A storyboard is a graphic organizer that plans a narrative or, for instance, a writing objective. Special software can be used to create visual storyboard, which are a powerful way to visually present information.
The layout consists of sequential panels, each functioning as a frame within the narrative. The linear direction of the cells is perfect for storytelling, explaining a process, and showing the passage of time. At their core, storyboards are a set of sequential drawings that tell a story with key points. By breaking a story into linear, bite-sized panel, it allows the author to focus on each cell separately, without distraction. A good frame helps to make sure that the narrative writing stays consistent and is represented in a certain way. And during the storyboarding process, you can demonstrate the ideas you want to put across to your audience. Find out more on how you can use a storyboard or book creator to work for you.

A Brief History
Depending on the source, either Howard Hughes, with the 1930 film, Hell’s Angels, or Walt Disney, with the 1933 animated film, Three Little Pigs, is cited as the father of modern day storyboards. In 1939, Gone with the Wind was the first live-action movie to be completely drawn out on storyboards before filming.
The original storyboards showed stories broken up into pieces. Each piece of the story was drawn out on a card or piece of paper and pinned to a board in sequential order. Collaborators were then able to talk about and revise the story by looking at one part at a time, check to be sure it made sense, and plan for the production. Instead of redoing a large-scale drawing when changes were made, a single card could be reordered, redrawn, or even deleted. The ability to make changes easily ahead of time saves a lot of time and money!
What is a Storyboard Used For?
Over the last 80+ years, the use of storyboards has grown. Following the roots of animation and movie-making, storyboards are used by advertisement agencies for commercials, directors for plays, and artists for comics. They have also found their way into the business world for modeling how customers will interact with new products.
We all need to plan for something, whether it be at work, school, or home. Storyboarding out your desired outcome, even in a very simplified manner, helps you prepare for potential issues, make sure your plan is sound, and/or communicate ideas with others. Today, the purpose extends to a wide array of fields, catering to various needs and objectives. Whether you use storyboards professionally or personally, they serve as indispensable tools for planning, visualization, and communication. There are many uses for them in the entertainment industry, the business world, and education. Here are a few ideas to get you started!
Entertainment Industry | Business World | Education |
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Storyboard Example
Here are a few different examples to showcase how this visual approach can be used:
Example 1: Advertising
The business world has recognized the need to create storyboards for modeling customer interactions with new products. Also, they help to map out the entire process from start to finish. They are used to plan how each advertisement will look, how it will be presented, and where it will appear. Additionally, a video storyboard provides an opportunity for marketers to test different versions of their ads with potential customers.
Example 2: Film and Television
Various visual style templates are used in the process of making movies or TV shows. They are used by directors to plan how each scene will be shot and edited together. The drawings help arrange the order of events, determine the camera angles, and figure out if special effects need to be added.
Example 3: Education
They can be used to plan out any type of lesson, from a simple math problem to an elaborate science experiment. By breaking down each step into individual components and drawing them out on paper or using software to create CGI projects, educators can better see how the lesson will flow and make sure that all necessary materials are covered. They can also be used to help students organize and create visual aids such as comics or videos that can be used when explaining complex concepts.
Storyboarding Process
The process begins with creating a framework with defined visual style for your project. You’ll need to decide on the length, format, and structure of your storyboard. Once you have a plan in place, it’s time to start sketching out each step. Depending on the complexity of the project, this could take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours.
With an animated storyboard, every frame needs to be illustrated with its theme. This is a great opportunity to explore different layouts, angles, and special effects. Once you’ve completed the sketches, it’s time to add text and captions. This is where you can really bring the story to life by adding dialogue and sound effects.
When all of the rough sketches are finished, the next step in the process is to start adding annotations or descriptions to explain what each frame is intended to convey. Then you need to review your work and make any necessary changes before presenting it to others. Finally, if you're using software, you can upload your storyboard to an online platform so that others can view it and comment on it.
Detailed storyboards are an incredibly powerful tool that can help you plan out your next project with ease. They allow you to visualize the entire story before committing any resources and make it easy to communicate your ideas with others. Whether you’re creating an advertisement, film, or educational material, storyboarding is key. It is an essential tool for any collaborative project, as it helps to organize ideas, plan for potential issues, and communicate with collaborators.
What is Storyboarding Graphic Organizer?
A storyboard graphic organizer is a tool used to plan out the visual effects of a story to give it a better overall visual flow. This can include uploading images, text, media, and sound. It is divided into panels or cells that represent moments in the story. A storyboard typically contains information about each cell, such as its title and description, along with notes about how it relates to the narrative as a whole. The purpose is to help the author create a visual plan for their story and make sure everything they need flows together logically. They can also be used as a way to add important details and structure to stories that might otherwise seem too abstract or difficult to explain.
In summary, a storyboard is an effective way to plan and organize narratives. By breaking the story into separate cells, authors can focus on each part of the narrative and create a visual plan that helps ensure everything flows together smoothly. They are helpful for understanding how different elements of a story relate to each other and for adding detail and structure to stories that might otherwise be hard to explain.
Traditional storyboards are created manually (by drawing on paper, boards, etc.), but today many software programs exist to make the process easier and more efficient. Tools like Storyboard That provide a range of templates and options for a frame, making it easy to create professional-looking projects quickly.
Film and Entertainment Industry
The ultimate in visual storytelling is film. Storyboards were first used for this purpose and work just as well (if not better) than they did in the 1930s. By storyboarding before filming, you can better plan out your camera angles, setting, props, actors, effects and so on and be more industrious during production. Storyboarding ahead of time also checks to see that your script makes sense and allows you to correct errors before they become too expensive to fix.
These are some film projects that greatly benefit from storyboarding.- Commercial advertisement
- Television show (with or without commercial breaks)
- Instructional video
- Feature film
- Independent Film
- YouTube & Vimeo Videos
Business
People love stories. People can connect to stories, and often remember information better when it is wrapped up in a story. It is sometimes better to show others’ stories rather than examples that are too close to home. Give examples using fictitious characters, rather than say things like, “When your boss comes to you and says you aren’t doing a good job….”
We forget that people have different perspectives, backgrounds, biases and other stuff that could be clouding thinking or making someone think a certain way. Often we need a way to SHOW what we mean rather than spend time describing or explaining things. Meetings will be much more productive if everyone has the same visuals and everyone is on the same page.
Common Business Storyboard Uses |
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Using a storyboard lets you rapidly and easily experiment with a number of choices until you figure out what feels natural and right for you needs. Take a look at all of our Business Resources.
Education
Storyboards and other graphic organizers are ideal for many aspects of education. A main thrust of a teacher's job is to relay information to students, and in turn, students must show mastery of concepts. In addition to some students being better visual learners, teachers tell narratives, describe processes, and organize information.
- Plan/create a narrative
- Summarize a text
- Create an instructional comic
- Learn new vocabulary
- Show understanding with a presentation
- Explore settings
- Analyze characters or historical figures
- Create a timeline
We have many Education Resources available for you to use in your classroom right now.
Types of Storyboards
There are many different types you can use to convey your message. Here are a few:
Cartoon-Style: Perfect for comic-style stories or instructional comics. This type of storyboard uses hand-drawn pictures that capture the mood and emotion of the narrative.
Motion Graphic: This is a great choice for television, film, and digital media projects. It features motion graphics like transitions, wipes, and zooms to add movement and excitement to the story.
Photo-Realistic:This type is ideal for realistic settings such as corporate training videos or commercials. The images used should look as real as possible while still telling a compelling story.
Whiteboard: The perfect solution for educational or informational videos. It features scribbles, arrows, and text boxes to convey information quickly and concisely.
No matter which type you choose, you will be able to get your message across more effectively with a visual representation that everyone can understand.
What Are the Benefits of Using a Storyboard to Communicate Your Ideas Visually?
- Enhances understanding: Visual aids like storyboards make it possible to simplify and clarify otherwise incomprehensible concepts. It can also show how different parts of a project fit together or lead the audience through a story.
- Saves time: Making a storyboard before filming your video or making your infographic will enable you to save both time and energy during the production process. Without devoting too much time to the project, you can quickly sketch out what needs to be done and identify where changes are required.
- Creates consistency: They ensure that everyone involved in the project is on the same page about what needs to be done and how it should look when completed. This will result in a better end and save time in the long run.
- Helps with budgeting: An accurate budget that takes into account all of the costs involved in producing your project can be drafted with the help of a detailed plan of action. This can be useful for preventing wasteful spending or going over budget on certain aspects of the project.
- Universal use: A storyboard planner is a great tool for anyone to use when communicating ideas, whether it’s a corporate training video or a movie, education in schools, business, and more. With the right design, you can create visuals that clearly convey your message and help people understand it better.
- Easy to share: A storyboard is a visual representation of an idea that can be easily communicated to others once it has been created. It can be printed out or sent via email so that all team members can review it and provide input on how to improve it. As a result, everyone is more likely to be on the same page, and the process will be more fruitful overall.
- Improves efficiency: They aid in concentration and productivity by providing a framework for your ideas. This will greatly improve the efficiency and timeliness of making a video or other visual project.
Using storyboards, you can communicate your ideas visually, ensuring that everyone involved in the project has the same expectations and is working toward the same goals. By taking some time to plan ahead, you can save yourself time, money, and effort in the long run while achieving an excellent final product.
Tips for Creating an Effective Storyboard
Creating these designs can seem like a daunting task, but with just a few tips, you can make it easier and more effective. Here are some things to keep in mind when creating your storyboard:
- Have a clear goal: Make sure you have a clear idea of what you want to achieve with your storyboard and how it will fit into the overall project. This will ensure that all parties are on the same page about the contents of each box and the final product.
- Keep it organized: If you're going to use a storyboard, you should label each box with a descriptive name and include only the information that's relevant. This organizer will serve as a useful resource for keeping track of information and facilitating quick retrieval when needed.
- Use sketches or images: Using sketches or images can be a great way to get an idea of how something should look without having to explain it in words.
- Make revisions as needed: It’s important to remember that storyboards are not set in stone, so don’t be afraid to make changes or edits as needed. The quality of the final visuals for your project will be greatly enhanced by doing so.
- Create a timeline: Making a timeline can allow you to manage your tasks and complete them in a timely manner.
By keeping these tips in mind, you’ll be able to create an effective storyboard that will get your project off to the right start. With the right graphic organizer, you can easily convey your message and engage viewers with visuals that are both attractive and effective.
By keeping these tips in mind, you’ll be able to get your project off to the right start. With the right storyboard graphic organizer, you can easily convey your message and engage viewers with visuals that are both attractive and effective.
Best Storyboarding Software
One of the options to choose when looking for the best storyboarding software on the market is Storyboard That. It has a number of useful features and tools for you to create designs quickly and efficiently. We offer several plans for different budgets and needs, so you can get everything you need without paying for features that you don’t. If you are looking to create the perfect storyboard, Storyboard That has got you covered!
The Bottom Line
Storyboards can be useful even in the most unexpected cases. By taking some time to plan ahead, you can save yourself time, money, and effort in the long run while achieving an excellent final product. While storyboarding has its advantages, it’s important to remember that not every situation calls for this type of visual communication. Before you decide if a storyboard is the best way to go, you should think about your needs and goals.
Now Get Started!
Here at Storyboard That, we have expanded on the traditional storyboard and have made multiple layouts and we encourage you to use one in any way that you can think of! Visual communication and storytelling will make you think about the most important things and get you to collaborate in a whole new way. Detailed designs will assist you in creating a plan of attack and turn your ideas into visuals that everyone can understand. Get started today and see just how powerful the storyboarding process is.
Hur man Använder Storyboards för att Sammanfatta en Text
Välj en novell, ett kapitel eller en artikel som eleverna kan läsa.
Välj en text som passar din årskurs, helst en med en tydlig början, mitt och slut.
Förklara konceptet med en sammanfattande storyboard.
Visa eleverna hur de ska välja 3–6 nyckelscener från texten att representera visuellt, med hjälp av bilder och korta bildtexter för att återberätta huvudhändelserna.
Tillhandahåll en storyboardmall eller ett digitalt verktyg.
Dela ut mallar med tomma paneler eller låt eleverna använda en online-storyboard-skapare. Du kan förmärka rutor med "Början", "Mitten" och "Slut" för extra stöd.
Modellera hur man skissar och ger en bildtext till en viktig scen.
Demonstrera hur man väljer en viktig händelse, ritar en enkel scen och skriver en bildtext på 1–2 meningar som förklarar dess betydelse. Håll det enkelt och tydligt.
Låt eleverna slutföra sina sammanfattningar självständigt eller i par.
Ge eleverna tid att slutföra sina storyboard-sammanfattningar och uppmuntra dem att fokusera på de viktigaste delarna av berättelsen.
Låt eleverna presentera och förklara sina tavlor.
Be dem gå igenom sina sammanfattningspaneler med en partner eller klassen, för att förstärka återberättande och sekvenseringsförmåga.
Visa storyboards.
Skapa en tavelvägg i klassrummet eller ett digitalt bildspel för att uppmärksamma elevernas arbete och förstärka läsförståelsen.
Vanliga frågor om storyboards
Vad är en storyboard och hur används den i klassrummet?
En storyboard är ett visuellt planeringsverktyg som består av sekventiella paneler eller ramar som hjälper till att organisera information, berätta en historia eller beskriva en process. I klassrummet använder lärare storyboards för att stödja skrivande, läsförståelse, projektplanering och elevpresentationer.
Hur lär jag eleverna att göra en storyboard?
Börja med att visa ett enkelt exempel och visa sedan hur man delar upp en idé i scener. Använd en storyboardmall och låt eleverna skissa sina idéer, lägga till text eller bildtexter och granska sitt arbete. Denna process hjälper dem att organisera tankar och förbättra tydligheten.
Vilka är några exempel på storyboard-aktiviteter för elever?
Populära storyboard-aktiviteter inkluderar att sammanfatta en berättelse, skapa en historisk tidslinje, illustrera ordförråd, planera ett vetenskapligt experiment eller utveckla ett manus för ett videoprojekt.
Hur kan storyboards hjälpa elever med skrivning eller läsförståelse?
Storyboards delar upp komplexa berättelser i mindre delar, vilket hjälper eleverna att fokusera på viktiga händelser, karaktärsutveckling och orsak-verkan-samband. Denna visuella uppdelning stöder både planering och djupare förståelse av texter.
Vilka är fördelarna med att använda en storyboard i utbildning?
Storyboards främjar organisation, kreativitet och engagemang. De hjälper visuella elever att lättare förstå koncept och ger alla elever ett verktyg för att kommunicera idéer tydligt över olika ämnen.
Vilka typer av storyboards är bäst för användning i klassrummet?
För yngre elever fungerar storyboards i serietidningsstil eller serietidningsstil bra. Äldre elever kan dra nytta av tidslinjelayouter, paneler med grafiska romaner eller fotorealistiska tavlor, beroende på ämne och projekt.
Kan eleverna använda storyboards för att planera gruppprojekt eller presentationer?
Ja! Storyboards hjälper elever att samarbeta, dela upp ansvar och hålla sig organiserade. De är perfekta för att planera bildspel, sketcher, forskningspresentationer eller multimediaprojekt.
Vad är skillnaden mellan en storyboard och en serietidning?
En storyboard är ett planeringsverktyg som används för att beskriva innehåll eller processer, medan en serietidning är en färdig produkt avsedd att underhålla eller informera. Storyboards innehåller ofta anteckningar, pilar och bildtexter som vägleder utvecklingen.
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