A Monoprint is a one-of-a-kind print that forms part of a series. Each finished monoprint varies from the other, but a common element is present in each print.
It may be made the same way as a monotype but is one of a series; therefore, it is only partially unique. One image may be pulled from the plate. However, a secondary or third less contrasted image may be pulled from the same plate afterward. This is called a 'ghost' image. It will have the same shapes but different values.
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The Process
A monoprint is similar to a monotype, but in a monoprint, part of the image is repeatable, derived from a fixed matrix—that is, parts of the plate are marked permanently. The result is still unique but includes elements that can be repeated in multiple prints (Camhy, 2017).
The handling of a plate can produce dramatically different effects from print to print. Manipulation of the ink, varied printing pressure, and the choice of printing paper all contribute to the results. Prints from the same plate are not intended to be part of a consistent edition. Each will inevitably evolve in its own direction—instead, a series of related but distinct works (Camhy, 2017).
References
Camhy, Sherry. (2017, winter). Painterly Prints: Monotype and Monoprint. Drawing Magazine. p. 20.
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