Buzz
When planning a video, the first step is to sketch the storyboard and share it with others. An image storyboard is a series of drawings that illustrate key scenes—showing what the setting looks like, who will appear, and what actions are about to unfold. The image storyboard is considered a comic version of film, music videos, TV shows, and more. You can either draw it by hand or use digital tools. Continue reading to learn how to draw the story, depict key frames, and refine your image storyboard.
Steps
Story
Create a timeline. Establishing the time and location of the story and organizing the events in the right sequence is the best way to build your project before starting your sketches. If the story doesn't strictly follow chronological order (e.g., featuring flashbacks, imagining future scenarios, alternative endings, parallel universes, time travel, etc.), you can still create a timeline that suits your storytelling style.
- List the main events in your story in the order you've chosen. These are what the audience will see on screen later.
- If you're creating a storyboard for a commercial video, include the main scenes and arrange them in the correct sequence.
Identify the key scenes in your story. The purpose of an image storyboard is to help the viewer grasp the main elements of the story before it's adapted into a film. It's not about capturing every single detail of the plot like flipping through a book, but rather drawing the audience in by highlighting key moments. Think about the story and brainstorm to list the important moments you want to sketch in the storyboard.
- Choose scenes that allow the viewer to clearly follow the progression of the plot from start to finish.
- Highlight turning points. Whenever you come up with a key plot twist or significant development, add it to the storyboard to advance the story.
- You may also want to illustrate changes in the setting. For example, if the story starts in one city and later shifts to another, make sure to depict the transition clearly.
- If you're creating a storyboard for a commercial video, the process is the same: select important images that guide the flow of the film and show the direction of the story from beginning to end. As a general guideline, for a typical 30-second commercial, the number of frames in the storyboard should not exceed 15. The average frame rate is two frames per second.
Choose the level of detail. A storyboard can be drawn with incredible precision, where each frame depicts a specific scene. For feature-length films, if you've just started sketching the first few lines, there’s still a lot to do before the detailed storyboard is complete. However, you may end up breaking the film into multiple sections, each with its own storyboard. This method allows you to describe individual scenes in detail and organize everything systematically throughout the filmmaking process.
- If you're drawing each scene of the film, make a list of the scenes. For each scene on the list, think about everything needed to create that shot, including other details such as how the film will be shot.
- Keep in mind that a storyboard is meant to help everyone visualize and understand the progression of the work. It doesn’t have to be a masterpiece of art. Opt for a style that’s both detailed and practical. You don't want the viewer to be confused by your illustrations and miss the overall picture.
- A storyboard is considered good if it is easy for anyone to understand. Directors, cinematographers, set designers, prop specialists, and other crew members will likely use the storyboard as a reference guide during production.
Write descriptions for each frame. Once you've identified the main scenes to draw, it’s time to think about how to describe the action in each frame. Write descriptions based on the most important element of each scene in the list. This helps you pinpoint exactly what you need to draw.
- For example, you might want to draw a scene of a conversation between two main characters. What should this illustration convey? Are they arguing, smiling at each other, or heading somewhere? Each drawing should depict a specific action.
- Pay attention to the background. Do you think the background behind the characters is important?
Design
Choose the method for creating the storyboard template. You can draw a basic storyboard by hand, simply using a pencil and ruler to divide the paper into equal-sized frames. Organize the frames in a comic book style, with each square arranged in rows. This layout mirrors what the audience will see on screen. You can also use software like Adobe Illustrator, the website storyboardthat.com, Microsoft PowerPoint, Amazon's Storyteller, or InDesign to create vertical or horizontal storyboard templates.
- The frame size should match the aspect ratio of your video output, such as 4:3 for TV screens or 16:9 for widescreens. You can buy special storyboard templates that match these sizes.
- A storyboard template for a commercial video should have rectangular frames to allow for the addition of visual effects. If you plan to include captions, make sure there's enough space for descriptions of the video. It's also useful to have a separate column for sound, where you can write character dialogue, sound effects, or music used in the video.
- If you're creating multiple storyboards for different projects, investing in a Wacom™ tablet for direct sketching in Photoshop would be beneficial.
- If you prefer not to design the images yourself, you can hire a storyboard artist to do it. Simply describe the actions that happen in each frame and provide a written script for the artist's reference. They will return black-and-white or colored frames, which you can scan and print onto cardstock, following the script’s order.
Sketch the inside of the frames. Start bringing your imagined scenes to life by sketching inside each blank frame. Don't worry about being too detailed, as this is just a rough draft. As you sketch each scene, feel free to erase and redraw if necessary. Focus on making quick adjustments to these elements:
- Composition (lighting setup, foreground/background, color palette, etc.)
- Camera angles (high or low)
- Shot types (wide shot, close-up, over-the-shoulder, character POV, etc.)
- Props (objects appearing within the frame)
- Actors (humans, animals, animated talking chairs, etc.; anything capable of taking action)
- Special effects
Add additional crucial information. Write annotations about what's happening in each scene next to or below the frame. Be sure to include character dialogue and note the scene's duration. Finally, number each frame for easy reference when discussing the storyboard with others.
Complete the storyboard. After defining the key moments of your chosen theme and finalizing the frames, review the storyboard and make any last adjustments. Ensure that each frame accurately depicts the action you want to illustrate. Add or modify descriptions and dialogue as needed. It’s a good idea to have someone else review your storyboard to check whether the narrative is clear and coherent.
- Consider adding color. If you're creating a storyboard for a commercial video, using a new color palette may inspire fresh ideas.
- Remember, the drawings don’t have to be overly realistic or perfect. Depending on your audience, even stick figures may suffice. In many cases, the storyboard doesn't need to be perfect as long as your team members can easily understand it.
Refinement
Draw a three-point perspective. While the storyboard doesn't need to be as polished as a professional artist's work, there are a few industry tips you should try to make the images feel more cinematic. This step isn't mandatory but helps the viewer better visualize the scene.
- Instead of having all characters stand on the same horizontal line, apply the rule of perspective. Position some characters farther from the camera and others closer. Those further away should appear smaller, with their feet higher in the frame, while those nearer should appear larger with their feet closer to the bottom.
- When it comes time to translate your storyboard into a film, this technique will spark more ideas for directing your shots.
Add motivation for characters in each scene. As you draw your storyboard, think about why the characters are making the choices they do. Developing a story isn’t just about guiding the reader to the next plot point; you need to establish the motivations behind their actions. Adding motivation for your characters will help you build tension and drive the plot forward during filming.
- For example, if you plan to cut from one room to another, show the character in the first room looking toward the door because they heard a sound from the next room.
- This technique keeps the story flowing smoothly and helps engage the audience.
Edit your storyboard. The storyboard is a powerful tool that you can use freely during the set and directing process. However, relying too heavily on it can have its downsides. As you film, many unique ideas for shots that you never considered will emerge. Allow yourself to step outside the boundaries or at least limit your reliance on the storyboard to keep the filming process more organic.
- Remember to consider feedback from colleagues, especially those who are skilled members of the production team. The storyboard is meant to be adjusted and altered. Often, it will be enhanced with ideas you didn’t think of.
- Most directors use storyboards in different ways. Some outline every detail, while others treat it as a reference document.
Advice
- If you're not confident in your drawing skills, consider using storyboard software with a simple drag-and-drop interface and a wide range of graphic assets.
- Storyboards are useful for more than just video editing; they can also illustrate a series of actions or help design complex websites.
What You’ll Need
- Miniature storyboard sketches
- Storyboarding paper
- Drawing tools
- Photo editing software
- Scanner
