISO 216: International standard for paper sizes, used in most countries except North America. Sizes are designated by an A followed by a number (e.g., A4, A3).
- ANSI/ASME Y14.1: American standard for paper sizes, used primarily in North America. Sizes are designated by a letter followed by a number (e.g., Letter, Legal).
2. Software Applications:
- Microsoft Office: In Word, Excel, or PowerPoint, select the "Layout" or "Page Setup" tab to find the available paper sizes.
- Adobe Creative Suite: In Photoshop, Illustrator, or InDesign, open the "File" menu and select "New" to access the paper size options.
3. Physical Measurements:
- Measure the paper: Using a ruler or measuring tape, measure the width and height of the paper in millimeters or inches.
- Compare to known sizes: Refer to a table or website that lists common paper formats and sizes (e.g., Wikipedia, Paper Sizes).
4. Printer Settings:
- Print Properties: Access the print properties dialog box from your printer software. In the "Paper Size" section, you will find the supported paper formats.
- Printer Specifications: Check the user manual or website of your printer to find the range of paper sizes it can handle.
Examples:
- A4: ISO 216 standard paper size, measuring 210mm x 297mm (8.27in x 11.69in), used for most documents and textbooks.
- Letter: ANSI/ASME standard paper size, measuring 215.9mm x 279.4mm (8.5in x 11in), commonly used in North America for business correspondence.
- Legal: ANSI/ASME standard paper size, measuring 215.9mm x 355.6mm (8.5in x 14in), used for legal documents and long-form writing.
- Ledger: ANSI/ASME standard paper size, measuring 431.8mm x 279.4mm (17in x 11in), used for spreadsheets and financial statements.
- Tabloid: ISO 216 standard paper size, measuring 297mm x 420mm (11.69in x 16.54in), used for newspapers and posters.