Fine Print Knowledge Center
The online guide to print and design.
- Metallic Paper
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Paper coated with a thin film containing metal or a thin film of plastic whose color and gloss simulate metal.
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- Metameric Colors
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Colors that are affected by different lighting conditions, resulting in their hue appearing different under one lighting condition and then looking similar under another.
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- Metamerism
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Phenomenon by which color samples with different spectra appear to match under a particular type of illuminant, although under other illuminants they show a color mismatch.
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- Metric System
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A decimal system used by most countries to measure solids, liquids and distance.
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- Mezzotint
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A screen made up of irregular shapes in random placement to produce an image.
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- MF
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Machine finished
Any finish obtained on a papermaking machine.
It can refer to either the finish on the sheet as it leaves the last drying cylinder of the machine, or the finish given to a sheet by calendering online.
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- MFC
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MFC, LWC, HWC, MWC, SC, ULWC
Standard international acronyms for weights and grades of papers used in rotary offset and letterpress printing.
Coated stock can be identified HWC (heavy-weight coated), MWC (medium-weight coated), LWC (lightweight coated), or ULWC (ultra-lightweight coated).
All are wood pulp-based, but available in many varieties. MFC (machine-finished coated) paper is made primarily from ground wood pulp, has a grammage of 48 to 80 gsm, and may be high volume.
LWC paper is particularly lightweight stock for use on rotary offset machines. SC (supercalendered) paper is an uncoated wood pulp stock based mainly on ground wood and recycled content.
It features an additional finish applied by a separate supercalender.
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- Mhz
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- MIB
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Management Information Base
A repository designed to enable communications between network devices in open systems, in an OSI network.
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- MICR
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Magnetic Ink Character Recognition
A technology used for printing text with magnetic ink or toner so that it can be read by a scanner. This technology is used mainly
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- MICR Clear Band
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On a check, a band 5/8 inch up from the aligning edge of a check. The band runs parallel to that edge and extends the full length of the check. The MICR number for the check is imprinted in this area on the face of the check. This area must be free of any other magnetic printing to prevent problems from occuring when the MICR number is scanned. Also referred to as check clear zone.
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- MICR Numbering
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(Magnetic Image Character Recognition) a special encoded number used on checks and other documents that enable the document to be read by MICR scanning equipment for processing of information contained on the document.
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- Microfiche
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Microfilm in the form of chips or cards, used for storage of printed material or graphics.
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- Microfilm
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A small film containing a miniature photographic copy of printed materials and graphics.
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- Micrometer
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- Micron
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A unit of measure equal to one millionth of a meter or .00004”.
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- Microprint
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Extremely small print that is only legible when highly magnified.
It is used as a security element on banknotes and other documents at risk of being forged.
The image resolution of color copiers and other similar machines is insufficient to reproduce microprint.
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- Microprinting
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Microprinting is a line of text that is so small that it appears as a solid or screened line.
A low powered magnifying glass is needed to verify that it is text.
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- Mid Tones
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The tonal range between highlights and shadows of a photograph or reproduction.
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- Mid-Roll Change
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Feature available on the Kodak Advantix 5800 MRX-Zoom camera that enables users to remove a partially exposed film cassette, insert it again later, and start shooting exactly where they left off.
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- Middleware
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Refers to software that connects two separate applications such as products that link a database to a Web server.
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- Midtone
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The tonal values of an image that fall halfway between the highlight and shadow areas of the halftone, generally created by dots of 30% to 70% ink coverage. Also referred to as middle tones.
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- Mil
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A unit of measure equal to one thousandth of an inch (0.001 inch).
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- Mill Brand
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The brand name given to the paper by the paper manufacturer.
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- Mill Count
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A term used to indicate that the sheet count of a shipment of paper was performed by the mill only. The merchant did not recount it.
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- Mill Cut
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Indicates that the edge was cut by the machine slitter or cutters, opposed to being cut by the guillotine trimmer. The edge cut by the trimmer is smoother and more accurate.
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- Mill Direct
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When the end user purchases paper directly from the mill.
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- Mill Edge
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The edge of the paper that has been cut by the machine slitter. Generally the mill edge is slightly rough.
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- Mill Line
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A line of related papers that is owned and named by the manufacturer.
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- Milli
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The prefix of a unit of measurement representing a thousand parts.
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