Storyboards were first used by an animator named Webb Smith in 1933. The idea of using storyboard originated from separate pictures and then arranged on a bulletin board to create a storyline.
Besides being used in the film and video industry, the storyboard is also often used in the world of theater, advertising, and so on. The use of storyboards by other industries is due to the efficiency and convenience offered by storyboards. Storyboard defines the art and creative procedure in interactive media, filmmaking, and video.
The storyboard is a part that is very closely related to filmmaking. Storyboards are known as sketches of images that are made sequentially and are often used in planning to create films or videos. Storyboarding process is done by a storyboard artist.
A storyboard is your roadmap when you make a video. The presence of storyboards makes it easier to convey story ideas or ideas from the video so that the audience can understand the idea of the story to be conveyed. A storyboard is also a form of equalizing perception between the filmmaker and the audience. So that customer’s perceptions of story ideas are following the perceptions desired by the filmmaker.
In addition, storyboards also facilitate the direction of the production team in the field. Storyboards help the field production team know where to shoot and how a scene will unfold.
Storyboard principles
A storyboard is a definition of the concept of communication as well as creative expressions, techniques, and media used to convey stories and ideas visually in which there are elements in the form of audio, graphics, color, and layout. In the end, the story and ideas can be easily accepted by the audience.
The storyboarding process has several principles in its preparation. Visual messages must be creative, communicative, efficient, effective, and aesthetically pleasing. To fulfill all these principles, concepts and strategies are needed that use the application of 5W + 1H.
Storyboard template components
The following are some of the components that make up the storyboard templates
1. Title
The title component contains the title, scene, episode, and page. This first component is very important because it is the basic concept that becomes the understanding of the audience to know the topic that is presented in a video.
2. Subtitle
The subtitle as the second component contains an explanation of each scene, location, time, sequence, and panel design. The subtitle serves to make it easier to explain the topic of the title so that the audience can find out each scene in more detail and more easily.
3. Visualize
The visual component contains a description of each scene that contains elements such as images, text, photos, graphics, and other elements. These elements are screen complements in the video.
4. Audio
The fourth component is audio. The audio contains a description of the audio used in the video such as the name of the music file or recording and the sound effect (SFX) to be played.
5. Dialog
The dialogue contains details of camera movement along with the angle and some dialogue on the scene being taken. It is optional and adapts to the storyboard design.
6. Property
The properties component provides an explanation of the artistic, duration and timing, additional equipment, and design support properties.
Key elements of storyboard template
Some basic elements that have to be in a storyboarding:
1. Panel
Panels are simple boxes that display 2D images containing actions and characters. The pictures in this panel are referred to as shot pictures.
2. Shot number
The shot number indicates the order in which the shots should appear according to the video list.
3. Action
Action is the main activity that occurs in the shot.
4. FX
Technical details explain shot-making in the production and post-production stages such as aspect ratio, camera angle, camera movement, type of shot, sound effects, and special effects.
5. Description
The description panel contains a record of the sequence of events. This panel description will inform technicians and other cinematographers about the images they see on the storyboard.
6. Arrangement
This element determines how the frames and notes are arranged in the storyboard.
7. Sequential
The frames are arranged sequentially with the frame and description panel on the same page. In the sequential arrangement, you can view storyboard frames one by one.
8. Comic
The frame is set to be read from left to right like a book. This design offers movement and energy to the story being read.
9. Flowchart
The frames are arranged in a flowchart, where scenes are drawn in parallel and sequential scenes are drawn linearly.
Additional information included in the storyboard
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Overview of the screen, scene, and frame
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Description of time, setting, shape, size of the chart, and place
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Original text
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Color, size, and writing style
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Narrative
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Audio
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Videos
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Interaction with the audience
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Camera angle
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Lightning
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Transition
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Dialogue
The function of a storyboard
Storyboards have a pretty big role in creating movies and videos. The storyboard describes the storyline from beginning to end. The storyboard also plans the process of shots taking to be more structured.
In addition, the storyboard also serves as a guide for the entire production stage from pre-production to post-production so that the production process can run more easily and the results are as expected. Storyboarding is also a good medium for testing ideas such as camera angles. Storyboards can strengthen the vision and help communicate the vision effectively.
Then, storyboards can function as an effective communication tool in conveying ideas to others, explaining the process of changing, moving each frame or element, and playing a role in setting the timing or timing of each sequence, inviting feedback, and working on them before production.
Storyboards can make communication easier because it will be easier to convey your ideas to other teammates when you have detailed notes on easy-to-understand concepts. The shortcomings seen in the storyboard will help the evaluation process so that teammates can provide additional ideas or correct your ideas in scenes.
Filmmaking becomes more effective with storyboards because you already have a reference in creating videos so you can prepare what you need in creating the film, especially screen needs such as lighting, camera locating, angles, and so on.
The complete content of the storyboard will ensure you don’t miss any important details and understand what is needed for each scene. That way you will get the best final result.
Benefits of using storyboards
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Make filming easy
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Can find out where the error is in the narrative, use of media, to other details
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Save time, cost, and effort
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Make it easier for the team to understand the storyline
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Organizing the shots taking process
Types of storyboard
Before you create a storyboard, you should know three types of storyboard
1. Hand-drawn storyboard
A hand-drawn storyboard is the most popular classical storyboarding. These classic drawings of the storyboard help convey the main action taking place in shots and include important details. The storyboard drawing can be done on paper or a gadget that supports it. The storyboard artist will do all the storyboard drawings.
2. Thumbnail storyboard
The Thumbnail storyboard is a mini version of traditional storyboarding. Unlike storyboard drawings, thumbnail storyboards are very small sketches the size of a postage stamp. Its very small size makes this type of storyboard less detailed and takes a short time to make. This storyboard can be used to quickly organize story ideas before creating a traditional storyboard.
3. Animatics storyboard
The animatics storyboard has several dialogues, scripts, music, and screen elements. This type of storyboarding contains a filmed sketch and displays the proposed timing, pace, and visuals of the entire scene.
Creating storyboards
There are some points that have to be done in storyboarding process:
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Film accomplishment
Before starting about the picture about art, with what is to be achieved from this film. Whether you want to increase product sales, increase brand awareness, or as an educational tool for students. Set clear and specific goals for your video. -
Brainstorming
Give as many ideas as possible. Incorporate different ideas from the people who brainstormed. Ask for ideas from other parties involved in creating the video. Storyboards are not about your ideas but the ideas of everyone involved in the production of the video. At this stage, all the creativity will flow. -
Determine the theme and details of the script
After finding a theme, a script will be created. Scripts are made in detail such as texts, descriptions of time, descriptions of places, and so on related to creating videos. -
Making a shot list
Make a shot-list of the stories that have been made. With the shot list, you can determine how the camera angle will be used and give certain effects to the video. The camera angle will make a moment speak more. -
Fill in the details
Make sure you give every detail of the video into the storyboard that you create. These details will greatly assist the production process and serve to minimize errors or things that could potentially be missed in the video. -
Adding words
Not only contains pictures, but storyboards also contain words that will help explain the video that is being worked on. Add words to clarify each element on your storyboard. -
Making timeline
Storyboards can also be added to a timeline. This timeline is in the form of an estimated duration and time division. -
Call to action
For certain needs, storyboards can be added with a call to action. This section serves to invite the audience to take the desired action such as visiting the website, making subscriptions, and so on. -
Template storyboard
Choose the template that will be used to create the storyboard. A good template contains a title, visual fields, and a description. Adjust the template to the needs of the production to be carried out. -
Define the important points
The important points in question are important points related to the script and video themes that have been determined previously. This important point contains ideas or concepts that will be converted into storyboard form. -
Define storyboard media
Decide where the to create storyboard will be, such as manual or computer-aided drawing -
Making a rough sketch
The next process is followed by making a rough sketch. Making this rough paper sketch is accompanied by an explanation or description of the making of the video. -
Realizing movie images
After making a rough sketch on the paper, the storyboard can be made in a neater and clearer form using specialized software or an app as your tool. A storyboard artist could do both traditional and digital drawings. The storyboard also includes a drawing of the image, narrative text, and audio-visual required. -
Adding notes and additional information
Add notes and any information deemed necessary in your storyboard. -
Test and revision stage
Finally, you can go through several stages of testing and revising when things don’t suit the purpose of your video. You can discuss with teammates and re-brainstorm to find solutions to the errors that occur.
Storyboard in other industries
Here are some of the examples of storyboard use in other industries
1. Theater
Most people think that storyboarding is not needed in the theater. However, in the needs of theatrical performances, storyboards are used to determine the required stage layout of the story.
2. Commercial
For advertising needs, storyboards are used as in the video needs described above. Storyboards are used to provide an overview of a video part or an idea from an advertisement that will be advertised.
3. Business
Just like the film and video industry, storyboarding is also very important in the business world. This is related to the nature of consumers who are easier to remember information that has been processed into the form of stories. Business storyboards can also be used for other needs such as negotiating with clients or customer, customer stories, customer journey mapping, mentoring and training, presenting ideas to colleagues, business project presentation, creating tutorials, providing an overview of potential results, promoting product ideas, and demonstrating a process for a company’s product or service to the customer.
4. Education
Storyboards can be used for teaching activities. The use of storyboards can help make it easier for students to absorb more material because they are wrapped in simple concepts. The use of images is more effective when compared to audio and writing. In the world of education, storyboards can be used to create narratives, story-telling guides, summarize text, create illustrations, help memorize vocabulary, help with project presentation, trace characters in the word, show steps in an experiment, and create illustrated stories, and so on.
5. Social media content
Storyboards are also often used by social media content creators for various needs, especially in vlogs. Storyboards can be created in content planning or based on recordings that have been taken during the vlog production process.
Making storyboards after the production process takes place will allow content creators to freely record moments and take pictures in their entirety, whether the image will be used or not.
Meanwhile, making storyboards at the planning stage can help content creators focus on new impressions and experiences so that the recording is done only on certain parts of the vlog. Storyboards will also help content creators when they are doing video editing.
Also read: The Reason Why You Should Use Social Media Animation Videos
6. Technology
Engineers often make a storyboard in software development projects. Storyboards can help visualize the software customer experience better. That way, engineers can predict what problems will arise in software that is still in the development stage so that engineers will have plenty of time to make improvements to the software after it is released.
7. Research
In research needs, data can be presented visually with the help of infographics. To create animations based on data, you also need help from a storyboard. A graphic designer will create a storyboard to explain all the details needed by a motion graphic designer to make motion pictures.
8. Other entertainment industries
In the entertainment industry other than film and video, storyboards can be used in planning graphic novels or comics, narratives for animation, stage decorations, and shots taken in vlogs, TV, projects, and so on.
Storyboard and moodboard
A mood board is a visual collage that aims to convey ideas and evoke emotions. Moodboards are usually created for inspiration or as statement art. They can be organized in any way, so they exist in all possible formats.
As you already know, storyboards are a visual sequence of information created using frames. Unlike mood boards, storyboards have a clear purpose. Storyboards allow authors to preview interactive media before it becomes interactive.
You can use both visualization methods in your creative process, depending on your purpose. Remember that the moodboard is for reference and inspiration, not for presenting data or facts.
Make your animation videos with Superpixel
By creating a logical story you could grab your audience’s attention, you need to create an intense video that brings out all the ideas and eliminates inconsistent details. Believe in yourself, and share your vision and opinion, through the help of a storyboard.
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