Photographic Lines
The Disney Studios developed a method of reproducing animation drawings to cel by means of a photographic process as early as 1936, for use on Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs. The technique continued to be used as late as the early…
Hand Inking
Hand Inking — Prior to the late 1950’s, all animation drawings were traced onto cels by hand using a quill pen or brush. A variety of inks were used, but in general, the colored ink lines were simply cel paint…
Cel Levels
Cel Levels — The individual cels that go together to make up a cel setup. Due to technical considerations, it was very rare for two or more separate characters to be included on a single cel level. Usually, each element…
Nitrate Cels & Acetate Cels
Nitrate Cels — Animation cels made from cellulose nitrate, a flammable, unstable material prone to wrinkling, yellowing and shrinkage over long periods of time. Decomposing nitrate emits fumes and resins which can accelerate the rate of decomposition of any cel…
Xerography
In the late 1950’s, the Disney Studios developed a xerographic process to transfer the animator’s drawings directly onto cels. Sleeping Beauty was the first film to include scenes utilizing this process. At first, only black toner was used, but in…
Rough Animation Drawings
Animators have been described as «Actors with a Pencil», and this is certainly true. But they are also draughtsmen and experts on physics. As the character performs, the Animator must keep track of the three dimensional volumes and the effect…
