Jul 31 2010

Glossary of Terms for
Paper and Printing

"M"

M

Abbreviation for Magenta ink in the four colour process.

M WEIGHT

The weight of one thousand sheets of paper of a specific grade and size, or double the ream weight.

MACERATION

The process of reducing fibres to pulp.

MACHINE COATED

Paper or board, which is pigr/m2ent coated at the end of the paper or board-making machine.

MACHINE COATING

Applying coating to paper on the paper machine on which the paper is made.

MACHINE DIRECTION

The direction of a sheet or web of paper corresponding with the direction of the flow on the paper machine.

MACHINE FINISH

Finish or texture pressed into the paper while it is being formed on the papermaking machine.

MACHINE FINISHED

Paper that is calendered on the papermaking machines, but is not supercalendered to give a very smooth finish or gloss. Has good bulk and is often used for book manufacturing.

MACHINE GLAZED (MG)

Paper which is dried on the papermaking machine by a very large cylinder with a polished surface. The paper has a smooth and rough side. MG papers are used for wrapping papers and posters.

MACHINE PROOF

Proof produced on the same press, and by the same process, as the final job. The most accurate type of proof available.

MACHINE STACK

A set of steel rollers at the end of a paper machine between which the paper is passed to give it a smooth surface.

MAGENTA

One of the four process colours (pinkish red ink) used in litho printing.

MAKE-READY

Setting up a press to run a job. A number of sheets will be run through for each colour / process before the make-ready is considered complete and the job ready to run. In addition hanging plates, adjusting blankets, setting registrations, balancing ink colours and other press preparations are needed prior to a print run.

MAKING OR MANUFACTURING ORDER

The specification of a special weight, colour or size of paper not available as a standard stocking item.

MARBLING

A decorative technique of making patterns on paper.

MARK-UP

Instructions written on artwork / proofs for the printer to follow.

MASKING

Shielding an area of paper when applying selective colour.

MATCH COLOUR

A custom-blended ink that matches the specified colour in a colour system, such as PANTONE MATCHING SYSTEM®, ColourcurveTM and ToyoTM. More exacting than four-colour process in achieving a specific colour and shade.

MATT FINISH

A dull, clay-coated paper without gloss or luster.

MECHANICAL BINDING

Stacked single sheets of paper that have been hole-punched and secured with a spiral wire or plastic comb.

MECHANICAL DIE-CUTTING

Uses sharp steel rules formed into the desired shape and set into a wooden die. Mounted to a letterpress, these rules are designed to cut, score, crease or perforate when pressed against paper and a flat counter. Standard dies are readily available for pocket folders and other common uses.

MECHANICAL PULP

Pulp made by the grinding of steamed or boiled groundwood (without the addition of chemical agents).

MECHANICAL PULPING

The process of separating wood fibres for pulp by grinding wood chips mechanically rather than through the use of chemicals. Also known as groundwood pulping, this method simply grinds wood into short fibres without removing any lignin or impurities that cause paper to yellow, crack and disintegrate over time. Such paper is used primarily for newsprint.

MEGABYTE

1,000 kilobytes of data - 8 million bits.

MELAMINE FORMALDEHYDE RESIN

A polymer produced by reacting melamine with formaldehyde; wet strengthening agent.

MERCHANT

A paper distributor for paper mills and manufacturers.

METAMERISM

The tendency of colour to appear different under different light sources such as fluorescent or natural sunlight.

MICROMETER

Instrument used to measure the thickness (calliper) of paper.

MIDDLES

Furnish layer of a board situated between the two external furnish layers or between an underliner and the back furnish layer.

MILL

A company that processes raw materials into finished or industrial products. In the case of the printing paper industry, a mill will convert trees into wood chips, wood chips into pulp, and pulp into paper.

MILL BROKE

Paper that has not passed mill inspection and will be remanufactured into new paper.

MISREGISTRATION

One or more of the four passes (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow of Black) not completely aligned onto one another. This usually leaves a shadow or halo effect throughout the entire image.

MOIRE (MOIRE PATTERN)

Unsightly patterns that appear in printed materials when halftone screen angles of the separations are set to the wrong angles which can create an undesirable, blurry effect.

MOISTURE CONTENT

The amount of moisture in paper, normally ranging from 5% to 8%. Paper easily picks up or emits moisture to and from the surrounding environment.

MONOCHROME

One colour or single colour.

MORDANT

A chemical such as alum, which makes paper receptive to ink when marbling.

MOTTLE

A spotty or uneven printed surface which is most apparent in solid areas.

MOTTLED

A variegated effect produced by the mixture of differently dyed fibres or a drip of colour on the wet pulp. When deliberately produced can also be known as 'granite' or 'silurian' effect.

MOULD

The Implement with which hand made paper is made.

MOUNTING

The process by which a piece of printed material is affixed to a receiving surface.

MUD CRACKING

A term that describes a fault in inkjet printing when liquid or ink sinks into the paper and leaves pigr/m2ent only on the surface, which subsequently cracks.

MULLEN TESTER

A machine for testing the bursting strength of paper.