What Is a Storyboard and How Do You Create One Online?
A storyboard is a sequence of panels that shows what happens in a video, film, comic, or lesson—one frame at a time. You can create one online without drawing skills by using a browser-based tool that supplies scenes, characters, and templates. StoryboardThat, for example, describes itself as an online storyboarding tool that lets you build a digital story in minutes using images, text, and templates. This guide covers what a storyboard is, how to make one step by step, and what to check before choosing a tool.
What a storyboard actually does
A storyboard turns a script or an idea into a visual plan. Each panel represents a moment: who is in the shot, what they're doing, and what text or dialogue belongs with it. The point isn't artistic quality—it's communication. As StoryboardThat puts it, storyboarding "brings words from the page to life" and captures an audience's imagination in ways text alone cannot.
That makes storyboards useful well beyond film:
- Video and film planning — map shots and scenes before shooting or animating.
- Education — build lesson plans and writing activities that help visual learners; StoryboardThat notes its lesson plans are Common-Core aligned and can be copied, edited, and assigned to students.
- Comics and graphic novels — lay out panels and dialogue in sequence.
- General visual communication — posters, timelines, infographics, and project planning.
How to create a storyboard online, step by step
The workflow below reflects how StoryboardThat describes its own process ("create a digital story in minutes using both images, text, and storyboard templates"). The exact menu names will differ between tools, but the sequence is the same.
- Start from a template or a blank canvas. Templates give you a panel grid and a starting structure; a blank canvas is better when you already know your shot list.
- Add a scene to each panel. Pick a background from the art library—StoryboardThat advertises "hundreds of scenes, characters, items and more."
- Place characters and objects. Drag them into the panel and adjust position and size to suggest framing (close-up vs. wide shot).
- Add text. Use captions for narration or action notes, and speech/thought bubbles for dialogue.
- Repeat for each beat of your story. Keep one idea per panel so the sequence reads clearly.
- Review and revise. Read the panels in order as if you were watching the finished piece; cut or reorder anything that doesn't move the story forward.
- Export or share. Save the board, print it, or assign it—teachers can assign boards to students directly in StoryboardThat.
What to expect: a finished board is a set of static panels, not an animation. Its value is in the plan it gives you or your audience.
Free vs. paid: what to check before you commit
StoryboardThat's page states you can "create two storyboards per week for free," and that upgrading unlocks more advanced features. It also shows a promotional offer of "Try 1 Month for $1," with plans starting at $9.99 after (and $13.99 for a second plan tier shown on the page). Some features are marked "Premium Feature" and require an upgrade.
| Question to ask | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| How many boards can I make per week/month? | Free tiers often cap output (StoryboardThat: two per week). |
| Which features are premium-only? | Templates, art, or export options may sit behind the paywall. |
| What's the price after any trial? | Promotional pricing can differ sharply from the ongoing rate. |
| Is there an education plan? | Teacher/classroom features may be priced or licensed separately. |
Pricing and plan details change; confirm current terms on the tool's pricing page rather than relying on any single description.
Choosing between common uses
The same tool can serve different jobs, but the panel logic changes:
- Lesson plans and writing activities — panels double as prompts; assign them so students fill in or build their own.
- Comics — dialogue and pacing matter more than camera framing.
- Video planning — prioritize shot type, camera movement notes, and timing per panel.
If your main goal is classroom use, look for assignment and template features. If it's film or video, look for flexible framing and export. If it's comics, look for a large character and expression library.
Common snags
- Trying to draw everything yourself. The premise of online storyboard tools is that you don't need to be an artist—use the built-in library.
- Cramming too much into one panel. One beat per panel keeps the sequence readable.
- Assuming "free" means unlimited. Check the cap before you plan a large project.
- Skipping the read-through. Panels often only reveal pacing problems when viewed in order.
Start with a template, build one short sequence end to end, and confirm the free limits fit your project before upgrading.