The SRA3 format measures 320 × 450 mm (32 × 45 cm). “S” stands for supplementary and “R” for raw: it is a raw press sheet which, after printing and trimming, yields a clean A3 (297 × 420 mm). The extra 11–15 mm per side accommodates bleed, crop marks and the press gripper margin.
SRA3 and related formats
| Format | Size in mm | Size in cm |
|---|---|---|
| SRA3 | 320 × 450 mm | 32,0 × 45,0 cm |
| A3 | 297 × 420 mm | 29,7 × 42,0 cm |
| A3+ (Super A3) | 329 × 483 mm | 32,9 × 48,3 cm |
| SRA4 | 225 × 320 mm | 22,5 × 32,0 cm |
| A4 | 210 × 297 mm | 21,0 × 29,7 cm |
Why do printers need SRA3?
A design with edge-to-edge background cannot be printed on a sheet equal to the final format — the background must extend past the trim line (bleed, usually 2–3 mm). Digital presses therefore print on SRA3 sheets and the work is trimmed afterwards. One SRA3 sheet fits e.g. 2 A4 flyers with bleed or 4 A5 flyers.
Large-sheet printing at BARWA
We also print on sheets larger than SRA3 — our XL format is 330 × 700 mm, enabling jobs unavailable on standard digital presses, such as 3×A4 folders. See how to prepare sheet-fed printing and the full paper format table.