Document finishing is as easy as four steps: PRINT, TRIM, INSERT, LAMINATE.

Trimming a project prior to lamination saves time and creates a consistent, professional result, with only simple measurement skills required. The two most popular paper sizes worldwide are A4 and letter; both are very versatile and compatible with most home, office, and industrial printers.

Laminating Pouches from Lamination Depot

ISO “A Series” Paper Sizes

The International Organization for Standardization (commonly referred to as ISO) has developed a mathematical method of cutting paper into universally-accepted sizes, which enforces an aspect ratio that simplifies print material scaling across paper sizes and general size consistency (ISO 216). All world countries except United States and Canada have adopted this standard.

“A” series paper begins with A0 size paper (841 mm x 1189 mm/33.1″ x 46.8″) and an area of one square meter (m2). The number after “A,” in this case “0,” indicates how many cuts are made to achieve the size; to clarify, sheet sizes get smaller as the number beside “A” increases since it corresponds to the total number of cuts made. The next size down or up can be calculated using the square root of 2, as the cutting process revolves around the principle of dividing one sheet into two when a cut is made.

Two identical A4 size sheets (210 mm x 297 mm/8.27″ x 11.69″) result when an A3 size sheet (297 mm x 420 mm/11.69″ x 16.54″) is cut in half along the longer dimension of the sheet. A4 sheets are most commonly used internationally. (As a frame of reference for readers in United States and Canada, A4 is slightly longer than a letter-sized sheet of paper, yet shorter than a legal-sized sheet.)

Working with Letter-Sized (8.5″ x 11″) Paper

Letter-sized paper is the standard document size used in the United States and Canada; although Mexico, the Phillipines, and some countries in South America adopted ISO paper size standards, these countries also use this popular size. Letter-sized paper is not only a cost effective choice for printing projects, but it is extremely versatile and works with most printers.

A simple straight-edge paper trimmer can transform a letter-sized sheet into three different rectangular sizes, with no more than two slices per page! Slicing once down the center of the page vertically results in two half-letter sheets. A second cut made across the shorter width of the half-letter sheet creates four identical quarter-letter sheets. A letter-sized sheet can also be divided into thirds vertically.

When letter-sized sheets are put together side-by-side on the 11″ edge, the total spread is equivalent to one sheet of 11″ x 17″ paper, which is commonly referred to as “tabloid” or “double letter”. If you were to cut a tabloid sheet of paper into two even halves, two letter-sized sheets would result (hence the term double letter).

Laminating Pouches

Laminating pouches are sheets of laminating film pre-cut to desired dimensions with rounded die-cut corners. The last steps in the document finishing preparation process are inserting the trimmed document into the pouch, then running the pouch through a thermal laminator to seal it shut. It should be noted that an 1/8″ border around the edge of the inserted document ensures properly sealing inside the laminate.

The only equipment necessary outside of the printing process is a paper trimmer and pouch laminator – both being relatively inexpensive.

Lamination Depot carries laminating pouches in 350+ varieties, with dozens of sizes available as well as standard and specialty finishes. Letter laminating pouches are the most popular size and are available in 3 mil5 mil7 mil, and 10 mil thicknesses. These pouches ensure a clean, attractive 1/4″ border all the way around the document. Lamination Depot also offers a special “mini letter” pouch size, which creates a 1/8″ border around letter-sized paper for a tighter, more crisp finished look.

Among the vast selection of laminating sheets that Lamination Depot carries are convenient 1/2 letter laminating pouches1/4 letter laminating pouches, and 1/3 letter laminating pouches, all of which feature the clean 1/4″ outer border that is created with standard letter-sized pouches.

Lamination Depot’s menu-sized laminating pouches are also immensely popular. This series of sizes offers three different border thicknesses to surround a standard tabloid sheet of paper. Menu large offers a 1/2″ border, menu small offers a 1/4″ border, and mini menu offers a nearly invisible 1/8″ border.

Lamination Depot also carries A4 and A3 size in a variety of mil thicknesses, which are increasingly popular due to their no-trim-necessary convenience when used with international sheet sizes.

Impress clients and recipients with polished, preserved documents using this simple, four-step document finishing process!

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