A poster is considered "monotone" if it is printed using only one color (usually black on a white background).

Monotone materials, particularly one sheets, were initially introduced by major movie studios for the purpose of providing promotional materials that were less costly to film exhibitors than the full color posters. They were also great for cutting advertising costs on low-budget films produced by both major and minor motion picture studios. The studio-issued monotone materials were used extensively on military bases.

These monotone materials usually feature the same artwork as the full color counterparts, only in one color. They will normally include the same credit and print information, but will not have the NSS number or NSS tag line.

Several independent printers introduced a line of primarily monotone window cards as an inexpensive alternative to the National Screen Service materials. These materials were particularly attractive to small city and rural theaters. Window cards were made for mass distribution to be placed in retail and office windows, posted on utility poles, nailed to fences, etc.. As such, many theatres and movie exhibitors found these monotone window cards to be extremely cost effective. The three most prominent of these secondary printers were: (1) Benton Card Company; (2) Hatch Card Company; and (3) Globe Card Company.

The monotone window cards released by the independent printers may contain the same artwork as the NSS window cards, but they usually have their own unique artwork. The name of the printer is normally printed somewhere in the bottom border of the window card.

The value assessed to monotone materials by most movie collectors depends upon which category the materials belong. If a movie studio released monotone materials along with color versions of the same paper, then the monotone versions will not command the same dollar value as their color counterparts. Most collectors prefer the full color over monotone, if both such versions exist. If, however, the monotone posters are the only ones released with the particular film in question, then the value of these materials would be based on standard "supply and demand" theories.

Original monotone materials released by independent or secondary printers are generally considered collectible. However, most collectors do not consider them as desirable as the color versions released either through NSS or the movie studios. Even when the artwork and colors are identical, there can be major differences in the prices for materials produced by independent printers and those issued through NSS or the movie studios.