M

Machine Glazed (MG)
Paper holding a high-gloss finish only on one side.

Magenta
One of the four process colours.

Makeready
(1) All activities required to prepare a press or other machine to function for a specific printing or bindery job, as compared to production run. Also called setup.
(2) Paper used in the makeready process at any stage in production. Makeready paper is part of waste or spoilage.

Making Order
Order for paper that a mill makes to the customer's specifications, as compared to a mill order or stock order.

Male Die
Die that applies pressure during embossing or debossing. Also called force card.

Manuscript (MS)
An author's original form of work (hand written, typed or on disk) submitted for publication.

Margin
Imprinted space around the edge of the printed material.

Mark-Up
Instructions written usually on a "dummy."

Mask
To prevent light from reaching part of an image, therefore isolating the remaining part. Also called knock out.

Master
Paper or plastic plate used on a duplicating press.

Match Print
A form of a four-colour-process proofing system.

Matte Finish
Flat (not glossy) finish on photographic paper or coated printing paper.

Mechanical
Camera-ready assembly of type, graphic and other copy complete with instructions to the printer. A hard mechanical consists of paper and/or acetate, is made using paste-up techniques, and may also be called an artboard, board or paste-up. A soft mechanical, also called an electronic mechanical, exists as a file of type and other images assembled using a computer.

Mechanical Bind
To bind using a comb, coil, ring binder, post or any other technique not requiring gluing, sewing or stitching.

Mechanical Separation
Colour breaks made on the mechanical using a separate overlay for each colour to be printed.

Mechanical Tint
Lines or patterns formed with dots creating artwork for reproduction.

Metallic Ink
Ink containing powdered metal or pigments that simulate metal.

Metallic Paper
Paper coated with a thin film of plastic or pigment whose colour and gloss simulate metal.

Midtones
In a photograph or illustration, tones created by dots between 30 percent and 70 percent of coverage, as compared to highlights and shadows.

Mil 1/1000 Inch
The thickness of plastic films as printing substrates are expressed in mils.

Misting
Phenomenon of droplets of ink being thrown off the roller train. Also called flying ink.

Mock Up
A reproduction of the original printed matter and possibly containing instructions or direction.

Modem
Mostly used over phone lines, a device that converts electronic stored information from point a. to point b.

Moire
Undesirable pattern resulting when halftones and screen tints are made with improperly aligned screens, or when a pattern in a photo, such as a plaid, interfaces with a halftone dot pattern.

Monarch
Paper size (7' x 10') and envelope shape often used for personal stationery.

Mottle
Spotty, uneven ink absorption. Also called sinkage. A mottled image may be called mealy.

Mull
A specific type of glue used for books binding and personal pads needing strength.

Multicolour Printing
Printing in more than one ink colour (but not four-colour process). Also called polychrome printing.

M Weight
Weight of 1,000 sheets of paper in any specific size.