Top 5 Storyboarding Templates for Effective Narrative Planning and Visualization
Contents
1. Boords: Streamline Your Storyboarding Process
2. Plot: Visualize Your Story with Ease
3. Storyboarder: Free and Open-Source Storyboarding Software
4. FrameForge: Detailed Previsualization Software
5. StoryBoard Quick: Fast and Easy Storyboarding
Planning and visualizing a narrative can be a challenging task, but with the right tools, it becomes much easier. In this blog, we'll explore the top 5 storyboarding templates for planning and visualizing your narrative. These tools will help you streamline your creative process and bring your ideas to life.
1. Boords: Streamline Your Storyboarding Process
Boords is an online storyboarding tool that simplifies the process of planning and visualizing your narrative. With its user-friendly interface and powerful features, Boords is perfect for both beginners and professionals.
Features
Boords offers several features to help you create professional storyboards efficiently:
- Drag-and-drop functionality: Easily arrange your scenes and make adjustments on the fly.
- Collaboration tools: Work with your team in real-time, leave comments, and track changes.
- Customizable storyboard templates: Choose from a library of pre-made templates or create your own to fit your project's needs.
- Export options: Download your storyboards as PDFs, images, or even animated GIFs for presentations.
Pricing
Boords offers a range of pricing options to accommodate different budgets and project sizes. There's a free trial available, followed by three pricing tiers:
- Personal plan: $19 per month for one user and 10 storyboards.
- Team plan: $49 per month for three users, 30 storyboards, and additional collaboration features.
- Business plan: Custom pricing for larger teams or organizations with unlimited storyboards and advanced features.
Examples
Boords has been used by various professionals in the film, advertising, and animation industries. For instance, animators at Aardman, the creators of Wallace & Gromit, have used Boords to plan and visualize their narrative before moving on to producing the final animation. This shows how versatile and effective Boords can be for a wide range of storytelling projects.
2. Plot: Visualize Your Story with Ease
Plot is another excellent storyboarding tool that helps you visualize your narrative in a simple and intuitive way. With its clean interface and robust features, Plot is a great choice for filmmakers, writers, and other creatives seeking an effective storyboarding solution.
Features
Some of the standout features of Plot include:
- Flexible canvas: Add, rearrange, and resize your scenes with ease using Plot's versatile canvas.
- Library of assets: Choose from a vast collection of characters, props, and backgrounds to bring your story to life.
- Notes and annotations: Jot down ideas, add dialogue, or include specific instructions directly on your storyboard.
- Sharing and collaboration: Invite collaborators to view, edit, or comment on your storyboard, keeping everyone on the same page.
Pricing
Plot offers a free trial for new users, followed by two pricing tiers:
- Pro plan: $14 per month for unlimited projects, collaboration features, and access to the full library of assets.
- Team plan: $25 per month per user, with additional features for managing larger teams and more complex projects.
Examples
Plot has been used by various professionals in the film, television, and advertising industries. For example, the team behind the popular Netflix series "Stranger Things" used Plot to plan and visualize their narrative, ensuring a smooth and efficient production process. This demonstrates how Plot can be an invaluable tool for creatives working on projects of all sizes and complexities.
3. Storyboarder: Free and Open-Source Storyboarding Software
Storyboarder is a fantastic option for those seeking a cost-effective solution for planning and visualizing their narrative. As a free and open-source storyboarding tool, Storyboarder offers a powerful set of features that can rival many paid alternatives.
Features
Some noteworthy features of Storyboarder include:
- Intuitive drawing tools: Sketch your scenes directly on the digital canvas using a variety of brushes, pens, and other drawing tools.
- Import and export options: Easily import scripts, images, and other assets, or export your storyboard as a PDF, animated GIF, or even a 3D model.
- Shot generator: Automatically generate a variety of shots based on your scene description, saving you time and effort.
- Timeline view: Organize and sequence your scenes using the built-in timeline, helping you visualize the flow of your narrative.
Download
As an open-source software, Storyboarder is completely free to download and use. You can find the latest version on their official website, available for Windows, macOS, and Linux platforms. This makes it an accessible option for a wide range of users, regardless of their budget or operating system preference.
Examples
Storyboarder has been utilized by creatives across various industries, from independent filmmakers to professional animation studios. For instance, the creators of the animated short film "The Wrong Rock" used Storyboarder to plan and visualize their heartwarming tale. This example highlights the versatility and effectiveness of Storyboarder as a storyboarding tool for planning and visualizing your narrative.
4. FrameForge: Detailed Previsualization Software
FrameForge is a powerful and feature-rich previsualization software designed for professionals who require accurate and detailed storyboarding templates for planning and visualizing their narrative. With its sophisticated 3D capabilities and extensive library of assets, FrameForge enables you to create precise, visually stunning storyboards that help bring your creative vision to life.
Features
Some of the standout features of FrameForge include:
- 3D virtual sets: Design realistic 3D sets using an extensive library of objects, materials, and textures, giving you full control over your environment.
- Camera and lighting tools: Simulate real-world camera lenses, angles, and lighting conditions to achieve accurate and consistent visualizations.
- Character posing and animation: Customize and pose 3D characters, or even create simple animations to enhance your storyboards.
- Collaboration and sharing: Work together with your team, share your progress, and receive feedback to streamline the creative process.
Pricing
FrameForge offers different pricing options to cater to various budgets and needs. They provide a free demo with limited features, allowing you to test the software before committing to a purchase. For the full suite of features, you can choose between their Core, Pro, or Studio editions, with pricing ranging from a one-time fee of $399 to $899, depending on the selected package.
Examples
FrameForge is used by professionals in the film, television, and animation industries, as well as in the fields of advertising and game design. For example, the creators of the award-winning film "The Shape of Water" used FrameForge for their detailed previsualization process. This demonstrates the software's ability to handle complex and nuanced storyboarding templates for planning and visualizing your narrative, no matter the scale or scope of your project.
5. StoryBoard Quick: Fast and Easy Storyboarding
StoryBoard Quick is a user-friendly storyboarding software that focuses on providing a fast and efficient way to create storyboarding templates for planning and visualizing your narrative. Ideal for beginners and professionals alike, this intuitive software allows you to quickly sketch out your ideas and organize them into a coherent visual story.
Features
Some noteworthy features of StoryBoard Quick include:
- Drag-and-drop interface: Easily add characters, props, and backgrounds to your storyboard using the simple drag-and-drop functionality.
- Pre-built libraries: Access a vast collection of pre-designed characters, props, and backgrounds to speed up your storyboarding process.
- Customizable assets: Modify and personalize the built-in elements to better suit your unique story and style.
- Export options: Share your storyboard in various formats, including PDF, HTML, and image files, making it easy to present your ideas to others.
Pricing
StoryBoard Quick offers a range of pricing options, including a one-time purchase of the software for $279.99 or a 6-month rental for $99.99. They also provide a "Plus" version with additional features and expanded libraries for a one-time fee of $499.99, giving you even more tools and resources for planning and visualizing your narrative.
Examples
StoryBoard Quick is used by a wide variety of professionals such as filmmakers, advertising agencies, and educators. For instance, a director creating a short independent film could use StoryBoard Quick to efficiently visualize their scenes and share their vision with the crew, while an advertising agency could quickly draft and present multiple storyboard concepts to a client. These examples highlight the versatility and convenience of StoryBoard Quick when it comes to creating storyboarding templates for planning and visualizing your narrative.
If you're looking to dive deeper into crafting visually engaging stories, don't miss the workshop 'How To Design Your First Visual Story' by Lily Stock. This workshop will teach you the essential skills and techniques to create captivating visual stories that resonate with your audience.