Which printing technique produces only one unique print?

Monotype is the printing technique that produces only one unique print because of its process of creation. In this technique, an image is drawn or painted onto a smooth surface, typically a metal plate or a piece of plastic, using inks or paints. The design is then transferred onto paper by applying pressure, often using a printing press.

What distinguishes monotype from other printing techniques is that once the print is made, the original design cannot be reproduced exactly. The substance used for the image is either removed with the transfer or becomes partly absorbed into the substrate, preventing a second identical print from being created. This results in a one-of-a-kind artwork, making monotypes highly valued for their uniqueness in the art world.

Other options involve processes that can produce multiple copies or are inherently repeatable. For instance, linocut involves carving a design into a linoleum block that can be inked multiple times to create many prints. Stamping can also yield multiple impressions from a single stamp, and aquatint allows for the production of multiple prints from a single etched plate. In contrast, the core characteristic of monotype is its singularity in the printed image.