geometry package - paperwidth and paperheight aren't accurate

Question

recognize this simple example:

\documentclass[]{article}
\usepackage[paperwidth=612.0pt, paperheight=792.0pt]{geometry}

\begin{document}
Hello World
\end{document}

I compiled it with pdflatex. Additionally I wrote this small Java-Programm (using the iText library):

PdfReader reader = new PdfReader("example.pdf");
Rectangle psize = reader.getPageSize(1);
System.out.println(psize.getHeight());
System.out.println(psize.getWidth());

The result:

Height: 789.041
Width: 609.714

Why is the paperwidth and paperheight different to the tex?

Welcome to TeX.sx! You don't have to sign with your name since it automatically appears in the lower right corner of your post. — Torbjørn T., Oct 07 '11 at 01:18

score 13 · Accepted Answer · edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:34

13

Because the unit is different. 1 point for TeX is 1/72.27 in, while many other programs use a PostScript point, which is 1/72 in. This is called a big point (bp) in TeX.

See also What are the various units (ex, em, in, pt, bp, dd, pc) expressed in mm?

edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:34

Community

1

answered Oct 07 '11 at 01:17

Torbjørn T.

206,688

I'm using TeX for some years now. I never heard about the unit bp. With bp the program returns the expected geometry. Thanks! – Dennis Oct 07 '11 at 01:26
Besides a huge log file, are there other drawbacks of using pdf figures in "pt" and latex uses "bp"? – strauberry Aug 26 '14 at 13:26
@strauberry I don't really see how this relates to the size of the log file. And I don't see how it is a drawback either, any more than specifying the size of the figures in centimeters or inches is a drawback -- it is a different unit, so you need to make sure to calculate the correct size. – Torbjørn T. Aug 26 '14 at 13:33

geometry package - paperwidth and paperheight aren't accurate

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