Best Storyboarding Software

Animators can use a variety of different storyboard programs. In some, they can draw directly into the software with a stylus. In others, like StudioBinder, the images can be scanned and uploaded.

The best storyboard generator includes features and functionality that are specifically designed with professional storyboard artists in mind. In StudioBinder, you have full editing control over the image to dial in your precise vision, including adding text, arrows, filters, and more. 

No, most creators don't need to storyboard every shot. In general, storyboards are better suited to more complex shots and sequences, especially those involving stunts, special effects, or visual effects. A simple dialogue scene between two characters talking at a table, for example, probably doesn't need to be boarded.

In general, the two types of software needed would be one to create the images and one to organize the images. For example, you might use an AI generator to create your storyboard frames, and then you might use StudioBinder to organize them, add annotations and descriptions, and then generate a custom PDF to share with the cast and crew.

The best way to create a storyboard is with custom, hand-drawn images. If you're not the best artist, hire a professional storyboard artist. This helps ensure that your images represent exactly what's in your head. If you try to employ AI image generators, you'll spend a lot of time trying to refine the images with endless prompts. And if you source images from other films, they'll never exactly match what you're looking for.

The basic rule of storyboarding is clarity. If your images don't make sense, you could spend hours trying to explain your vision, which defeats the entire purpose. So, no matter if your thumbnail sketches are stick figures or if you have hired a Storyboard Artist, you need to make sure your vision is clearly represented.

Yes, by definition, a storyboard is a visual representation of the script, broken down into separate shots. Without pictures (either hand-drawn or AI-generated), you have something closer to a shot list, but not a storyboard.

The first thing you almost always have in place before you start storyboarding is the script. You might also want to hire your cinematographer so they can collaborate on the storyboard. It might be a good idea to have your production designer involved as well so that both major departments are on board.