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

Machine clothing - Paper machine felts and wire are often referred to as “clothing.”

Machine coated - Paper coated one or two sides on the papermaking machine.

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

Machine trim - Refers to the width allowed across the paper machine. Always a min and max allowed depending on basis weight and grade. Each machine has a specific number of cuts/slitters.

Make Up - the assembling of all elements, to form the printed image.

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 custom-made paper., 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 - Space around the edge of the printed material

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

Mask - Opaque material or masking tape used to block-off an area of the artwork.

Mask Out - To cover selected copy or art so it will not appear on a negative or plate.

Master - Paper or plastic offset printing plate used on a duplicating press.

Masthead - Details of publisher and editorial staff usually printed on the contents page.

Match Print - 3M brand name for a four-color-process proofing system.

Matte Finish - Coated papers with little or no gloss, ranging from 0-20 on the gloss scale.

Mechanical - Camera-ready assembly of type, graphic and other line 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 Binding - A method of binding which secures pre-trimmed leaves by the insertion of a comb, wire or plastic spirals through holes drilled in the binding edge, not requiring gluing, sewing or stitching

Mechanical Separation - Color breaks made on the mechanical using a separate overlay for each color to be printed.

Mechanical Tint - A pre-printed sheet of Lines or patterns formed with dots creating artwork for reproduction.

Metallic Ink - Printing inks which produce an effect gold, silver, bronze or metallic colors.

Metallic Paper - Paper 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 - The thickness of plastic films as printing substrates are expressed in mils. 1/1000 inch

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

Mock Up - The rough visual of a publication or design.

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.

Moisture content - Refers to the amount of moisture found in a sheet of paper. Average amount ranges from 4-7%. This figure varies from sheet to sheet since paper will emit or absorb moisture according to the condition of the surrounding atmosphere. It is affected by both the drying conditions when made and the relative humidity environment in which it is used. The amount of water in a sheet of paper affects basis weight, printability, physical strength, and runnability. Moisture loss is realized in the form of shrinkage, which begins at the edges of paper and moves across the grain causing the sheet to tighten, wrinkle and curl.

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

MS (Manuscript) - The original written or typewritten work of an author submitted for publication.

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

Multicolor Printing - Printing done in more than one ink color (but not four-color process).

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