Monotype

Monotype is a registered printing process with which, as the name indicates, a one-of-a-kind print can be made. Consequently, monotypes are only rarely encountered. Instead of being printed on paper or canvas, a monotype is drawn or painted on glass, acrylic or metal plates. While still wet, the ink is printed directly on to a sheet of paper. The monotype process only allows a single full print to be drawn; a few others may be made but the color fades with each state. Another monotype process entails laying the paper on a uniformly inked printing plate; the verso of the paper is rubbed with a creaser or drawn on with a pencil so that the printing ink is impressed on the paper. Monotypes with a pencil drawing verso are also classed as graphics. Here there is only one print and the drawing verso is preserved.