How to Create a Storyboard.
Whether you’re working on your next video project or looking for ways to refresh your illustrations, a storyboard template can help you tell your story. They’re perfect to get that creative spark going, or for pitching your next big idea – the sky’s the limit.
Learn more about what a storyboard is, why they’re important, and how to create your own.
Find a Free storyboard plan with Adobe.
Download your free printable storyboard plan template below. From comics to animation reels, short films and commercials, create a storyboard and begin your next exciting project.
What you’ll learn:
- What is a Storyboard?
- What to Include in a Storyboard.
- Why is a Storyboard Important?
- How to Create a Storyboard.
- Storyboard Template Examples.
- Frequently Asked Questions.
- What?
- Include
- Why?
- How?
What is a Storyboard?
A storyboard is a visual planning tool that maps out a story scene by scene. It usually includes a sequence of boxes (or frames) that contain illustrations or images that represent key moments.
Storyboards are commonly used in film, TV, animation, marketing, and education. Each frame is explained with details like dialogue, direction, camera angles, or special effects notes. But they’re just as helpful for digital projects like UX design or product journeys. Whether you’re working solo or across teams, using a storyboard template helps you visualise and communicate your ideas clearly.
You can create a storyboard using tools like Adobe Acrobat online, or download a story board template PDF to start plotting out your project. If you need to create a digital storyboard, explore options like editable storyboard templates or merge PDFs to keep everything organised in one place.
What to include in a Storyboard?
A storyboard should cover the most important moments that need to be captured – not every detail, but enough to show how the narrative unfolds visually. Whether you're using a video storyboard template or a storyboard PDF, here are the essential elements to include:
Frames or boxes.
These are the foundation of any storyboard – the spaces where you add drawings, stills, or graphics that represent key scenes.
- Shot Types.
Each frame should indicate the type of shot, such as a wide shot, close-up, or overhead, to give visual direction. - Shot Numbers.
Numbering each shot helps to keep everything in order. Shot numbers mean your team can reference scenes quickly. - Camera and Stage Directions.
Include cues for movement, focus, or positioning to guide your production team and actors. - Action and Movement.
Describe what’s happening in each scene to support continuity and the flow of your storytelling. - Dialogue or Narration.
Add script lines or voiceover text to match each visual. It helps you time scenes effectively. - Extra Technical Details.
These technical details make your storyboard more production-ready. Consider sound effects, background music, or lighting requirements.
Why is a Storyboard Important?
Creating a storyboard helps you turn ideas into something tangible. It’s especially useful when you’re working in collaborative settings. Whether you're producing an animation, pitching an ad concept, or structuring an educational video, a storyboard brings clarity to the project. It’s the epitome of the old creative saying – show don’t tell.
Some key benefits of using a storyboard include:
You can visualise each step of your project with supporting visuals, direction, and narrative.
You can avoid miscommunications in your team by giving everyone a shared visual reference from the start.
If a stakeholder can clearly visualise a project or story, they may be more likely to buy into an idea. A picture tells a thousand words.
By spotting gaps or issues early, you can avoid expensive rewrites or reshoots down the line.
Whether you're storyboarding alone or as a team, it encourages more structured thinking without holding back your creativity.
How to create a Storyboard.
Ready to create your storyboard? Follow this simple step-by-step guide to bring your vision to life. Whether you’re using a digital storyboard tool or a printable storyboard template PDF, here are some tips to help you get started.
- Choose how many blank slides you need.
Think about your project – will you need a quick commercial storyboard template PDF, or a longer one for an animation episode? It could be a good idea to have the script or a breakdown in front of you so you can work out how many boxes you’ll need. - Add your photos or images.
This is the fun part – add your photos or hand-drawn illustrations onto your blank storyboard template. If you’re doing this digitally, you can scan these into your desktop, or use an app like Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop. Alternatively, simply import them into your digital template using Adobe Acrobat’s online editor. - Incorporate your script.
The slides should have space beneath them where you can add dialogue and stage directions. You don’t want to cram this in, so make sure you’ve incorporated enough slides into your storyboard template. - Add any technical notes.
Dialogue and stage directions aren’t the only things a production team will need to know. Extra FX notes, such as light, sound, or visual effects, are an important part of telling any story. - Review and share.
Review your storyboard, add annotations and any extra notes you feel will be helpful in production. Storyboards are often used as first drafts of a story, so don’t worry if it looks messy. Of course, you can always use a fresh blank storyboard template to tidy things up a bit after.
Storyboard Template Examples.
Storyboards have many use cases across various industries and applications. Here are five practical ways you might use a storyboard template across different industries:
Film, TV, and animation.
A classic use. Storyboards help directors and animators plan scenes, character actions, shot compositions, and transitions before filming or animating begins.
User Experience (UX) design.
UX designers use digital storyboards to map user journeys across apps or websites. These help visualise how users will interact with a product or service in each stage.
Visualising the customer journey.
Marketing teams use storyboards to plot customer interactions across channels, from ad impressions to engagement post-purchase.
Teaching and education.
Teachers use editable storyboard templates to help students structure narratives. They’re also used in education to visualise historical events, scientific processes, or creative writing projects.
Product explainers and commercials.
Advertisers create storyboards for explainer videos, product demos, or ad pitches to visualise different elements of the advert like script alignment, pacing, and impact.
Download a storyboard plan PDF or PPT.
Download your free printable storyboard template to get started. From comics to short films, a storyboard helps bring your concept to life in a structured, visual way.
Use a printable storyboard PDF or a digital PPT storyboard template to map out your project step by step. And if you need to make edits as you go, try Adobe Acrobat online to edit and annotate your storyboard directly in your browser.
Frequently Asked Questions.
How do I make a storyboard for a video?
To make a storyboard for video, start by writing your script. Then divide the script into scenes and use a video storyboard template to match each scene with a corresponding image. Add your visual notes, dialogue, and technical direction beneath each frame.
Can I create a storyboard in PowerPoint?
Absolutely! Many teams use PowerPoint to create storyboards due to its flexible slide layout. Try a free PPT storyboard template and customise it to your needs with visuals, transitions, and annotations.
What is the basic rule of storyboarding?
One of the most important rules to keep in mind when creating a storyboard is to include every shot – no matter how small. Your finished storyboard should capture each shot in its own frame or panel, to ensure there are no gaps in the narrative. It also helps everyone in your team stay aligned on what the final visual should look like.
Related Acrobat content.
Get even more out of your storyboard process with these helpful Acrobat tools and resources.
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