<p>Yes you can, dilute ordinary household bleach 1:10 with water, works a treat, I've done it loads of times. </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-03-11T23:45:09.470Z
Upvoted to offset the unexplained downvote. Accepted answer is wrong about film structure and I believe you when you say you have actually done it! You might want to flesh out your answer a little... do you need to wipe the emulsion off the base? etc... cheers!
rebusB
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-03-23T00:10:10.787Z
2018-03-23T00:10:10.787Z
Johnny Mercer
<p>No, the gray and black light-sensitive chemicals are embedded on the film media and won't simply wash off or &quot;turn clear&quot; in bleach.</p>
<p>What you are trying to do is known as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drawn-on-film_animation" rel="noreferrer"><strong>Draw-on-film animation</strong></a>, but I've also seen it referred to as cameraless animation, clear leader animation, marker animation, scratch film, and direct animation. I enjoyed trying this in my early experimental-film days. It was a lot of fun and you can create some interesting experimental media projects using various techniques.</p>
<h2>Draw-on-Film Animation Media</h2>
<p>Typically you start with <strong>clear film leader</strong> (comes in acetate, polyester/mylar) where you essentially draw or paint your animation frame by frame. Folks also <em>scratch</em> animated pieces into black exposed film and (optionally) add color later. Folks have even added hand-drawn animation <em><strong>over</strong></em> traditional black &amp; white films, so if you have some footage available to you, that's an intriguing option.</p>
<p>Here are some examples and techniques to help get you started:</p>
<ul>
<li>YouTube (instructional video) : <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cn5e2NvvELI" rel="noreferrer"><strong>How to do Animation by Drawing on Film</strong></a></li>
<li>Exploriatium (Instructional PDF): <a href="https://www.exploratorium.edu/pie/downloads/Scratch_Film.pdf" rel="noreferrer"><strong>Scract Film: Direct Animation</strong></a></li>
<li>YouTube (amazing example): <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjDzdS-69w4" rel="noreferrer"><strong>Process of making direct animation</strong></a></li>
<li>Search: <a href="https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=clear+acetate+leader" rel="noreferrer"><strong>Clear Acetate Leader</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/b39bE.png" alt="" /></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-24T18:22:53.973Z
Yes, this is how many of the early cinematic masterpieces from filmmakers like [Melies](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvhTo2-0BQg) were colored... they'd add pigments to the developed film. Very time consuming but a beautiful outcome.
Catija
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-24T18:16:39.467Z
2016-05-24T20:16:02.030Z
2020-06-18T08:35:49.040Z
Robert Cartaino
<p>I have a direct animation project I want to do using super 8mm film, but I'm struggling to find the right kind of film. I am wondering if I can buy some super 8mm film, leave it in bleach so it removes the pictures -- will that leave it clear?</p>

<p>Has anyone done something similar to get blank film?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-24T10:19:36.613Z
So you are looking draw directly on the film? You want to bleach it, in theory, because then you can draw on it and have a white background?
Matt
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-24T15:22:24.297Z
yes that sounds right. I may scratch in the emulsion as well. I just want to make sure I remembered how do do this properly.
MrPatrickHenry
<medium-selection><surface-preparation>
To do direct animation on clear super 8 mm film, can i just bleach some old film?
MrPatrickHenry
# To do direct animation on clear super 8 mm film, can i just bleach some old film?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-05-24)

I have a direct animation project I want to do using super 8mm film, but I'm struggling to find the right kind of film. I am wondering if I can buy some super 8mm film, leave it in bleach so it removes the pictures -- will that leave it clear?

Has anyone done something similar to get blank film?

**Tags:** medium-selection, surface-preparation

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: So you are looking draw directly on the film? You want to bleach it, in theory, because then you can draw on it and have a white background?  
> **username_0**: yes that sounds right. I may scratch in the emulsion as well. I just want to make sure I remembered how do do this properly.  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2016-05-24. Score: 10 | Accepted answer

No, the gray and black light-sensitive chemicals are embedded on the film media and won't simply wash off or "turn clear" in bleach.

What you are trying to do is known as [**Draw-on-film animation**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drawn-on-film_animation), but I've also seen it referred to as cameraless animation, clear leader animation, marker animation, scratch film, and direct animation. I enjoyed trying this in my early experimental-film days. It was a lot of fun and you can create some interesting experimental media projects using various techniques.

## Draw-on-Film Animation Media

Typically you start with **clear film leader** (comes in acetate, polyester/mylar) where you essentially draw or paint your animation frame by frame. Folks also *scratch* animated pieces into black exposed film and (optionally) add color later. Folks have even added hand-drawn animation ***over*** traditional black & white films, so if you have some footage available to you, that's an intriguing option.

Here are some examples and techniques to help get you started:

* YouTube (instructional video) : [**How to do Animation by Drawing on Film**](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cn5e2NvvELI)
* Exploriatium (Instructional PDF): [**Scract Film: Direct Animation**](https://www.exploratorium.edu/pie/downloads/Scratch_Film.pdf)
* YouTube (amazing example): [**Process of making direct animation**](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjDzdS-69w4)
* Search: [**Clear Acetate Leader**](https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=clear+acetate+leader)

![](https://i.sstatic.net/b39bE.png)

> **Comments:**
> **username_5**: Yes, this is how many of the early cinematic masterpieces from filmmakers like [Melies](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvhTo2-0BQg) were colored... they'd add pigments to the developed film. Very time consuming but a beautiful outcome.  

---

### Answer by username_2 on 2018-03-23. Score: 1

Yes you can, dilute ordinary household bleach 1:10 with water, works a treat, I've done it loads of times.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: Upvoted to offset the unexplained downvote. Accepted answer is wrong about film structure and I believe you when you say you have actually done it! You might want to flesh out your answer a little... do you need to wipe the emulsion off the base? etc... cheers!  

---

