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Making the PDF…
About the storyboard template
A storyboard is your film drawn as a comic before you shoot it. Each frame shows one shot, and the notes below say what happens. It takes minutes to redraw a frame, and much longer to shoot a scene again.
This tool makes a blank storyboard sheet in the exact shape of your screen. Choose how many frames you want, print it, and start sketching. Stick figures are fine. The PDF is made in your browser and nothing is uploaded.
Features
- 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9 or 12 frames per page — the tool picks the rows and columns that give the biggest frames
- Four frame shapes — 16:9, 4:3, 9:16 for phones, and 1:1 square
- Under each frame — lines for notes, Shot and Time fields, both, or nothing
- Frame numbers — they keep counting from one page to the next
- Title and project line — type them or write by hand, with the page number beside them
- Four styles — classic, minimal, soft corners or film strip
- Portrait or landscape — A4 or US Letter, up to 50 pages in one PDF
How to use it
- Choose the Frames per page and the Frame shape
- Choose what goes Under each frame
- Switch Orientation between portrait and landscape to see which gives larger frames
- Type a Title and Project, or leave them empty
- Set the number of Pages and pick a Style
- Press Print or Download PDF
How to make a storyboard
- Start from the script. Read it and mark each place where the camera angle or the place changes. Each mark is a new frame
- Draw the key moment of each shot. Show the most important instant. Simple shapes and stick figures are enough
- Show the movement. Use arrows for a person walking or for a camera that moves
- Write the notes. Add the dialogue, sounds and what the camera does
- Fill in Shot and Time. Give each shot a number and a length in seconds, then add up the times to see how long your film will be
- Read it through. Show it to someone else. If they cannot follow the story, change the drawing now, before you film
Which frame shape and layout?
| Your project | Frame shape |
|---|---|
| Film, YouTube, TV ad | 16:9 |
| Old TV style, some presentations | 4:3 |
| TikTok, Reels, Shorts | 9:16 |
| Square social media posts | 1:1 |
Use 2 to 4 frames per page when each drawing needs detail, or when you plan to show the sheets to a client. Use 6 frames for most short films. Use 9 or 12 frames for a fast first draft of a long story, because you can see the whole flow at once.
For wide 16:9 frames with few frames per page, portrait and landscape give different sizes. The status line under the form tells you the size of each frame in millimetres, so you can compare them.
Words to use in your notes
These short forms are common on storyboards, and they fit in small note lines.
| Short form | Meaning |
|---|---|
| WS | Wide shot: the whole place and the people in it |
| MS | Medium shot: a person from the waist up |
| CU | Close-up: a face or an object fills the frame |
| OTS | Over the shoulder of another person |
| POV | Point of view: what a person sees |
| Pan / Tilt | The camera turns sideways / up and down |
| Zoom in | The picture moves closer to the subject |
Frequently asked questions
What is a storyboard used for?
It is used to plan films, adverts, animation, video games and online videos. It shows the team what each shot should look like before anyone spends time filming or animating. It also helps you find the parts of a story that do not work.
How many frames do I need?
Start with one frame for each shot. A short advert may need 6 to 15 frames, and a two-minute video may need about 20 to 30. Animation often uses many more, because each action gets its own drawing.
Do I need to be good at drawing?
No. A storyboard only has to be clear. Stick figures, simple boxes and arrows work well. Many directors draw very simply and leave the fine art to the film.
What does the Time field mean?
It is how long the shot lasts on screen, usually in seconds. Add up all the times to estimate the length of the finished video.
Can I use it for phone videos?
Yes. Choose 9:16. The frames are tall like a phone screen, so you can see what fits before you film. Keep the important parts away from the very top and bottom, where apps often place their buttons and captions.
Good to know
- Print at Actual size so the frames keep their exact shape
- Choose a Light grey line colour if you want the frame lines to fade behind your drawing
- Your settings are saved in this browser for your next visit
Related tools
- Comic Strip Template — panels and speech bubbles for telling stories
- Printable Graph Paper — helps you sketch sets and floor plans
- Printable Dot Grid Paper — for rough layouts
- Screen Recorder — film your own screen once the plan is ready
- Add Music to Video — finish your video with a soundtrack
