Storyboard Pro Tips

https://learn.toonboom.com/journeys/storyboarding-artist

STORYBOARD FOUNDATION

Terminology

https://learn.toonboom.com/modules/panels/topic/about-the-storyboard-structure?c=1

In Storyboard Pro, it uses animation terminology instead of film terminology.

Sequence = Scene (change with location and/or time)

Scene = shot (change with each camera angle)

Panels convey the movement in a scene/shot.

Camera shots

https://learn.toonboom.com/modules/storyboard-concepts/topic/camera-shots?c=1

Interface

https://learn.toonboom.com/modules/interface/topic/about-the-interface?c=1

STORYBOARD PRO KICK-START

https://learn.toonboom.com/courses/storyboard-kick-start?c=3

Opening a file

25 frames per second

Import caption

Putting in your script in the storyboard tab

Needs to be a txt file

Drawing

Use brush tool, select tool – can change colour, cutter tool, eraser, paint white behind, layers

Add layers

Rough layer first then a new one that’s a bit more refined then in the final version, clean it up more.

Adding panels

Lots of ways to create new panels. In thumbnail view, can drag layers down onto new panel to replace. Onion skin will show previous panel.

Add a new scene

For when the camera changes

Camera

Camera tool. Click add keyframe at beginning of panel – green for go. Click add keyframe at end of panel – red for stop.

Sketch the camera first on a new layer.

Middle lets you move it around. Top left hand corner is to scale the camera.

Plan ahead and frame for next panels.

Timeline view

Lets you move camera keyframes around. Scrub through the panels

Change panel duration

Click and drag the end of the panel, look at the numbers

Animating

Put it on its own layer. Work in the timeline workspace. Draw a guide on a new layer to help you. Activate the layer’s running man. Add a key frame to the start position. Centre pivot on selection button. Fix duration before adding extra keyframes.

Thumbnail view

Is what it will look like if printed. Add a snapshot in the timeline view of want you want it to look like by right clicking on the frame.

Sounds

In the timeline workspace. Can record the sound/dialogue in the program.

Right click the audio track and select what you want. Record sound or import track.

Right click to show waveform and different sizes etc. enable scrubbing.

You can edit your sound in storyboard pro. Right click on the frame on the sound layer and split at current frame to edit and delete dead air or sound you don’t want. Click and drag around the clips.

Match the panel durations to the sound.

.wav are ideal. .mp3 aren’t recommended for long sequences.

Export PDF

File > Export > PDF

Chose destination path.

Then save as the type you want, depending on what you’re using it for. They can be customisable.

Export Movie

File > Export > Movie

Chose destination path and resolution.

Add if you want to also export sound, timecode, tv safe frame, etc

ADVANCED STORYBOARDING

Back ups

Back up your storyboard pro file at the end of your day/session to prevent corruptions and data loss. Can be saved anywhere.

Stamp tool

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DdzU2iQ-yo

3D reference

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7o-YF-Y7-c

Perspective tool

For deforming drawings

Text tool

Typing any text. Can change fonts, size, colour, etc

Can break apart the letters to edit them with every tool. Make sure text is on a vector layer. Right-click the text and select Convert > Break ApartText Layers twice to remove all text attributes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlOjyf7aVls