The Storyboarding Book
An interactive book that teaches storyboarding from a Hollywood production perspective, for newcomers, professionals, teachers, and students alike.
Read the book freeWhat is storyboarding?
Once a concept or script is written for a film, an animation, or any other media, the next step is to create the storyboard. A good storyboard helps you plan the narrative, visualize the scenes, and find potential problems before they occur. If an architect needs a blueprint before building a house, think of a storyboard as the blueprint for a production. This pre-production step saves time and money, and it makes a team both more efficient and more creative.
Whether a piece lasts twenty seconds or two hours, from a TV commercial to a feature film, it relies on storyboards during production. This book is a road map to both the artistic and the professional sides of that craft.
Who this book is for
This book is for anyone with an interest in storyboarding. Perhaps you hope to pursue a career in it, perhaps you already work in the audiovisual industry, or maybe you simply want to understand storyboarding better.
What you will learn
The book is organized into eight chapters. Register free to read the full content.
Defining Storyboarding and Its Functions
What storyboarding is, how it started, why we need it, when we use it, and how it applies across different industries.
Techniques in Drawing Storyboards
A quick drawing class, understanding 3D space, and how to handle frame composition and balance.
Technical and Film Terms
The language of filmmaking: camera angles, camera movement, zoom lenses, the 180-degree rule, and when to break the rules.
Camera Setup
Single-camera and multiple-camera setups, and how to understand and plan each one.
Editing
Editing in storyboarding and the key editing terms: cut, cross cutting, dissolve, fade, iris, match cut, wipe, and cutting on action.
Screen Direction
Avoiding confusion, keeping continuity, how screen direction affects other stages of production, and when to break the rules.
From the Script to the Storyboard
Script types and their storyboard approaches, staging, "show, don't tell," aspect ratio, templates, thumbnail storyboards, maps for space and camera, and finishing your boards.
The Rise of Digital Storyboarding
Digital storyboarding software (Photoshop, Autodesk Sketchbook Pro, Toon Boom Storyboard Pro), animatics, and editing software used in the industry.
Written from real industry experience
The book shares knowledge and techniques from a Hollywood production perspective, with fun, hands-on methods to help you expand your visual vocabulary and achieve professional results.
Frequently asked questions
What is a storyboard? +
A storyboard is a sequence of drawings that plans a film, animation, or commercial shot by shot. It works like a blueprint for a production, letting the team visualize scenes and solve problems before filming or animating.
Who is this storyboarding book for? +
Newcomers, working professionals, teachers, and students. It covers both the artistic and the professional sides of storyboarding for animation, film, and advertising.
What software does it cover? +
It introduces digital storyboarding tools including Adobe Photoshop, Autodesk Sketchbook Pro, and Toon Boom Storyboard Pro, plus animatics and common editing software.
What is an animatic? +
An animatic is a timed, moving version of the storyboard, used to test pacing and timing before full production. The book explains why animatics matter and how they fit into the storyboarding process.
Is the book free to read? +
Yes. You register with your name and email, and you can read the full interactive book at no cost.