A storyboard is a sequence of drawings, one per shot, that plans how a scene will look and cut together before you make it. It saves time, money and arguments on the day. Here is how to make one, step by step.
Why make a storyboard?
Storyboarding forces the important decisions early: what each shot shows, how the camera moves, and how the scene cuts together. A clear board keeps a crew aligned, helps you spot problems while they are still cheap to fix, and turns "I'll know it when I see it" into a plan everyone can follow.
The steps
- Start from the script. Read the scene and note the beats - the moments the audience needs to see. Write or import the script so your shots line up with the story.
- Break the scene into shots. Decide how to cover each beat: a wide to establish, a mid for action, a close-up for emotion. List every shot in order.
- Thumbnail each frame. Sketch a rough frame for each shot - stick figures are fine. The goal is composition and staging, not finished art. Or drop in a reference image.
- Add the shot details. For every frame, note the camera angle, movement, lens and rough duration, plus any dialogue or sound cue.
- Build an animatic. Give each frame a duration and play the sequence back. This is where you feel the pacing and fix the edit before you shoot.
- Review and export. Share the board with your team, take notes, then export a PDF, shot list or animatic to take into production.
Tips for a better storyboard
- Plan in the aspect ratio you will actually shoot in.
- One clear idea per frame - if a shot needs two drawings, it is two shots.
- Draw arrows for camera and subject movement so intent is obvious.
- Number your shots and scenes so the board matches your shot list.
- Do not over-polish - a fast, clear board beats a beautiful, late one.
Make your storyboard online
You can do every step above in Storyboard Studio without installing anything: write or import the script, break it into shots, sketch or drop in frames, set the shot details, build the animatic, and export. It is free to try for 7 days, so you can make your first storyboard in the time it would take to find a blank template.
Frequently asked questions
What is a storyboard?
A storyboard is a sequence of drawings, one per shot, that plans how a scene will look and cut together before you film or animate it.
Do I need to be able to draw?
No. Simple stick-figure thumbnails or dropped-in reference images are enough - a storyboard is about clarity, not finished art.
What is the difference between a storyboard and an animatic?
A storyboard is the static frames; an animatic is those frames sequenced on a timeline with durations so you can play them back and judge the pacing.