Monotypes are unique, one-of-a-kind works of art, as are the prints made from them. The art form is known as painterly print or printer's painting. The process involves painting artwork in ink on a metal or plexiglass plate and then imprinting, or pulling, the plate onto high-quality paper to create the print. Because only one or two impressions can be made before the ink is drawn from the plate, each monotype print will be a singular piece of art. In addition, artists use additive or reductive techniques to manipulate the ink - thinning, thickening, or re-layering some of the ink, or scratching, daubing, wiping, or blocking it - for a variety of printing effects.