Patent Document ID: 4695141
Application ID: 06810356
Patent Status: 1

Claim One:
1. In a method for the production of a motion picture film combining at least one live-action subject and animation, in which a series of successive frames of a motion picture photographic color film are exposed in an animation camera to the combination of a background image and a superposed transparent cell sheet of such live action subject, and then photographically processed, the improvement which comprises the steps of: (a) producing photographic positive-type transparent enlargements of the images of selected frames of a black and white generally continuous tone live-action film of at least one subject, such enlargement carrying its image in a format which corresponds with the format of said background image, said image of such enlargement having a generally continuous tone grey gradation generally corresponding to the gradation of the image of the corresponding frame of said live subject film, (b) producing subject contour images from the subject enlargements by hand-tracing onto a drawing sheet the controus of the distinct areas of the images of said subject enlargements, (c) superimposing a transparent cell sheet upon each said subject contour image and applying to the areas of said cell sheet delineated by the underlying contour image opaque colorant of appropriate coloration to said live action frames, and (d) forming a sandwich of each subject enlargement in registration with the corresponding cell sheet and combining said sandwich with the background image for the exposure of a frame of said motion picture film in said animation camera.