A monotype is a type of printmaking where the artist creates exactly one print, instead of multiples like in other printmaking processes. The artist applies paint or ink directly onto a smooth, non-absorbent surface, which can be metal, glass, plexiglas, or even gelatin. The plate is then pressed against the paper to transfer the ink, resulting in a mirror image of whats on the plate. Monotypes can be embellished with stencils, watercolor, solvents, brushes, and other tools.

Monotypes are not repeatable, as they allow only one pull of the original image elements, perhaps followed by a ghost print. The terms "monotype" and "monoprint" were historically used interchangeably, but now they refer to two different, though similar, types of printmaking. A monoprint forms part of a series of prints that each have some variation between them, while a monotype is essentially one of a kind.

There are three main approaches to monotype printmaking: the additive or light-field method, the subtractive or dark-field method, and the viscosity method. The tools and materials used to create monotypes are virtually endless, from paint brushes to beach grass, from q-tips to finger tips, from palette knives to wooden spoons.