A storyboard helps you visually plan a story before it’s brought to life. They’re often used in film, animation, video games, marketing, education and UX design to test ideas, fix issues, and map out the flow of a project before committing to time and resources.

In this guide, we’ll explain exactly what a storyboard is, when to use one, and walk through step-by-step instructions. You’ll also find storyboard examples for different industries and discover how Adobe Express UK can help you design your own.

What is a storyboard?

A storyboard is a visual outline of a story or process. It is presented frame by frame, with each frame representing a key scene or step in the narrative. It’s used to plan visuals, structure pacing, and identify potential gaps in a creative project.

Story plan examples are usually created with sketches, photos, or illustrations paired with text notes, camera directions, or scripts. They’re used in film pre-production, advertising, explainer videos, product demos, and even classroom story plans. They can also be hand-drawn or made digitally using various story planning templates and software.

Why are storyboards important?

Storyboards make complex ideas clearer by helping you see the sequence of events that will happen before the project is executed. Here are a few key benefits of a creative writing story plan:

Visualising and planning ideas

They help turn abstract concepts into structured visual ideas.

Identifying narrative issues early

It’s easier to catch inconsistencies, pacing problems, or unclear transitions before production.

Aiding collaboration and team understanding

A storyboard keeps everyone aligned on tone, timeline, and visual goals.

Saving time and resources

Reduce the need for reshoots, rewrites, or costly fixes by following a detailed plan.

Supporting pitches or presentations

Communicate your story or idea clearly to stakeholders or clients.

Storyboard examples: For film, animation, and marketing.

How to create a storyboard.

Whether you're producing a video, pitching an advert, or teaching students how to plan a short story, storyboarding can help you plan out your visual narrative, step by step.

1. Choose your storyboard format and template.

Select a layout from Adobe Express Templates that suits your project. Gridded panels are great for film, flow diagrams for UX, or a story planning template for creative writing.

2. Map out the draft scenes.

Outline your story in rough segments and use a story plan template or bullet-point summary to sketch what the structure will be.

3. Illustrate the shots.

Add sketches, stock images, or placeholder icons to visualise each scene. Include action, characters, or product features that will be in the shot.

4. Add arrows and annotations.

Show the direction, movement, transitions or dialogue to explain timing, camera movement, or narrative flow of each scene.

5. Share with your team and refine.

Present your draft to stakeholders or team members for Cross-team collaboration. This way, you can gather feedback before finalising your storyboard and sharing it with stakeholders.

Storyboard examples: When to use one.

Storyboard examples are used well beyond film and TV. Here are a few popular use cases and what each might include.

Film and TV.

Storyboards are commonly used to plan scenes, camera angles, dialogue, and transitions before filming begins. For example, storyboarding a documentary interview layout or a dramatic opening scene.

Animation.

In animation, you can use storyboards to map frame-by-frame movements, character arcs, and timing. For example, a storyboard of a short animated PSA or TikTok clip.

Advertising campaigns.

Visualise level progression, cutscenes, and user interactions for video games using a storyboard template.

Advertising campaigns.

Show the narrative arc of a video ad or social campaign on a storyboard. For example, plotting a commercial from the first product shot through to the CTA.

Free storyboard templates for beginners.

How can Adobe Express help you create effective storyboards?

Adobe Express makes it easy to plan and present your ideas with storyboarding templates and visual tools, from quick sketches to polished presentation boards.

1. Choose the perfect template.

Browse and choose from hundreds of editable storyboard layouts to suit your needs with our template collection.

2. Complement your story with a mood board.

Set the tone and aesthetic of your project with a mood board alongside your storyboard to show your intent.

3. Share your storyboard for feedback and sign off.

With Adobe Express, you can easily download or share a link for team collaboration and approval from stakeholders.

4. Add personalised text effects.

Label each scene creatively using stylised fonts and text effects.

5. Experiment with photo editing.

Upload sketches or image stills and edit, adjust brightness, contrast, or cropping to show how you want the scene to appear.

Transform your storyboard into a visual presentation with AI tools on Adobe Express.

With the AI Presentation Maker, you can turn your storyboard into a deck to pitch your idea, showcase your project, or guide the production process. Just enter a prompt like “animated series storyboard for kids” or “product launch story plan,” and let Adobe generate a layout for you. Then, you can customise with your storyboard visuals, titles, and notes. It’s a smart way to present your vision clearly that’s ideal for filmmakers, marketers, or designers who have a clear vision but not much time.

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Good to know.

What jobs use a storyboard?

Storyboard artists, filmmakers, marketers, animators, UX designers, educators, and product developers all use storyboards to plan and present visual stories.

How can you create a storyboard for learning?

Use a simple template with text boxes and visuals to explain a sequence. It’s perfect for storytelling, scientific processes, or historical timelines in class.

What are some things to avoid in storyboarding?

Avoid being too vague, overly detailed too early on, or skipping transitions in your storyboard. Consistency in your visuals and labels also matters for clarity, as the rest of your team will need to understand your vision.

Is Adobe Express free?

Yes, our free plan offers many core features, including thousands of templates, photo editing and effects, animation, and 5 GB of storage. See our pricing page for details and to compare plans.