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.