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Print Glossary

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Machine Glazed (MG)

Paper holding a high-gloss finish only on one side.

Magenta

One of the four process colours.

Mailing House

Generic term used to describe a business who's core activity is the collation and mailing out of printed matter on a large scale.

Make-ready

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.

2. Paper used in the make-ready process at any stage in production. Make-ready 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.

Management Information System (MIS)

This is a computer system, linked to external production equipment and data capture/input devices for the purpose of gathering, collating and allowing for the analysis of production-related information.

Manuscript (MS)

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

Margin

White space around the edge of the printed material.

Mark-Up

Instructions to a typesetter or printer, written usually on a "dummy."

Marshalled List

Generic term used to describe a Marshalled List of Amendments to be used in the sitting of a Committee in the House of Lords. A Marshalled List will contain all amendments to a particular bill submitted up to and including the point of publication to a specific (pre-defined) order. Printed on Sovereign Wove.

Marshalling Order

The specific (pre-defined) order which a Committee (Lords or Commons) will consider the Clause and Schedules and, thus the amendments, of a Bill. This is usually affected by the contentiousness of particular Clauses and or Schedules.

Mask

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

Master

1. Paper or plastic plate used on a duplicating press.

2. Generic term for an electronic file stored in the Miles typesetting system which is turned in on numerous occasions to ensure continuity.

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.

Members

Generic term used to refer to MPs.

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.

Miles

Generic term used to describe the Miles33 typesetting system in pre-press. A code-driven, text-based computer system used for the presentation and management of data. Also a very powerful pagination engine. A large number of Westminster products are produced in Miles.

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.

Moiré

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 or mealy.

Mull

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

Muller

Generic term used to refer to the 15-station muller-martini gathering line in the finishing department.

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.

Print Glossary

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