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Whether you own a video production company or are an independent filmmaker, storyboarding is likely one of the most important steps in your creative process. Storyboards help creative film agencies, producers, and directors visualize the story and plan the shots that will go into the movie.
Without a storyboard, getting everyone on the same page or even executing the entire film would be nearly impossible. This is why good storyboarding software is essential – keep reading to discover the seven best storyboard tools for your film production services.
Storyboarder by Wonder Unit
Storyboarder by Wonder Unit
This super simple tool is one of the most user-friendly options, making it incredibly easy to use. Choose between six drawing tools – a light pencil, a hard pencil, a pen, a note pen, a brush to tone, and an eraser. While some might think this is almost too simple, fewer tools mean it's incredibly straightforward. This is great for people who love to draw, but Storyboarder also has several built-in templates for creating dynamic frames.
- Price: Free
- Platforms: Mac, Windows, Linux
IMAGO / Depositphotos | Illustrator looking at laptop near coworker in glasses and sketches.
StoryboardQuick
If you can't draw, StoryboardQuick is likely your best bet! With this software, you can import script text from screenwriting programs or text files for script-integrated storyboarding. The built-in characters and templates will make your ideas come to life quickly! Deleting frames and rearranging shots is also straightforward – you can see the entire storyboard in one view.
- Price: $67.50 per month or $530.50 per year
- Platforms: Mac, Windows
Boords
While getting started with Boords is free, you can upgrade to several paid options. This tool is handy for production companies working collaboratively on a storyboard – it allows you to comment on specific frames, making it great for in-depth feedback.
It also takes traditional soundboarding software one step further. For many filmmakers, sound is the last thing added during post-production. However, with Boords, you can get a sneak peek at the post-production stage by adding sound to the storyboard.
- Price: $36-$120 per month
- Platforms: Mac, Windows, Linux
IMAGO / Cavan Images | Animation character design video game film production Bangkok.
Toon Boom Storyboard Pro
Toon Boom is one of the higher-end options on this list, and it's worth the money if you're an animator. It has a massive suite of art tools to create detailed artwork, but it's still intuitive and easy to use. With animatic and built-in camera settings, this is an excellent option for larger production studios.
- Price: $67.50 per month or $530.50 per year
- Platforms: Mac, Windows
PanelForge
PanelForge has several storyboarding options, whether you want to sketch your frames on a 2D drawing canvas or create depth perspective on its Virtual 3D Stage. Because of this, you can scale up your designs or keep them super simple.
This software is also great for exporting and sharing your work – you can export it as a video, PDF, PNG, Animation Cache, XML, and Autodesk.
- Price: £6 per month – £1,000 per year
- Platforms: Windows
Canva
Canva is one of the best tools for visual content providers, including filmmakers. It has a massive library of free storyboarding templates, so you can dive in and get started as quickly as possible!
- Price: Free plan and professional plan for $120 per year
- Platforms: Web-based (suitable for all platforms)
Final Thoughts: Using IMAGO For Your Storyboard
Whether creating storyboards on a free template like Canva or with high-tier software like Toon Boom, you'll need top-notch stock images and videos. From archival to historical images, IMAGO has plenty of visual options that you can use for entertainment, sports, and editorial topics.
Looking for stock images for your storyboard? Check out millions of high-quality images at IMAGO for your next video or film production.
