Storyboard sheets should be letter or legal size (8 1/2" x 11" or 8 1/2" x 14") for ease of copying and storing. Storyboards are often translated into layouts that provide the background design and position of the characters. Very tight storyboards, clean and well-rendered, are sometimes blown up and used as the layouts for a scene. At other times, layouts are provided for the storyboard artists. When layouts are provided, they will often be pasted below the storyboard panels as a reference for both the storyboard artist and production.

A page of storyboards with the layout taped on the bottom for reference.

The main reason for storyboarding is to pre-plan and enhance the story. Don’t be overly concerned with the quality of the art. Concentrate on determining the proper shots to help the story flow. There are hundreds of elements that make up a great storyboard, far too many for this book. For all the details you may refer to my book, Storyboards: Motion in Art.

Storyboards: Motion in Art, 2nd Edition (published by Focal Press).

Ten Steps for a Great Storyboard
Here are ten elements that help make a great storyboard:

1. Varied shots. Make some shots wide, others close.
2. Building tension. Show the audience what the characters don’t see. Cut to a bomb counting down. Show shadowy figures in the background.
3. Use Close-ups (Cus). Draw the viewer into the action.
4. Establishing shots. Give your viewers an overview of who is where to help them follow the action.
5. Cut-aways. Shots of a character’s fingers twitching, or trophies on a wall, can say more about a character than lengthy dialogue.
6. Extreme Close-ups. An extremely close shot of a character’s eye, mouth or finger will help enforce the urgency in what is happening.
7. Point of View shots (POV). Show the audience what your character sees from the character’s view point. Point of View shots (POV). Show the audience what your character sees from the character’s view point.
8. Motivate your shots. For instance, in order to have a POV, you need to first show the character looking toward something, which motivates a cut to their POV.
9. Over the Shoulder shots (OTS). This draws the viewer into the action and makes a scene more intimate.
10. Use as many drawings as necessary to show the action.