Abstract: The invention relates to a biodegradable foil made from a low salt content hydroxypropylether solution of a starch containing at least 70% amylose having a median molecular weight from between about 105 to about 2×107, a polydispersity from about 2 to about 8, a degree of substitution from about 0.1 to about 0.5, and a substantially equal substituent distribution between C2/C3 and C6 bond sites in a glucose molecule and a density of about 1.3 g/cm3. The foil is of a thickness between about 20 &mgr;m and 200 &mgr;m and has a light transmissivity, at light of a wavelength of about 560 nm of in excess of 80%. The foil is especially suitable for printing, writing and deep drawing as well as for projection slides.