Storyboards
Create professional storyboards for your video projects, commercials, films, or any visual storytelling. Organize scenes, add images, write scripts, and present your vision to clients or team members.
What are Storyboards?
Storyboards are visual planning tools that break down your project into individual frames (scenes). Each frame contains:
Visual: An image showing what the scene looks like
Action: What happens in the scene
Dialogue: What characters say
Voiceover: Narration or voice-over text
Camera: Camera angles and movements
Notes: Production notes and directions
Script: Full scene description or beat
💡 Perfect for: Video producers, filmmakers, ad agencies, content creators, game designers, and anyone planning visual content.
Getting Started
Creating Your First Storyboard
Steps:
Navigate to the Storyboards page from the sidebar
Click the "+ New" button in the top-right
Fill in the storyboard details:
Title: Give your storyboard a clear name (required)
Description: Brief overview of the project (optional)
Tags: Keywords for easy filtering (optional)
Aspect Ratio: Choose the frame format (16:9, 9:16, 1:1, etc.)
Click "Create Storyboard"
Working with Frames
Adding Frames
To add a new frame:
Click the "+ Add Frame" button in the toolbar
Or click the dashed "Add Frame" card in the grid
A new empty frame will be created at the end
The frame will be pre-filled with default values
💡 Smart Default: When you add a frame, it automatically inherits some properties from the previous frame to speed up your workflow.
Adding Images to Frames
There are two ways to add images to your frames:
Method 1: Quick Upload from Frame Card
Hover over a frame card
Click the Upload button that appears
Select an image from your computer
The image will be uploaded and automatically optimized
Method 2: Upload from Frame Editor
Double-click a frame to open the editor
Click the Upload Image button in the left panel
Select your image
The image will replace the current one
🎨 Image Tips: Images are automatically cached and thumbnails are generated for fast loading. Supported formats: JPG, PNG, WebP, GIF.
Editing Frame Details
To edit a frame:
Double-click any frame card to open the editor
The editor has two panels:
Left: Large image preview with upload button
Right: All text fields for frame details
Edit any field - changes auto-save after 500ms
Press ⌘/Ctrl+S to save immediately
Press ESC to close
⚡ Auto-Save: The editor automatically saves your changes as you type (with a 500ms delay). No need to manually save unless you want to force it!
Reordering Frames
Frames can be reordered using drag-and-drop:
Click and hold on any frame card
Drag it to a new position in the grid
Release to drop it in the new position
All frames will be renumbered automatically
💡 Pro Tip: The drag handle (⋮⋮) appears when you hover over a frame. You can also use keyboard shortcuts later to move frames around.
Advanced Features
Exporting Storyboards
Share your storyboards with clients or team members using various export formats:
PDF Export - Contact Sheet
A grid layout showing all frames with thumbnails and basic info. Perfect for quick overviews and client presentations.
4 frames per page in a 2x2 grid
Frame number, title, and key details
Compact and printer-friendly
PDF Export - Script Board
A detailed layout showing one frame per page with complete information. Ideal for production teams and detailed planning.
Large image with all text fields
Action, Dialogue, Voiceover, Camera, Notes
Perfect for shooting scripts
CSV Export
Export all frame data to a spreadsheet for further analysis or integration with other tools.
All text fields in columns
Image URLs included
Easy to import into Excel or Google Sheets
📤 How to Export: Click the "Export" dropdown in the toolbar and choose your format. The file will download automatically.
Present Mode
Present Mode is a full-screen presentation view perfect for client pitches and team reviews:
Click the "Present" button in the toolbar
The storyboard opens in a new tab
Use arrow keys (← →) to navigate between frames
Press ESC to exit present mode
What's displayed:
Large, centered image
Frame title and number
Action, Dialogue, Voiceover, Camera details
Duration (if specified)
Clean, distraction-free interface
Duplicating Storyboards
Create variations or new versions of existing storyboards:
Click the "Duplicate" button in the toolbar
A new storyboard is created with all frames copied
The title will have " (v2)" appended
All images and text are preserved
💡 Use Case: Perfect for creating different versions of a concept (e.g., "Summer Campaign v1", "Summer Campaign v2") or starting a similar project.
Frame Details Reference
Title
A short, descriptive name for the frame (e.g., "Opening Shot", "Product Reveal", "Character Introduction").
Required field
Max 100 characters
Visible in frame cards and exports
Action
Describe what's happening in the scene (e.g., "Hero walks into the room", "Product spins 360 degrees").
Optional
Focus on visual action
Useful for directors and crew
Dialogue
What characters say in this frame (e.g., "Hello, I'm here to save the day!").
Optional
Use quotation marks for spoken words
Mark as [Silent] if no dialogue
Voiceover
Narration or voice-over text that plays during this frame.
Optional
Separate from dialogue
Often used for commercials and documentaries
Camera
Camera movements, angles, and shot types (e.g., "Close-up", "Dolly zoom", "Aerial shot").
Optional
Technical direction for cinematographers
Include lens info if needed
Notes
Production notes, special requirements, or reminders (e.g., "Need fog machine", "Golden hour lighting").
Optional
Free-form text
Great for technical requirements
Script
Full scene description or beat. More detailed than "Action" field.
Optional
Can include stage directions
Useful for longer narrative sequences
Duration
How long this frame/scene should last in seconds.
Optional
Numeric value only
Helps with timing and pacing
Keyboard Shortcuts
Best Practices
Planning Your Storyboard
Start with rough sketches: Even simple drawings or stock photos help visualize the flow
Number strategically: Leave gaps (Frame 10, 20, 30) so you can insert frames later
Use consistent aspect ratios: Match your final output format
Tag everything: Makes finding and organizing storyboards easier
Frame Details
Be specific in Action: "Character walks left to right" is better than "Character walks"
Keep Dialogue concise: What fits naturally in the frame's duration
Use Camera field effectively: Include shot type, angle, and movement
Notes are for crew: Technical requirements, props, special needs
Images
Use high-quality images: They'll be exported in PDFs and presentations
Consistent style: Mix of generated images, photos, and sketches should look cohesive
Generate with AI: Use Dream Engine's Image Generator for consistent style
Optimize before upload: Large files are handled, but smaller is faster
Presentation
Use Present Mode for clients: It's polished and distraction-free
Export PDFs for email: Contact Sheet for overview, Script Board for details
CSV for production: Import into other project management tools
Common Workflows
Commercial Production
Create storyboard with 9:16 aspect ratio (vertical video)
Add 10-15 frames for a 30-second spot
Use Action field for shot description
Voiceover field for VO script
Export PDF Script Board for production team
Use Present Mode for client approval
Film/Short Film
Create storyboard with 16:9 aspect ratio (cinematic)
Break down script into key scenes
Focus on Camera field for shot composition
Use Script field for detailed action
Duplicate for different takes/versions
Export Contact Sheet for quick reference on set
Social Media Campaign
Create multiple storyboards (one per platform)
Use 1:1 for Instagram, 9:16 for TikTok/Reels, 16:9 for YouTube
Keep frames simple (3-5 seconds each)
Focus on visual punch - less dialogue
Export all as PDFs for client review
Iterate based on feedback by duplicating
Troubleshooting
Images Not Showing
Solution: Images are being cached. Wait a few seconds and refresh. If issue persists, try re-uploading the image.
Can't Reorder Frames
Solution: Make sure you're clicking and holding on the frame card itself (not buttons). Drag slowly to ensure the drag is registered.
Auto-Save Not Working
Solution: Auto-save has a 500ms delay. Make sure you pause typing for half a second. You can always force save with ⌘/Ctrl+S.
Export Failed
Solution: Make sure you have at least one frame with an image. Check your browser's download settings if the file doesn't appear.
Present Mode Not Opening
Solution: Check if pop-ups are blocked in your browser. Allow pop-ups for Dream Engine.
Tips & Tricks
⚡ Speed Tips:
Generate directly: Use Image Generator, then "Edit" to add to storyboard
Duplicate frames: Create one perfect frame, duplicate, then modify
Use templates: Create a blank storyboard template and duplicate for each project
Batch upload: Prepare all images first, then upload them all at once
CSV workflow: Export to CSV, fill in text in Excel, then reference while editing
⚠️ Important Notes:
Deleted storyboards and frames cannot be recovered
Always export PDFs before major changes
Image uploads are permanent (can't undo)
Duplicating creates a new storyboard (doesn't link to original)
What's Next?
Now that you understand storyboards, explore other Dream Engine features to enhance your workflow:
Use Image Generator to create custom frame images
Try Video Animation to bring your frames to life
Add Voice & Lip-Sync to preview dialogue
Store everything in your Media Library
🎬 Ready to create? Head to the Storyboards page and start planning your next project!