How to Make a Storyboard.
Whether you’re working on your next video project or looking for ways to refresh your illustrations, a storyboard template can help you tell your story. They’re perfect to get that creative spark going, or for pitching your next big idea – the sky’s the limit.
Read on to learn more about what a storyboard is, why they’re important, and how to create your own.
Find a Free storyboard plan with Adobe.
Download your free printable storyboard plan below. From comics to animation reels, short films and commercials, create a storyboard and begin your next exciting project.
What you’ll learn:
- What is a Storyboard?
- What to include in a Storyboard?
- Why is a Storyboard important?
- How to create a Storyboard.
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- What?
- Include
- Why?
- How?
What is a Storyboard?
A storyboard is a type of graphic design layout that allows you to visually sequence images and illustrations to tell a story.
When working in a wider team, they’re used to visualise and communicate how you want a project to look, and how a story should be structured. They often include photos, videos, and hand-drawn images.
You can use them for a variety of different projects and mediums, including TV and film, commercials, comics, and animation.
What to include in a Storyboard?
A storyboard usually only includes the most important moments that need to be captured – usually by an artist, writer, or director. The board itself uses several squares to order scenes and visuals. These squares incorporate photos or illustrations, alongside extra information about the scene.
Some other key elements often used in storyboards include:
- Shot Types.
For example, establishing or wide shots. - Shot Numbers.
To order the visuals. - Camera and Stage Directions.
These convey extra information to camera operators and actors. - Action and Movement.
There to aid actors and animators and to convey how the story should be told. - Dialogue or Narration.
To pair with the visuals. - Extra Technical Details.
Such as lighting and sound.
Why is a Storyboard Important?
A storyboard is important when you want to clearly communicate an idea to a wider team, or just simply set out a story for yourself. It’s the epitome of the old creative saying – show don’t tell.
Some of the benefits of using a storyboard include:
You can add as much detail to the images, dialogue, and technical direction as you want.
By showing other people exactly how you want a narrative to play out, it avoids crossed wires and saves peoples’ time.
If a stakeholder can clearly visualise a project or story, they may be more likely to buy into an idea. A picture tells a thousand words.
How to create a Storyboard.
Ready to create your storyboard? Here are some tips to help you get started.
- Choose how many blank slides you need.
Think about your project – will you need a quick commercial storyboard template PDF, or a longer one for an animation episode? It could be a good idea to have the script or a breakdown in front of you so you can work out how many boxes you’ll need. - Add your photos or images.
This is the fun part – add your photos or hand-drawn illustrations onto your blank storyboard template. If you’re doing this digitally, you can scan these into your desktop, or use an app like Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop. - Incorporate your script.
The slides should have space beneath them where you can add dialogue and stage directions. You don’t want to cram this in, so make sure you’ve incorporated enough slides into your storyboard template. - Add any FX notes.
Dialogue and stage directions aren’t the only things a production team will need to know. Extra FX notes, such as light, sound, or visual effects, are an important part of telling any story. - Review and share.
Review your storyboard, add annotations and any extra notes you feel will be helpful in production. Storyboards are often used as first drafts of a story, so don’t worry if it looks messy. Of course, you can always use a fresh blank storyboard template to tidy things up a bit after.
Download a storyboard plan PDF or PPT.
Download your free printable storyboard template below. From comics to animation reels, short films, and commercials, create a storyboard and begin your next exciting project.
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