Printing Terms Glossary
Magenta
– One of the four process colors which reflects or transmits blue and
red light and absorbs green light.
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 – An order for paper that a paper mill makes to the
customer’s specifications, as compared to a mill order or stock
order.
Male Die – A letterpress term used to describe a die with a convex
surface that applies pressure during embossing or debossing. Also referred
to as a force card.
Mark-Up – To write instructions indicating alterations or corrections
on a prepress proof.
Mask – To prevent light from reaching part of an image, therefore
isolating the remaining part. Also referred to as knock out.
Master – A paper or plastic plate used on a duplicating press.
Match Print – A generic term which refers to a composite color
proof. Specifically, a brand name for a form of a four-color-process proofing
system manufatured by 3M.
Matte Finish – A paper term used to describe a flat paper surface
finish that is without gloss or lustre.
Mechanical
– A prepress term which describes the camera-ready assembly of type,
graphics 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 – A bindery term that refers to a method of binding
which uses a comb, coil, ring binder, post or any other technique not requiring
gluing, sewing or stitching.
Mechanical Separation – A prepress term used to describe color
breaks made on the mechanical using a separate overlay for each color to be
printed.
Metallic Ink – Ink containing powdered metal or pigments that
simulate metallic lustre.
Metallic Paper – A type of paper that is coated with a thin film
of plastic or pigment whose color 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 – A unit of measurement which equals 1/1000 Inch.
Mill
– A manufacturing facility that produces paper products.
Mock Up – A reproduction of the original printed matter and possibly
containing instructions or direction.
Moiré – An 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.
Molleton – A thick cotton fabric, similar to flannel, that is used on the dampening rollers of a press.
Monarch – Paper size (7" x 10") and envelope shape often
used for personal stationery.
Mottling – Spotty, uneven ink absorption. Also called sinkage.
A mottled image may be called mealy.
Mull – A specific type of glue used for book binding and personal
pads that require exceptional strength.
Mullen
Tester – A machine used for testing the bursting strength of paper.
Multicolor Printing – Printing in more than one ink color (but
not four-color process). Also called polychrome printing.
M Weight – The weight of 1,000 sheets of paper in any specific size.
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