Digest size

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Digest size is a standard magazine size, smaller than a conventional bedsheet size magazine but larger than a standard paperback book, approximately 5 1/2 x 8 1/4 inches, but can also be 5 3/8 x 8 3/8 inches. These two variations have evolved from the printing press operation end. Some printing press' refer to digest-size as a catalog size such as Avon products used when selling house to house.

The most famous digest sized magazine is, perhaps unsurprisingly, Reader's Digest, for which the size appears to have been named. TV Guide also used the format. This format was considered to be a more convenient size for readers to tote around or to leave on the coffee table within easy reach.

Since the 1950s it has also been used by several science fiction magazines including:

New Worlds
Science Fantasy
The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction
Galaxy Science Fiction
Astounding (later Analog)
Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine.

Also a standard digest-size publication, CoffeeHouse Digest is the only national magazine distributed free-of-charge at coffeehouses through out the United States. Although its name belies its content; it doesn't focus on the coffee connoisseur, but is a general interest "coffeehouse lifestyle" magazine.

From the late 1960s on, several comic book publishers put out 'comic digests', usually about 6 3/4 x 4 inches. Gold Key Comics did three that lasted until the mid 1970s. DC Comics did a few in the early 1980s. Harvey Comics did a few during the same time. Archie Comics has published comic digests since the 1970s, and remains the only comic book publisher to still do them.

The manga graphic novel format is similar to digest size, although slightly narrower and generally thicker.

The A5 paper size used by many UK fanzines is slightly wider and taller than digest size.

This size is less popular now than it once was; in 2005, TV Guide dropped it in favor of a larger format, and the Analog and Asimov's science fiction magazines switched to a format slightly larger than digest size several years earlier. The main publications remaining in digest size now are Reader's Digest and some Archie comics digests. Children's Digest was originally in digest size, but switched long ago to a larger format as well, though keeping the word "Digest" in its name. Writer's Digest is another publication with the word in its name that is not actually in that size.

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