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Make Storyboard Online: Strategies For Beginners
Using storyboards to communicate ideas has become popular, especially in the entertainment industry. Previously, these animated panels were created on paper and pinned up on a wall. With all of the technology available today, it is possible to make storyboards online for professional purposes and education.
This article will explore tools to make storyboards online, creative management software to organize your workflow from client’s brief to finished project, and other features of this application.
What Is A Storyboard?
A storyboard is a type of representation that is composed of images with captions or text. The most common uses for a storyboard are visualizing scenes for film, television, and video presentations.
The storyboards used in film, television, and video are generally referred to as “production storyboards,” as they are used to plan the shooting of the movie, TV show, or video presentation. Production stories use the same style as comic books and graphic novels.
However, it is also possible to make a storyboard online without this feature by breaking down your script into panels, adding text descriptions to your panels, and sketching your narrative out on paper or screen.
What Is Included In A Storyboard?
There are several standard features that will be included in any storyboard. These include:
Action
Each panel should have a clear description of the action happening on the page, no matter what type of comic it is. Each panel should also have a shot number for the camera, which indicates if the camera will move to another perspective during the shot.
For example, shooting from a top angle versus from a side angle. In addition, each frame will also have descriptions of props or objects present in that scene or setting, as well as descriptions of characters or people in it.
Shot Numbers
The shot numbers on each page will help the artist or designer to know when to switch between different angles. One of the most common ways for production storyboards is to have a “Rule #” number next to each shot. This indicates the number of times a particular storyboard is switched from one angle or perspective to another for the artist to place it before or within the cut.
Type Of Shot
The type of shot on each page will indicate which perspective of the scene is depicted, such as “Vertical” or “Horizontal.” You can also specify whether the camera will be in a low, medium, or high angle. Some type of description for each shot of the panel can be included.
Dialogue Or Narration
The dialogue or narration on each shot will be written in a caption explaining the action in the scene. It will also help the artist know when to switch between different angles and perspectives. The caption may also be written according to how far the characters are from the camera and what they are doing while they close up with the camera.
Special Effects
Different kinds of special effects can be used in the scene. Some examples include but are not limited to motion blur, a superimposed 3D arrow pointing to which angle of the shot it is in and where it goes next, slow motion shots or freeze frames, and wet plates.
How To Make A Storyboard Online
Easily create and edit your storyboard online with the following steps:
Break Down Your Script
Start by breaking down your script into panels and scenes. Try to break things down into simple visuals while avoiding complex dialogues and text interrupting your pictures.
Remember that you have the ability to include text in each panel but only include it when it tells a part of the story. The goal is for your audience to be able to follow along with the story using their imaginations, not fill in details for you.
Create Blank Panels
Next, create blank panels that will be used to separate individual frames or scenes from your script. Make sure each blank panel represents a different frame or scene in the screenplay so that your audience can follow along with the action of your storyboard online.
Add Textual Descriptions
Finally, add text descriptions for each panel so your audience can understand the key details of each scene. You can place textual descriptions on all of your scenes or just a few lines at the top of each panel where it is most helpful.
Sketch Your Narrative
As you look at your script and text, think about drawing pictures of what the story is set in. Remember that telling a story visually is a different skill set than telling it verbally, so try to put yourself in your audience’s shoes.
Make An Animatic
Once you have completed all the steps above, organize your panels into one easy-to-use application so they can be viewed sequentially like a movie or TV show would be shown to an audience. This is called an animatic and can be created using various online tools.
The Bottom Line
Storyboards are useful for communicating thoughts, ideas, and messages through pictures. Whether you are creating a storyboard online for professional purposes or just for your enjoyment, the steps above will help you complete this task more easily than without them.
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