APT process

The APT process is a photographic transfer system that can photographically transfer lines or solid blocks of colours onto acetate sheets (cels). A very similar process is used in silk screen printing. The process relies on UV-sensitive inks that cure when exposed to light and stick to the plastic sheet, while the ink in the non-exposed areas are chemically removed from the sheet. Its main advantage is that colouring - normally done via back painting after xerox scanning - can be controlled better and multiple versions made quickly. To put it simply: the drawings are photographed and the negatives then processed onto the cels instead of the typical photography. It also meant that a line on an animated character could be in colour instead of just black (although xerography at this point could be done in colors too); this is known as self-coloured lines.

This process was used on Disney's animated features such as "The Black Cauldron", "The Great Mouse Detective", "Oliver & Company" and "The Little Mermaid".

External links

* [http://experts.about.com/q/Animation-3158/APT-process-1.htm "The APT Process" on the "AllExperts" forum]

ee also

*The Black Cauldron
*Timeline of CGI in film and television
*Traditional animation