Photo print sizes

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Standard photographic print sizes are used in photographic printing. Cut sheets of paper meant for printing photographs are commonly sold in these sizes.

Contents

Many nominal and effective sizes are specified in international standardISO 1008 using millimeters only, although most are clearly derived from integer-inch lengths. They are highlighted in the table below.

United States

In the US, size names are often denoted with a code of the format nR, where the number n represents the length of the shorter edge in inches. In the normal series, the long edge is the length of the short edge plus 2 inches (10 in or less) or 3 inches (11 in and above). The alternative Super series, denoted SnR, nR Plus or nR+, has an aspect ratio of 3∶2 (or as close as possible) and thus provides a better fit for standard 135 film (35 mm) at sizes of 8 inches or above. 5R is twice the size of a 2R print, 6R twice the size of a 4R print and S8R twice the size of 6R. 4D/6D is a newer size for most consumer level digital cameras and Micro 4/3 cameras [1] American S8R or Japanese 6PW at 203 mm × 305 mm is the closest 3∶2 approximation to A4 at 210 mm × 297 mm (√2∶1).

The sizes with 7 × 9+12, 12 × 16 (4∶3) and 9+12 × 12 inches (5∶4) are used for black-and-white paper.

Japan

In Japan, the same print sizes (and several additional ones) are known by different designations. The Japanese L is equivalent to 3R, while 2L—twice the size—matches 5R. KG represents the size of a traditional 4 × 6 in (4R) Japanese postcard (hagaki). [2]

The nP or cut (切り, kiri) series are defined in reference to a full page size (全紙, zenshi) of 457 × 560 mm, with smaller numbers (fewer cuts) indicating larger sizes. [3] A W suffix indicates sizes with an extended long edge, similar to the American S prefix. Japanese Chou sizes are for envelopes and Hagaki for postcards. They do not match exactly the related sizes from ISO 216, like A6 for international standard postcards.

Overview

Unlike ISO 216 paper sizes, the aspect ratios of photographic prints vary, so exact scaling of prints is not always possible. However, some logical correspondences are between the sizes, noted below when applicable.

Many of the standard sizes are the same as sheet film formats, and are appropriate for making contact sheets from these films.

Common photo print sizes and codes, approximate dimensions in parentheses
USJapanChinacmAliasin × inmm × mmmin. Mpx Aspect ratio Standard
1"2.5 × 3.51 × 1.525.4 × 38.1No
Big 1"/Small 2"1.29921 × 1.8897633 × 48No
2" (for certificates)1.37795 × 1.9291335 × 49No
2"1.37795 × 2.0866135 × 53No
A9 (1.5 × 2)37 × 520.277∶5 (√2)ISO 216
Wallet2 × 3(50.8 × 76.2)0.543∶2No
A8 (2 × 3)52 × 740.547∶5 (√2)ISO 216
2RWallet (old)2+12 × 3+12(63.5 × 88.9)1.787∶5No
A7 (3 × 4)74 × 1051.087∶5 (√2)ISO 216
DSC(3+14 × 4+23)83 × 1191.383∶2 [lower-alpha 1] (1.43)No
(3+12 × 4+23)89 × 1191.484∶3 [lower-alpha 1] (1.34)No
3RL5"9 × 13Enprint [5] 3+12 × 589 × 1271.5810∶7 (1.43)ISO 1008
PC10 × 15Hagaki(3.9 × 5.8)100 × 1481.943∶2 [lower-alpha 1] (1.48)No
A6 (4.1 × 5.8)105 × 1482.177∶5 (√2)ISO 216
4R KG 6"4 × 6102 × 1522.163∶2No
4 × 4102 × 1021.451∶1No
4+12 × 6114 × 1522.434∶3US?
5 × 5127 × 1272.261∶1No
5R2L7"13 × 185 × 7127 × 1783.157∶5 (√2)ISO 1008
15 × 20Ofuku Hagaki(5.8 × 7.9)148 × 2004.124∶3 [lower-alpha 1] (1.35)No
A5 (5.8 × 8.3)148 × 2104.347∶5 (√2)ISO 216
6R8P8"6 × 8152 × 2034.324∶3US?
18 × 247 × 9+12178 × 2406.004∶3 [lower-alpha 1] (1.36)ISO 1008
8R6P20 × 258 × 10203 × 2547.205∶4ISO 1008
Letter 8+12 × 11215.9 × 279.48.4213∶10 (1.29)ISO 1008
8R+, S8R6PWSmall 12"20 × 308 × 12203 × 3058.643∶2US?
A4 (8+14 × 11+23)210 × 2978.707∶5 (√2)ISO 1008
24 × 309+12 × 12240 × 30510.35∶4 [lower-alpha 1] (1.26)ISO 1008
10R4P12"10 × 12254 × 30510.86∶5ISO 1008
4PW10 × 14+12254 × 36813.03∶2 [lower-alpha 1] (1.45)No
10R+, S10R10 × 15254 × 38113.53∶2US?
11R28 × 3611 × 14279 × 35614.75∶4 [lower-alpha 1] (1.27)ISO 1008
A3 (11+23 × 16+12)297 × 42017.47∶5 (√2)ISO 216
12R12 × 15305 × 38116.25∶4No
11R+, S11R Tabloid, Ledger 11 × 17279 × 43216.83∶2 [lower-alpha 1] (1.55)US?
30 × 4012 × 16305 × 40617.34∶3ISO 1008
12R+, S12R12 × 18305 × 45719.43∶2US?
14R14 × 17355 × 43117∶14No
16R40 × 5016 × 20406 × 50828.85∶4ISO 1008
16R+, S16R16 × 24406 × 6093∶2No
A2 (16+12 × 23+13)420 × 59434.87∶5 (√2)ISO 216
20R50 × 6020 × 24508 × 61043.26∶5ISO 1008
20R+, S20R20 × 28508 × 7117∶5No
22R20 × 29.5508 × 74959∶40No
24R24 × 31.5609 × 80021∶16No
A1 (23+13 × 33+110)594 × 84169.77∶5 (√2)ISO 216
24R+, S24R24 × 35.5609 × 9013∶2No
30R30 × 40762 × 1,0164∶3No

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Aspect ratio is approximate to the nearest ratio involving small numbers.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">ISO 216</span> International standard for paper sizes, including A4

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paper size</span> Standard sizes of paper

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f-number Measure of lens speed

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">135 film</span> 35 mm photographic film format

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">120 film</span> Medium format roll film

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Large format</span> Imaging format for film camera of 4×5 inches or larger

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The ISO 217:2013 standard defines the RA and SRA paper formats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Image sensor format</span> Shape and size of a digital cameras image sensor

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">ANSI/ASME Y14.1</span>

In 1992, the American National Standards Institute adopted ANSI/ASME Y14.1Decimal Inch Drawing Sheet Size and Format, which defined a regular series of paper sizes based upon the de facto standard 8+12 in × 11 in "letter" size to which it assigned the designation "ANSI A". This series also includes "ledger"/"tabloid" as "ANSI B". This series is somewhat similar to the ISO 216 standard in that cutting a sheet in half would produce two sheets of the next smaller size. Unlike the ISO standard, however, the arbitrary aspect ratio forces this series to have two alternating aspect ratios. ANSI/ASME Y14.1 has been revised or updated in 1995, 2005, 2012 and 2022. It had an accompanying standard, ANSI/ASME Y14.1M, that defined metric drawing paper sizes based upon ISO 216 and ISO 5457. ASME Y14.1 and ASME Y14.1M have now been revised and consolidated into one document, ASME Y14.1-2020, Drawing Sheet Size and Format, published on 18 December 2020.

The aspect ratio of an image is the ratio of its width to its height. It is expressed as two numbers separated by a colon, width:height. Common aspect ratios are 1.85:1 and 2.40:1 in cinematography, 4:3 and 16:9 in television, and 3:2 in still photography.

References

  1. "Big Print You, Unique Photo Sizes & Square Photos". www.ritzpix.com. Ritz Camera & Image. Archived from the original on 26 June 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  2. "プリントサイズ/料金" [Print Size/Price]. www.digiprishop.com (in Japanese). PAM PhotoAnimationMovie Online Print. Archived from the original on 22 October 2008. Retrieved 7 July 2008.
  3. "Traditional Japanese Specialty Papers". www.edsebooks.com. Tokyo, Japan: Editorial & Design Services Inc. 15 January 2004. Archived from the original on 1 December 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  4. 3R
  5. "enprints. (n.d.)". Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged (12 ed.). Glasgow, Scotland: HarperCollins. 2014. ISBN   978-0007522743. Archived from the original on 2 February 2016. Retrieved 29 March 2016. NOUN: a standard photographic print (5 × 3.5 in.) produced from a negative