Storyboards are visual representations of your ideas, stories, or messages. They can help you plan, communicate, and refine your projects, whether they are for animation, film, video games, or other media. But how can you choose the best images for your storyboards? Here are some tips to help you create effective and engaging storyboards with the right images.
The first step to choosing the best images for your storyboards is to know your purpose. What are you trying to achieve with your storyboards? Who are you trying to reach? What are you trying to convey? Your purpose will guide your choice of images, as different images can have different effects on your audience. For example, if you are creating a storyboard for a horror movie, you might want to use images that create suspense, fear, or shock. If you are creating a storyboard for a comedy, you might want to use images that evoke humor, irony, or surprise.
You need to know not just the purpose of the scene, but the purpose of each shot. Once you know the purpose of the shot, you need to know what camera angle, lighting, and content will most clearly and quickly communicate that. Each shot must flow seamlessly to the next so the story is easy to follow. It’s a good idea to have a recognizable element from the previous shot incorporated into the image so your viewer knows where the camera has moved and what they’re looking at all times. This is particularly important for 2d animation, where it’s easy for your viewer to get lost without these elements to anchor them. Also, it helps if each shot involving characters shows that either something has just happened Ed or is about to happen.
You must constantly be questioning what You are Writing and how the writing is going. Does what I am saying match the photos I have with the copy.
By picking images that match what you're trying to do with your storyboard, you make it better at getting your ideas across, grabbing people's attention, and reaching the main goals of your project.
I have such a hardtime in class convincing students about storyboards. I show them Alfred Hitchcocks amazing storyboards and even then is still hard to get them to realize the value, as Hitchcock was always ontime and under-budget and a Hollywood saught after director!
When you are making a storyboard always try to synthesise the story you want to tell finding a shot for each of the most important moments in the story: -establishing moment (we quickly understand who are the protagonists and what are their surroundings). -call to adventure (what happens that leads to a quest?) -struggles on the way (milk the moment and keep the viewer interested) -credible ending. Make your thumbnails and keep your work simple, give each moment a maximum of 3 shots. Once you have your key moments, a solid structure to start with, you're ready to add in-betweens and play with your storyboard. I chose the term "play" because you first of all must have fun doing it, remember, your emotions will be poured into your drawings
The second step to choosing the best images for your storyboards is to choose relevant images. Relevant images are images that match your content, context, and tone. They should support your story, not distract from it. They should also fit the style, genre, and mood of your project. For example, if you are creating a storyboard for a historical drama, you might want to use images that reflect the time period, setting, and costumes of your characters. If you are creating a storyboard for a fantasy adventure, you might want to use images that show the magic, creatures, and landscapes of your world.
Pick images that fit well with the message or story you want to convey. Make sure the pictures align with the ideas you're presenting and accurately represent the content you're trying to communicate. It's important that the images make sense in the context of what you're expressing or demonstrating.
Once you have a relatively clear understanding of your characters and spaces, you can either start by drawing rough sketches of the scenes or gather images from your favourite film and television shows. There are some wonderful websites like 'SAVEE' and 'Pinterest' for that.
The third step to choosing the best images for your storyboards is to use clear images. Clear images are images that are easy to see, understand, and interpret. They should have good quality, resolution, and contrast. They should also have simple and focused compositions, avoiding clutter, noise, or confusion. For example, if you are creating a storyboard for a action scene, you might want to use images that show the movement, direction, and impact of your characters and objects. If you are creating a storyboard for a dialogue scene, you might want to use images that show the expressions, gestures, and emotions of your characters.
Choose images that are clear and straightforward, ones that people can easily see and grasp without any confusion. It's essential that the visuals you pick are not only easy on the eyes but also straightforward in conveying the intended message, ensuring that anyone looking at them can quickly comprehend the information or story you're trying to share.
Let your images be as direct as possible. Even if it is an artwork or an illustration, the tone and message must be clear. Any ambiguous image can be a distraction.
One thing that helps is choosing images that close the gap between what's in your mind's eye and what will be seen on the screen. For example if you are showing a restaurant scene and in a frame we can see outside the restaurant then make sure you work on building the space. Do we see vehicles outside the restaurant? What time of the day is it? What is the weather like? What are the patterns on the glass behind the character?
The fourth step to choosing the best images for your storyboards is to use varied images. Varied images are images that show different perspectives, angles, and distances. They can help you create interest, dynamism, and depth in your storyboards. They can also help you convey different aspects of your story, such as the setting, the action, and the emotion. For example, if you are creating a storyboard for a chase scene, you might want to use images that show close-ups, wide shots, bird's eye views, and worm's eye views. If you are creating a storyboard for a flashback scene, you might want to use images that show different colors, filters, or transitions.
Include a variety of images in your selection to make things more interesting and to grab people's attention. Mixing things up with different visuals not only adds diversity but also keeps things engaging, making it more likely that your audience will stay interested in what you're presenting or sharing.
The fifth step to choosing the best images for your storyboards is to use consistent images. Consistent images are images that follow the same style, format, and size. They can help you create coherence, harmony, and continuity in your storyboards. They can also help you maintain your brand identity, vision, and voice. For example, if you are creating a storyboard for a documentary, you might want to use images that have the same aspect ratio, font, and color scheme. If you are creating a storyboard for a graphic novel, you might want to use images that have the same line art, shading, and panel layout.
Maintain a consistent style when choosing your images so that they all go together smoothly, giving your project a polished and well-put-together appearance. By keeping a uniform look throughout, you're ensuring that your visuals complement each other, contributing to a more cohesive and aesthetically pleasing overall presentation. This not only makes things look more organized but also helps convey your message in a clear and unified manner.
The sixth and final step to choosing the best images for your storyboards is to test your images. Testing your images means showing them to your target audience, clients, or collaborators, and getting their feedback. Testing your images can help you evaluate their effectiveness, impact, and appeal. It can also help you identify any problems, gaps, or improvements that you need to make. For example, if you are creating a storyboard for a pitch, you might want to test your images with potential investors, partners, or customers. If you are creating a storyboard for a portfolio, you might want to test your images with potential employers, mentors, or peers.
I like this. Test the images. Yes, You should always be testing and questioning whether the writing is good and does it make sense with the photos I have with it.
This reminds me of networking. If you don't show anyone your new toy, nobody will know you have it. For example, here’s a few methods to do so: Create a bulk file of the photos and a Google form with questions tying into each photo. Ask immediate friends and family to check out the file and form and answer the questions as honestly as possible. Use the feedback accordingly, as gold from the mine. Repeat the process until you think you have the images narrowed down. Otherwise: Test your network in public through Instagram/socials of choice, (without stating the actual purpose), use the feedback to either edit/customize the photo tested; then tie in a meaningful story, repurpose the image/works, and develop your next plan of action.
?Develop the script or narrative to support the image: If the project involves storytelling or a scripted sequence of events, the next step is to develop your script or narrative. Write a detailed script that outlines the dialogue, action and sequence of events with the chosen images. Then, break down the script into key scenes, actions and transitions that are essential to conveying your story effectively with the images.