Across every branch of the film and video industry, from blockbuster motion pictures to video marketing, creating storyboards is an important step that leads to better final products.
Storyboards are visual representations of everything that you see on the screen in a finished video. They use a combination of images and words to describe the events of a video in sequential order. A successful storyboard brings everyone involved in a video production onto the same page and gives them a comprehensive understanding of everything they'll need to bring the video to life. More than that, storyboards can help you flag any production challenges you might face long before they become an issue.
If you've never done it before, creating storyboards can seem like a tremendous challenge. But with an understanding of the various elements of a storyboard and each step that goes into creating one, you can craft a video storyboard that helps you flawlessly execute your project.
An outstanding storyboard is a valuable tool for creating brand videos that connect with your audience. However, a storyboard is only as effective as its individual parts. Before we dive into our step-by-step guide to storyboarding, let's discuss the various parts that make up the whole.
There are several elements that all successful storyboards have in common:
Keep in mind that storyboards are not a one-size-fits-all situation. Although some elements are non-negotiable, like panels, titles, and shot lists, there's a good amount of information that can be useful to include, even if they aren't strictly required. This includes things like props, costumes, sound effects, and special effects, plus any additional notes that give the production team a better understanding of the video's contents.
There are several computer programs and other storyboard applications that can simplify the storyboard design process. Gone are the days of a lone storyboard artist or art team drawing storyboards by hand. Nowadays, people create storyboards using design tools like:
Now that you understand the various elements of a storyboard and have an idea of the resources available for creating one, it's time to go over the steps for creating compelling, creative, and effective storyboards.
Before you begin putting your video storyboard together, clearly define the purpose and objectives of your project. This is a crucial step of pre-production and the creative process, so get the team together and ask questions like:
Once you've defined your project's scope and goals, it's time to start developing the narrative or video script. For obvious reasons, you can't create a storyboard without a script to work from.
The more detail you include in your script, the easier it will be to develop storyboard ideas. You'll have a clearer sense of the various panels you'll need to create and other information you'll need to include. Your script should outline your video in terms of its:
The script should be divided into individual scenes and arranged according to the narrative flow. It should also indicate the time and location for each scene, plus transitions between scenes.
Before you jump into the actual storyboarding process, the last step is to decide on a structure and format. Depending on the needs of your project, you'll choose between the following formats:
When choosing structure and format, be sure to keep your intended aspect ratio in mind. The panels of your story should match the aspect ratio. The most common sizes are:
Now it's time to pull out your video script and start sketching the various storyboard frames or panels. Remember, the purpose of a storyboard is to visually describe each scene of your video, from the primary action to the props. That means your panel drawings should include the characters in each scene, props, settings, and backgrounds.
While sketching, be sure that your images represent the composition of each scene. What is the framing like? What are the camera angles for each scene? These are vital for conveying the tone or mood.
If you think back to our discussion of the elements of a storyboard, you'll recall that each panel has a description of what it represents. Now is the time to write those. Be sure to include descriptions of the action, dialogue, camera movements, transitions between scenes, and any other relevant details. Aim for clarity and concision so the production team knows what you expect from the finished product.
Alongside each frame, include clear and concise annotations or notes describing the action, dialogue, camera movements and other relevant details. Specify how scenes transition from one to another, including cuts, fades or other visual effects to ensure a smooth flow of the narrative.
Now you have the first draft of your storyboard. Is it a perfect representation of the video you plan to shoot? Probably not. But there's a good chance it will be after a little revision! Show your sample storyboard to others interested in the project, such as your collaborators or stakeholders, and ask them for feedback. You can implement their suggestions to boost the clarity of your storyboard.
After making any necessary revisions, it's time to finalize your storyboard. Make sure that all images, descriptions, and other notes are clean, clear, and error-free. Give it one final review to ensure it thoroughly represents your project. Then, you're ready to share it with everyone involved in the project.
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