M - Printing Terminology and Facts

MACHINE VARNISH
A varnish applied to the printed sheet to protect or seal against scuffing and marking and which can have either a gloss or matt finish.

MATT (OR SILK) COATED PAPER
An art paper which has received a surface coating to give a smooth, matt finish. Matt papers are in essence exactly the same as gloss papers, but have less pressure applied during the ‘polishing’ aspect of manufacture (known as calendaring) to give the slightly rougher, less shiny finished surface.

MATT VARNISHES
A varnish applied to printed literature to protect against scuffing and marking, giving a matt finish.

METAL FX
A new printing process which allows us to print up to 104 million different metallic colours in 1 pass of a 5 colour press.