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M (Megabyte) - one million bytes.

Machine glazed (MG) - paper with a high gloss finish on one side only.

Macro - a series of instructions that would normally be issued one at a time on the keyboard to control a program. A macro facility allows them to be stored and issued automatically by a single keystroke.

Magenta - one of the subtractive primary colors, the hue of which is used for one of the four process color printing inks. It reflects or transmits blue and red light and absorbs green light.

Magnetic ink - a magnetized ink that can be read both by humans and by electronic machines. Used in check printing.

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

Make-ready - All the activities required to prepare a press for printing or a binder for binding.

Manilla - A tough brown paper used to produce stationery and wrapping paper.

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

Marginal words - Call outs for directions on various parts of a business form.

Margins - the non-printing areas of page.

Mark up - copy prepared for a compositor setting out in detail all the typesetting instructions.

Mask - an opaque material used to protect selected open elements of artwork on a printing plate during exposure.

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

Matchprint - Trade name for 3M integral color proof.

Matte finish - dull paper finish without gloss or luster.

Matte print - a photo print having a dull finish.

Measure - denotes the width of a setting expressed in pica ems.

Mechanical - a term for camera ready paste-up of artwork. It includes type, photos, line art, etc., all on one piece of artboard.

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 separation - Mechanical art overlay for each color to be printed.

Mechanical tint - a pre-printed sheet of dots, lines or patterns that can be laid down on artwork for reproduction.

Memory - the part of the computer which stores information for immediate access. Nowadays this consists exclusively of RAM, random access memory, which holds the applications software and data or ROM, read only memory, which holds permanent information such as the DOS bootstrap routines. Memory size is expressed in K or M.

Menu-driven - programs which allow the user to request functions by choosing from a list of options.

Metallic ink - printing inks that produce an effect gold, silver, bronze or metallic colors.

Micrometer - Instrument used to measure the thickness of different papers.

Middle tones - The tones in a photograph that are approximately half as dark as the shadow area.

Midtones - the tonal range between highlights and shadows in a photographic image.

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.

Modern - refers to type styles introduced towards the end of the 19th century. Times roman is a good example of modern type.

Moiré pattern - the result of superimposing half-tone screens at the wrong angle thereby giving a checkered effect on the printed half tone. Normally detected during the stage of progressive proofs.

Monospace - a font in which all characters occupy the same amount of horizontal width regardless of the character.

Montage - a single image formed from the assembling of several images.

Mottle - a spotty or uneven appearance of printed material, mostly in areas of solid color.

Mounting board - a heavy board used for mounting artwork.

Mouse - a handheld pointing device using either mechanical motion or special optical techniques to convert the movement of the user's hand into movements of the cursor on the screen. Generally fitted with one, two or three buttons that can control specific software functions.

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

Mutt - a typesetting term for the em space.