Machine coated (MC):

Paper which has been coated on the paper making machine.

Machine Direction:

See Grain.

Machine Finished (MF):

Paper which has been given a smooth finish on a paper making machine (but not super calendered).

Machine Proof:

A proof which has been run off on a production printing press. Also see Proof.

Magenta:

One of the three subtractive primary colours. In printing, one of four process inks. Process red.

Make Ready:

All the activities required to set up the press for a pressrun, including running test sheets of paper.

Make-up:

The assembling of all elements, to form the printed image.

Malt:

A non glossy finish.

Margin:

The blank space around the image area of a page.

Marginal Words:

Call outs for directions on various parts of a business form.

Mask:

Blocking light from reaching parts of a printing plate.

Matchprint:

Trade name for 3M integral colour proof. See also Cromalin (R) proof.

Matrix:

An area in which a dot of a digital screen is represented by pixels juxtaposed in printer output.

Matte Finish:

Dull paper or ink finish.

Matte Finish Foil:

Foil having a diffuse reflecting finish.

Mechanical:

Camera ready art all contained on one board.

Mechanical Separation:

Mechanical art overlay for each colour to be printed.

Megabyte:

1,024 kilobytes or 1,048,576 bytes of information.

Melting Point:

The temperature at which a solid compound goes to the liquid state.

Micro Dry:

Fuses dry ink from a cassette ribbon on to paper.

Micro Perforations:

Fine, 60-72 teeth to the inch, perforations used to give a 'clean edge' effect to continuous forms.

Micrometer:

Instrument used to measure the thickness of different papers.

Middle Tones:

The tones in a photograph which are approximately half as dark as the shadow area.

Mill Making:

Paper made for a specific order. There is a minimum quantity needed for it to occur.

Modem:

Meaning: Modulator / DEModulator. A piece of hardware that lets computers talk to each other over telephone lines (you also need a communication program). The modem translates back and fourth between the computers digital data and the sounds carried over the phone lines.

Moire:

An undesirable pattern in a halftone and screen tints made when screens are improperly aligned.

Moire Pattern:

The result of superimposing half-tone screen at the wrong angle thereby giving a chequered effect on the printed halftone. Normally detected during the stage of progressive proofs.

Moisture Content:

The amount of moisture found in a sheet of paper. If the moisture content in a sheet is too high or too low, the paper can curl or build up static, which affects the way it runs through a press, printer or copier.

Monochrome:

An image of a single colour. Usually refers to black on white but also describes single colour print, for example, brown or beige.

Montage:

A composite illustration combining several images

Montage Electronic:

The insertion of an image into another image by means of photographic or electronic masks.

Mull:

An open weave fabric fixed to the back of case bound books and overlapping each side to provide a strong hinge.

Mullen Test:

Measurement of bursting strength of paper and paperboard, in pounds per square inch. A relatively simple machine, either motor-driven or hand-operated, applies increasing pressure to one square inch of the sample until it ruptures.

Multi-Part:

Form made up of more than one sheet of paper. Can be made up of various weights of paper depending on application of form.