Free Storyboard Creator for Students

You don't necessarily need a script before you start storyboarding, but that's how it's usually done. Sometimes you want to experiment with the visuals before writing the script. Maybe seeing your vision on paper will help the writing process. But, again, almost always a script is necessary before storyboarding.

This is completely up to you. The more images you have, the more detailed and comprehensive the storyboard will be. On a single page, you might have anywhere from 12 to 15 images, but for larger, more detailed images, maybe as few as 4.

The one element that seems least necessary for a storyboard is dialogue. Your frames should be dedicated to the image composition, not crowded with dialogue bubbles. If you need to specify the dialogue, it's best to give a summary in the shot's description, e.g., "Pamela asks for money."

A professional storyboard will be detailed and clear so that anyone reading it will understand each shot and how they connect from one to the next. This means images that capture character blocking and movement, including text and arrows to specify said movement. The shots are also given scene and shot numbers to keep everything organized.

Your storyboard is your own, so make it however you see fit. Some can be very complex, while others are direct and simple. But, in general, here are some elements that most storyboards contain:

1. Individual frames that represent individual shots
2. Scene and shot numbers
3. Descriptions that explain the shot
4. Text and arrows to clarify character and camera movement
5. Notes for special considerations like sound design, stunts, VFX, etc.

Creating a storyboard can be a completely personal process. This could be simple thumbnail sketches in your script or elaborate illustrations. But whichever method suits you best, there are some basic steps to creating any storyboard:

1. Read the script and start thinking about your shot choices
2. Add an image to each storyboard frame representing a single shot
3. Storyboards should be arranged in chronological order
4. Insert text or arrows to annotate camera or character movements
5. Write descriptions and notes for each shot

Typically, you'll want to have the script more or less complete when you begin to storyboard. It's also a good idea to have department heads, such as your cinematographer and production designer, involved in the storyboard process for thorough collaboration.