Machine glazed (MG) - paper with a high gloss finish on one side only.
Magenta - process red, one of the basic colours in process colour.
Magnetic ink - a magnetized ink that can be read both by humans and by electronic machines. Used in cheque printing.
Make-up - the assembling of all elements, to form the printed image.
Making ready - the time spent in making ready the level of the printing surface by packing out under the form or around the impression cylinder.
Manilla - a tough brown paper used to produce stationery and wrapping paper.
Margins - the non printing areas of page.
Mark up - copy prepared for a compositor setting out in detail all the typesetting instructions.
Mask - opaque material or masking tape used to block-off an area of the artwork.
Masthead - details of publisher and editorial staff usually printed on the contents page.
Matt art - a coated printing paper with a dull surface.
Mechanical binding - a method of binding which secures pre-trimmed leaves by the insertion of wire or plastic spirals through holes drilled in the binding edge.
Mechanical tint - a pre-printed sheet of dots, lines or patterns that can be laid down on artwork for reproduction.
Metallic ink - printing inks which produce an effect gold, silver, bronze or metallic colours.
Mid Tones - The tonal range between highlights and shadows of a photograph or reproduction
MICR - Magnetic Ink Character Recognition. Automatic sorting method used, e.g. on cheques, based on the printing of numbers in magnetic ink.
Mock-up - the rough visual of a publication or design.
Modem (MOdulator-DEModulator) - a device for converting digital data into audio signals and back again. Primarily used for transmitting data between computers over telephone lines.
Moire pattern - the result of superimposing half-tone screens at the wrong angle thereby giving a chequered effect on the printed half-tone. Normally detected during the stage of progressive proofs.
Montage - a single image formed from the assembling of several images.
Mounting board - a heavy board used for mounting artwork.
MS (Manuscript) - the original written or typewritten work of an author submitted for publication.
