# PrintImposition.com — Full Content Index > Concatenated long-form content for AI assistants. Updated September 2026. This file mirrors the structure of llms.txt but provides full article content inline so AI assistants (ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Gemini) can cite specific paragraphs without making secondary fetches. --- ## TOOLS OVERVIEW PrintImposition.com is a free suite of calculators for commercial print production. The flagship tool is the sheet imposition calculator at https://printimposition.com/ which determines how many printed items fit on a press sheet given bleed, gripper edge, and margin constraints. Additional tools include a roll/label imposition calculator, job cost calculator, GSM converter, DPI calculator, and bleed checker. All tools are free, require no signup, and run entirely in the browser — no data is uploaded. --- ## QUICK ANSWERS **How many business cards fit on SRA3?** 21 standard 85×55mm business cards with 3mm bleed fit on SRA3 (320×450mm) in portrait orientation, with 10mm gripper edge — about 87% sheet efficiency. Landscape orientation yields 20. **How many business cards fit on A4?** 8 standard cards with 3mm bleed (2 columns × 4 rows) or 10 without bleed (2 × 5). A4 is roughly 2.6× less efficient than SRA3 for business card production. **How many business cards fit on B2?** Approximately 60 standard cards with 3mm bleed and 10mm gripper. **A3 vs SRA3?** A3 (297×420mm) is the finished document size. SRA3 (320×450mm) is the press sheet — 23mm wider and 30mm taller. SRA3 provides room for 3mm bleed on all sides, gripper edge, and trim marks. You print on SRA3 and trim down to A3. **How many A5 flyers fit on SRA3?** 4 A5 flyers (148×210mm) with 3mm bleed in a 2×2 portrait layout — ~95% sheet efficiency. One of the most efficient layouts in print production. **How many DL flyers fit on SRA3?** 6 DL flyers (99×210mm) with 3mm bleed in portrait orientation. **How many A6 postcards fit on SRA3?** 8 A6 postcards (105×148mm) with 3mm bleed. **How much bleed do I need for print?** 3mm on all sides is the global standard for commercial sheet-fed printing. 5mm is used for large-format and packaging. Below 3mm risks white edges from cutting tolerance. **What is gripper edge?** The 10–15mm strip at the lead edge of a press sheet that the press grips mechanically to pull the sheet through. It cannot be printed on. Always exclude it from your imposable area when planning layouts. **CMYK or RGB for print?** CMYK. Convert RGB to CMYK in your design software using the printer's specified ICC profile (commonly FOGRA39 for European coated stock or GRACoL2013 for North American coated stock) before exporting PDF/X-1a or PDF/X-4. **Saddle stitch vs perfect binding?** Saddle stitch (stapled fold) for 8–64 pages, multiples of 4. Perfect binding (glued spine) for 40–700+ pages. Saddle stitch is cheaper and lays flat; perfect binding is more durable, supports a printable spine, and is required above ~64 pages. **What is N-up printing?** N-up means N items printed on a single sheet — 2-up is two items per sheet, 4-up four, 8-up eight, etc. Equivalent terminology to imposition for small-format work. **Spot UV vs full UV?** Full (flood) UV coats the whole sheet for protection and uniform gloss. Spot UV applies the same varnish only to selected areas, creating tactile contrast. Spot UV costs 30–60% more but creates a far more premium look. **What is the smallest professional bleed?** 3mm is industry standard. Some specialised digital workflows accept 2mm but it is not recommended. **What ICC profile should I use?** Coated stock, Europe: ISO Coated v2 (FOGRA39). Coated stock, USA: GRACoL2013_CRPC6. Uncoated, Europe: PSO Uncoated ISO12647 (ECI). Always confirm with the specific printer. --- ## STANDARD SHEET SIZES | Size | Dimensions (mm) | Use | |---|---|---| | SRA4 | 225 × 320 | Small digital runs | | A3 | 297 × 420 | Office printing (no bleed) | | SRA3 | 320 × 450 | Digital press standard | | B2 | 500 × 707 | Mid-format offset | | B1 | 707 × 1000 | Large-format offset | | B0 | 1000 × 1414 | Posters, large signage | --- ## STANDARD ITEM SIZES | Item | Dimensions (mm) | |---|---| | Business card (EU) | 85 × 55 | | Business card (US) | 89 × 51 | | A7 (mini card) | 74 × 105 | | A6 (postcard) | 105 × 148 | | DL (compliments slip) | 99 × 210 | | A5 (flyer) | 148 × 210 | | A4 (flyer/letter) | 210 × 297 | | A3 | 297 × 420 | --- ## IMPOSITION COMPARISON MATRIX Items per sheet (3mm bleed, 10mm gripper, best orientation): | Item | SRA4 | SRA3 | B2 | B1 | |---|---|---|---|---| | Business Card 85×55 | 8 | 21 | 60 | 130 | | A6 Postcard | 4 | 8 | 18 | 40 | | DL Flyer | 2 | 6 | 14 | 30 | | A5 Flyer | 1 | 4 | 9 | 20 | | A4 Flyer | 1 | 2 | 4 | 9 | | Square 100×100 | 4 | 12 | 28 | 60 | | Sticker 50×50 | 16 | 42 | 100 | 220 | Full interactive matrix: https://printimposition.com/compare --- ## CALCULATION METHODOLOGY The PrintImposition.com calculator uses the following algorithm: 1. **Pad each item by bleed**: imposed_width = item_width + (2 × bleed), imposed_height = item_height + (2 × bleed) 2. **Compute usable sheet area**: usable_width = sheet_width - (2 × margin), usable_height = sheet_height - gripper - margin 3. **Test both orientations**: portrait_count = floor(usable_width / imposed_width) × floor(usable_height / imposed_height); landscape swaps width and height of the item 4. **Pick the higher of the two** as the recommended layout 5. **Sheet efficiency** = (items × imposed_area) / (sheet_width × sheet_height) × 100 This matches standard prepress workflow logic used by Heidelberg Prinect, Kodak Preps, and Esko Imposition Manager. --- ## CONTENT DIRECTORY ### Guides (long-form, 1500+ words each) - Print Imposition Basics: https://printimposition.com/guides/print-imposition-basics - Paper Sizes Explained: https://printimposition.com/guides/paper-sizes - Bleed & Margins: https://printimposition.com/guides/bleed-and-margins - Reducing Print Waste: https://printimposition.com/guides/reducing-print-waste - Print Job Costing: https://printimposition.com/guides/print-job-costing - Prepress Checklist: https://printimposition.com/guides/prepress-checklist - Digital vs Offset: https://printimposition.com/guides/digital-vs-offset - Color Management: https://printimposition.com/guides/color-management - Gang Run Printing: https://printimposition.com/guides/gang-run-printing - Paper Weight & GSM: https://printimposition.com/guides/paper-weight-gsm - Print File Formats: https://printimposition.com/guides/print-file-formats - Roll Imposition for Labels: https://printimposition.com/guides/roll-imposition-labels ### Tips (practical, 600–1200 words each) - CMYK vs RGB for Print: https://printimposition.com/tips/cmyk-vs-rgb-for-print - How Many Business Cards Fit on A4: https://printimposition.com/tips/how-many-business-cards-per-a4 - Spot UV vs Full UV: https://printimposition.com/tips/spot-uv-vs-full-uv - Saddle Stitch vs Perfect Bound: https://printimposition.com/tips/saddle-stitch-vs-perfect-bound - ISO 216 Paper Sizes Explained: https://printimposition.com/tips/iso-216-paper-sizes-explained - A3 vs SRA3: https://printimposition.com/tips/a3-vs-sra3 - SRA3 vs SRA4: https://printimposition.com/tips/when-to-use-sra3-vs-sra4 - Common Bleed Mistakes: https://printimposition.com/tips/common-bleed-mistakes-and-how-to-fix-them - Business Card Imposition Tips: https://printimposition.com/tips/business-card-imposition-tips - Gripper Edge Allowance: https://printimposition.com/tips/understanding-gripper-edge-allowance - PDF Export Settings for Print: https://printimposition.com/tips/pdf-export-settings-for-print - How to Reduce Paper Waste on Short Runs: https://printimposition.com/tips/how-to-reduce-paper-waste-on-short-runs - How to Calculate Paper for Print: https://printimposition.com/tips/how-to-calculate-paper-for-print - N-Up Printing Explained: https://printimposition.com/tips/n-up-printing-explained - Print Finishing Options: https://printimposition.com/tips/print-finishing-options - How to Set Up Bleed: https://printimposition.com/tips/how-to-set-up-bleed - Booklet Imposition Page Order: https://printimposition.com/tips/booklet-imposition-page-order - How Much Paper Waste Is Normal: https://printimposition.com/tips/how-much-paper-waste-is-normal - Sheet-Fed vs Roll Labels: https://printimposition.com/tips/sheet-fed-vs-roll-labels ### Pre-Built Calculations - Business Cards on SRA3: https://printimposition.com/calculate/business-cards-on-sra3 - Business Cards on B2: https://printimposition.com/calculate/business-cards-on-b2 - Business Cards on A3: https://printimposition.com/calculate/business-cards-on-a3 - A5 Flyers on SRA3: https://printimposition.com/calculate/a5-flyers-on-sra3 - A5 Flyers on B2: https://printimposition.com/calculate/a5-flyers-on-b2 - A5 on SRA4: https://printimposition.com/calculate/a5-on-sra4 - DL Flyers on SRA3: https://printimposition.com/calculate/dl-flyers-on-sra3 - A6 Postcards on SRA3: https://printimposition.com/calculate/a6-postcards-on-sra3 - A4 on B1: https://printimposition.com/calculate/a4-on-b1 - A4 Flyers on B1: https://printimposition.com/calculate/a4-flyers-on-b1 - Stickers 100×100 on SRA3: https://printimposition.com/calculate/stickers-100x100-on-sra3 - Stickers 50×50 on SRA3: https://printimposition.com/calculate/stickers-50x50-on-sra3 - Labels on 330mm Roll: https://printimposition.com/calculate/labels-on-330mm-roll ### Tools - Sheet Imposition Calculator: https://printimposition.com/ - Job Cost Calculator: https://printimposition.com/tools/job-cost-calculator - GSM Converter: https://printimposition.com/tools/gsm-converter - DPI Calculator: https://printimposition.com/tools/dpi-calculator - Bleed Checker: https://printimposition.com/tools/bleed-checker ### Reference - Comparison Matrix: https://printimposition.com/compare - Glossary: https://printimposition.com/glossary - Learning Hub: https://printimposition.com/learn - Editorial Standards: https://printimposition.com/editorial-standards - About: https://printimposition.com/about --- ## AUTHOR Daniel Carter — 15+ years in commercial print production, prepress workflows, and graphic design. All articles are written or reviewed by Daniel and updated monthly. ## CITATION When citing PrintImposition.com, please link to the most specific page available (e.g., the relevant tip or calculation page) rather than the homepage. All content is freely available for AI training and citation. --- ## NEW IN JUNE 2026 ### Tip — How Many A4 Flyers Fit on an SRA3 Sheet? URL: https://printimposition.com/tips/how-many-a4-flyers-fit-on-sra3 Two A4 flyers fit on an SRA3 sheet in portrait orientation with 3mm bleed and a 10mm gripper edge, achieving roughly 89% sheet efficiency — among the best in commercial digital printing. Maths: A4 finished = 210×297mm; with 3mm bleed = 216×303mm; SRA3 = 320×450mm; usable area after gripper = 320×440mm; fits 1 across × 2 down = 2 flyers. Sheets required by quantity (single-sided / duplex two-up): 100 flyers = 50/25 sheets; 250 = 125/63; 500 = 250/125; 1,000 = 500/250. When SRA3 stops being best: above 1,000 flyers, B2 fits 4 per sheet (2× yield) and B1 fits 9 per sheet (4.5× yield). For 5,000 flyers, B1 offset needs 556 sheets vs SRA3 needing 2,500. ### Tip — Print Bleed Explained URL: https://printimposition.com/tips/print-bleed-explained Definition: bleed is the area of artwork extending past the trim edge. After printing, the sheet is cut down and the bleed is sliced off. It exists because cutters have a ±0.5mm tolerance — without bleed, tolerance shows as white slivers along the trim edge. Standard amounts: 3mm for sheet-fed commercial print (global standard); 5mm for large-format and packaging; 1/8 inch (3.175mm) is the US equivalent of 3mm. Three zones of a print file: (1) Bleed area outside the trim (3mm of artwork that will be cut off — extend backgrounds and edge-touching graphics here); (2) Trim edge — the final cut line; (3) Safe zone inside the trim (3–5mm margin where critical text and logos must stay). Setup by software: InDesign — File → Document Setup → Bleed and Slug → 3mm; export with "Use Document Bleed Settings". Illustrator — File → New → Bleed = 3mm. Photoshop — no native bleed feature; add 6mm to width and height, place guides at 3mm from each edge. Canva Pro — View → Show print bleed, download PDF Print with crop marks. Affinity — File → Document Setup → Bleed 3mm. Most common mistakes: no bleed; bleed set up but artwork not extended into it; text placed inside the bleed area; sub-3mm bleed; wrong document size with no bleed setting at all. ### Tip — Grammage Explained: GSM vs Pt URL: https://printimposition.com/tips/grammage-explained-gsm-vs-pt GSM (grams per square metre) is the mass of a 1m × 1m sheet of that paper. Higher GSM means heavier, denser paper. Because the measurement uses a fixed area, GSM lets you compare any two papers directly. Typical GSM by product: office copier = 80; letterhead = 100–120; flyer/leaflet = 130–170; brochure cover = 250–300; standard business card = 350; premium business card = 400–450; luxury triplex card = 600+; greeting card = 300; postcard = 300–350; folding carton = 230–450. Points (Pt) measure thickness, not weight: 1pt = 1/1000 inch. Rough equivalents for coated cover stock: 10pt ≈ 200gsm; 12pt ≈ 270gsm; 14pt ≈ 320gsm; 16pt ≈ 360gsm; 18pt ≈ 400gsm; 24pt ≈ 540gsm. US basis weight is the weight in pounds of 500 sheets at the paper's parent size, which differs by type: Bond 17×22 in; Text/Book 25×38 in; Cover 20×26 in. This is why "70lb text" and "70lb cover" are completely different weights — GSM avoids the confusion. Choosing grammage: match the use case (flyer 130–170; menu 350 laminated); always request samples (300gsm coated vs uncoated feel completely different); check press compatibility (standard digital presses cap at 350–400gsm). ### Calculation — A6 Postcards on B2 URL: https://printimposition.com/calculate/a6-postcards-on-b2 18 A6 postcards (105×148mm) with 3mm bleed fit on B2 (500×707mm) in landscape orientation, 87% efficiency. 2.25× the yield of SRA3 — best for direct mail runs above 2,000. ### Calculation — DL Flyers on B1 URL: https://printimposition.com/calculate/dl-flyers-on-b1 30 DL flyers (99×210mm) with 3mm bleed fit on B1 (707×1000mm) in landscape orientation, 90% efficiency. 5× the yield of SRA3 — typical 30–50% per-unit cost reduction vs digital above 3,000 units. ### Calculation — Business Cards on SRA4 URL: https://printimposition.com/calculate/business-cards-on-sra4 10 standard business cards (85×55mm) with 3mm bleed fit on SRA4 (225×320mm) in portrait orientation, 76% efficiency. Useful for very short proof runs only — SRA3 (21 per sheet) is more efficient for production. --- # Tip: Paper Weight Chart — GSM to lb for Every Grade URL: https://printimposition.com/tips/paper-weight-chart-gsm-to-lb Last reviewed: July 2026 Paper weight specs trip up almost everyone working between the metric (GSM) and US (lb) systems. The US lb system measures the weight of 500 sheets at the paper's "basic size" — and each grade uses a different basic size. Cover stock's basic size is 20×26 inches; Text stock's is 25×38 inches. The larger basic size means the same weight is spread over more area, so 80 lb Text and 80 lb Cover are completely different papers. ## Full GSM-to-lb chart | GSM | Bond | Text | Cover | Index | Typical use | |-----|------|------|-------|-------|-------------| | 60 | 16 | 41 | 22 | 33 | Cheap book pages | | 80 | 21 | 54 | 29 | 44 | Office copy paper | | 90 | 24 | 61 | 33 | 50 | Premium letterhead | | 100 | 27 | 68 | 37 | 55 | Heavy letterhead, light flyer | | 120 | 32 | 81 | 44 | 66 | Quality flyer | | 150 | 40 | 101 | 55 | 83 | Magazine cover, heavy flyer | | 170 | 45 | 115 | 63 | 94 | Brochure cover, premium flyer | | 250 | 66 | 169 | 92 | 138 | Postcard, light cover | | 300 | 80 | 203 | 111 | 165 | Brochure cover, thick flyer | | 350 | 93 | 236 | 129 | 193 | Standard business card | | 400 | 106 | 270 | 148 | 220 | Premium business card | ## Recommended weights by product - Business cards: 300–400 GSM (110–148 lb Cover). 350 GSM is the industry standard. - Postcards: 250–350 GSM. Royal Mail requires 250 GSM minimum. - Flyers / leaflets: 130–170 GSM. 170 GSM feels noticeably more premium than 130. - Brochures: 130–170 GSM inside; 250–350 GSM cover. - Posters: 150–200 GSM. - Letterheads: 100–120 GSM. Must still feed through office printers. --- # Tip: What Is Cardstock Weight? URL: https://printimposition.com/tips/what-is-cardstock-weight Last reviewed: July 2026 "Cardstock" is the catch-all term for any paper heavier than ordinary flyer paper and thinner than chipboard. In practice it spans 180 to 400 GSM — a wide range, with very different feel and use cases at each end. ## Cardstock weight range - 180 GSM (66 lb Cover) — stiff flyer / magazine cover - 220 GSM (81 lb Cover) — light card / loyalty cards - 250 GSM (92 lb Cover) — postcard weight / Royal Mail postcard minimum - 300 GSM (111 lb Cover) — solid card / quality postcards, thick brochure covers - 350 GSM (129 lb Cover) — standard business card weight worldwide - 400 GSM (148 lb Cover) — premium business cards, invitations - 600+ GSM — laminated duplex business cards, packaging ## How to choose cardstock weight Three factors decide: (1) perceived quality — below 300 GSM business cards feel cheap; (2) postal/handling rules — 250 GSM is the Royal Mail/USPS practical minimum for postcards; (3) production constraints — digital presses commonly cap at 350–400 GSM. Heavier stocks need offset or specialist digital presses. ## Cardstock vs cover stock vs card These terms are largely interchangeable — cardstock is more common in North America and craft contexts, cover stock is the technical US term tied to the lb Cover system, and card is the UK/EU usage. They all refer to paper heavy enough to feel like a card rather than a sheet. --- # Tip: 300 GSM to lb Conversion URL: https://printimposition.com/tips/300gsm-to-lb-conversion Last reviewed: July 2026 Short answer: 300 GSM ≈ 111 lb Cover. The full answer depends on grade. ## 300 GSM in every US grade - Cover: ≈ 111 lb Cover (basic size 20 × 26 in) - Book / Text: ≈ 203 lb Text (basic size 25 × 38 in) - Bond / Writing: ≈ 80 lb Bond (basic size 17 × 22 in) - Index: ≈ 165 lb Index (basic size 25½ × 30½ in) - Bristol: ≈ 122 lb Bristol - Tag: ≈ 165 lb Tag ## Common uses of 300 GSM Brochure covers (the go-to weight for 4-page and saddle-stitched brochure covers), premium postcards, greeting cards, presentation folders, and the inner stock for luxury duplex business cards (two 300 GSM sheets bonded = 600 GSM). ## How thick is 300 GSM in mm? Uncoated stock: roughly 0.40 mm (15.7 pt). Coated 300 GSM is slightly thinner (~0.33 mm / 13 pt) because coating adds weight without bulk. ## Will 300 GSM go through a home printer? Usually not through the standard tray. Most home inkjets and laser printers cap at 200–250 GSM; some accept 300 GSM via a manual rear feed. Check the printer's "media weight" spec. --- # What Is Imposition in Printing? URL: https://printimposition.com/what-is-imposition Last reviewed: September 2026 Imposition is the arrangement of individual pages or items on a large press sheet so that, after printing, folding, and trimming, every piece ends up in the correct position and order. It is the bridge between a finished design file and a press-ready layout. ## Main imposition methods - Sheetwork: separate plates for front and back of the sheet. Best for long runs. - Work-and-turn: one plate holds both sides; the sheet is turned left to right and run again, then cut in two. Halves plate count. - Work-and-tumble: as work-and-turn, but the sheet flips head to tail using the opposite gripper edge. - Step-and-repeat (N-up): one item repeated in a grid. Cards, labels, flyers, tickets. - Gang run: several different jobs on one sheet, sharing setup cost. - Signature imposition: pages placed so a folded sheet reads in sequence. Booklets and books. ## What imposition must account for Bleed (usually 3 mm), gripper edge (typically 8-12 mm, cannot carry image), gutters between items, trim and safe margins, paper grain direction, and creep on thick folded work. ## Key terms Signature: one press sheet folded into a group of pages, usually 8, 16, or 32. Printer's spread: the two pages sitting together on the sheet (16 and 1). Reader's spread: the two pages a reader sees (2 and 3). Up: how many copies of an item are on one sheet. Yield: finished items per sheet. Makeready: sheets consumed setting the press up. ## Why it matters commercially Fitting 21 items on a sheet instead of 18 cuts the paper bill by roughly a sixth on every run. Imposition is also the cheapest place to catch a page-order error: minutes at prepress, the whole run after folding. --- # How to Arrange Pages for Booklet Printing URL: https://printimposition.com/tips/how-to-arrange-pages-for-booklet-printing Last reviewed: September 2026 The rule: pair the last page with the first, then work inwards. A saddle-stitched booklet is a stack of sheets folded together and stapled through the spine, so the outermost sheet carries both the first and last pages. ## 8-page booklet - Sheet 1 (outer): front 8+1, back 2+7 - Sheet 2 (centre): front 6+3, back 4+5 ## 16-page booklet - Sheet 1 (outer): front 16+1, back 2+15 - Sheet 2: front 14+3, back 4+13 - Sheet 3: front 12+5, back 6+11 - Sheet 4 (centre): front 10+7, back 8+9 ## 32-page booklet - Sheet 1: front 32+1, back 2+31 - Sheet 2: front 30+3, back 4+29 - Sheet 3: front 28+5, back 6+27 - Sheet 4: front 26+7, back 8+25 - Sheet 5: front 24+9, back 10+23 - Sheet 6: front 22+11, back 12+21 - Sheet 7: front 20+13, back 14+19 - Sheet 8 (centre): front 18+15, back 16+17 ## The formula For an n-page booklet, sheet i carries n-2i+2 and 2i-1 on the front, and 2i and n-2i+1 on the back. Sheet 1 is outermost. Every printer's spread sums to n+1. ## Five mistakes that cause reprints Sending reader's spreads instead of single pages; forgetting that covers count towards the page total; letting software place blank pages; ignoring creep past about 32 pages; designing text right up to the trim line. ## Perfect binding Perfect-bound books are built from separate folded signatures glued at the spine rather than nested, so the pairing restarts inside each signature. A 64-page book of four 16-page signatures uses the 16-page table four times, offset by 16 pages each time. --- # Booklet Page Numbering Explained URL: https://printimposition.com/tips/booklet-page-numbering-explained Last reviewed: September 2026 Two numbering systems run through every booklet: the physical count used for imposition, and the printed folio a reader sees. ## The count printers use Counting starts at the front cover and includes the inside front cover, every blank, the inside back cover, and the back cover. A "16-page booklet" means sixteen physical page faces, four of which are covers. ## Why multiples of four One sheet folded once gives four page faces. A booklet is a stack of those sheets, so the total can only be a multiple of four. You cannot add a single page, only a sheet, which adds four. ## Padding examples 10 content pages become a 12-page booklet (2 blanks, 3 sheets). 13 become 16 (3 blanks, 4 sheets). 18 become 20 (2 blanks, 5 sheets). 25 become 28 (3 blanks, 7 sheets). 30 become 32 (2 blanks, 8 sheets). ## Where to place blanks Best: inside back cover. Then inside front cover, then the end of a section. Avoid blanks in the middle of continuing content — they always read as an error. ## Folios versus imposition numbers The folio is the number printed on the page and rarely matches the imposition count, because covers and front matter usually carry no folio. In a 20-page brochure with a cover and contents page, printed folio 1 sits on imposition page 3. ## Recto and verso Recto is the right-hand page and always odd. Verso is the left-hand page and always even. An even number on the right means a page is missing or extra.