Glossary A–ZLetter S
Storyboard
A storyboard is a sequence of sketches or frames that defines the course of a video, animation or content sequence frame by frame before production begins.
Each frame comes with details on duration, text, movement and transition.
For screen content, a storyboard clarifies early on whether a message works in the time available: a ten-second spot has room for about three visual states, not ten. It also shows whether each scene makes sense on its own, because viewers join at any point. With the storyboard, the client, agency and department agree on content and order before production costs arise.
Operators should have the storyboard drawn up in the format of the target screen, so in portrait if the screen hangs in portrait, and with realistic type sizes. A common mistake is a storyboard intended for a film with sound while the screen runs silently. Safe margins from the edge and placeholders for changing details such as prices also belong in it.