RFC 2346 (rfc2346) - Page 1 of 6

Making Postscript and PDF International

Alternative Format: Original Text Document
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Network Working Group                                          J. Palme
Request for Comments: 2346                     Stockholm University/KTH
Category: Informational                                        May 1998


                Making Postscript and PDF International

Status of this Memo

   This memo provides information for the Internet community.  It does
   not specify an Internet standard of any kind.  Distribution of this
   memo is unlimited.

Copyright Notice

   Copyright (C) The Internet Society (1998).  All Rights Reserved.

Abstract

   Certain text formats, for example Postscript (MIME-Type:
   application/postscript; file extension .ps) and Portable Document
   Format (MIME-Type: application/pdf; file extension .pdf) specify
   exactly the page layout of the printed document. The commonly used
   paper format is different in North America and the rest of the world.
   North America uses the 'Letter' format, while the rest of the world
   mostly uses the ISO-standard 'A4' format. This means that documents
   formatted on one continent may not be easily printable on another
   continent. This memo gives advice on how to produce documents which
   are equally well printable with the Letter and the A4 formats. By
   using the advice in this document, you can put up a document on the
   Internet, which recipients can print without problem both in and
   outside North America.

   A very short summary of the advice in this document: If you are using
   U.S. Letter paper format, ensure that both the left and right margins
   are at least 21 mm (0.8 in). If you are using A4 paper format, ensure
   that both the top and bottom margins are at least 33 mm (1.3 in).

Table of Contents

   1. Introduction                                                  2
   2. Two methods for printing on different paper formats           2
      2.1 Method 1: Use wider margins                               2
      2.2 Method 2: Print with reduced size                         3
      2.3 Method 3: Buy paper in the A4 size                        4
   3. Acknowledgements                                              4
   4. Security Considerations                                       4
   5. References                                                    4



Palme                        Informational
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