What is the monotype print process?

A monotype is a hand pulled print usually on paper.  In most cases there is only one run.  

What supplies are needed?  

A press
Paper
Soaking sink or tub with water source
Plexiglas plate
Ink
Additive - plate oil
Putty knives - for mixing
Brayer
Smooth glass surface - to prepare the ink
Towels - bath and paper towels

When choosing papers look for a good quality printing paper.  I like BFK Rives.  You can use watercolor papers or experiment with materials.  If you’ve never printed before you may want to start small and with the basics.  

Before you cut your paper determine which is the “front” by the watermark.  This is the side you want the ink on.  A full sized sheet quartered is good to start.  Whatever paper or material you choose must be soaked for at least 5 minutes before printing with it. Make sure the paper is thoroughly damp with no standing water on the surface.  Old bath towels laid near a soaking sink are good for blotting the paper.

You will need Plexiglas plates sized according to what the press you are using can
accommodate and what you want to achieve.  Start with 16th inch thick 8” by 10” cut plates.  This size fits nicely on a full sheet of paper quarter cut.  If you cut the plates yourself or the edges are hard, you will need to smooth them.  Using an old wood rasp works well.  Sharp edges can cut through the paper when printing, which, of course, ruins your piece.

Ink is oil or water based.  I use oil based inks because that’s what I’m most familiar with and it absorbs into the paper better.  Ink normally comes in tubes or metal containers and is very thick.  Plate oil is an additive which thins and extends the ink. Squeeze about half an inch of ink on a non-porous work surface.  (If you can find a table top sized piece of smooth glass this is the ideal surface to work with the ink.)  Use a putty knife to mix about ¼ of a teaspoon of plate oil with the ink.  It should be a bit shiny and obviously thinner but not at all runny.  Add plate oil until you are satisfied.  If I’m using more than one color ink I have a separate brayer for each.  Roll the brayer a bit into the mixed ink pulling small portions into a rolling area.  Ink should cover the roller but not be thick.  Once you have done this for each color ink tape the Plexiglas to your work surface.  

Now get creative and apply the ink with the brayer.  One point to remember is that the image will be printed “backward” from the way the inked plate looks to you.

After you have the image you want, place the plate on the press bed, center your blotted
paper, front toward the ink on the Plexiglas and roll the press!  Oil based ink needs some drying time so a rack is great if you have it.  It will take a day or two for the ink to completely dry if you want to mount or matt the piece.

The plate may be cleaned using mineral spirits.  You can use newspaper or tear pages from old telephone books to clean the Plexiglas and work surface to save on paper towels.