storyboarding?

[Steve Roberts]

https://www.frameforge3d.com/
https://www.storyboardartist.com/artist.html
https://www.powerproduction.com/quick.html

Sorry, I don’t use ’em … I use a pencil. 🙂 Though FrameForge is tempting.

Steve

[Chris Smith]

I use FrameForge. It’s really cool in some areas and a total pain in others. Really adjusting the camera is archaic. I wish it used the 3 mouse button controls like Maya and C4D. Rather than tweaking the GUI sliders.

Chris Smith
https://www.sugarfilmproduction.com

[Greg Neumayer]

Unless you need all the exact measurements that software like that can provide, I’ve found that sometimes less is more. I use pencil and pen only, because it forces my client to focus on the framing, the action, and the description instead of the quality of the storyboard. I tried storyboarding with psd, or AE, or Illustrator, but not only did it take a long time, the client always seemed to get hung up on things like “Will it be those colors?” “Why does it look kinda flat?” or “It feels kinda simple”. As the artist of your own work, it’s easy to see beyond the storyboard, but for your clients… that’s another story.

Pencil and black pen have worked best to show them what I need to show them, without them getting derailed on the aesthetics of the storyboard. So, now I do a storyboard, and once approved, a move on to a style comp, which is a single frame that represents all the aesthetics that the storyboard couldn’t accomplish. Once they’ve also approved the style comp, I can move on to animatics with much less fear that they’ll say, “why does the animation look like the old arcade game, Battle Zone?” LOL.

I’m sure those apps are great. Just remember their limitations, and consider that for many projects, they won’t necessarily make your storyboard better.

-Greg

Antifreeze Design
https://www.antifreezemotiongraphics.com

[Chris Smith]

I agree. I do only use Frame Forge when picking the exact lenses and placing the camera is crucial.

Otherwise, I have a document I keep with little 4:3 frames (modify it on occasion for other aspect ratios). That I do chicken scratch on. I’m not an artist so I bring in a Guy to do the actual boards.

In fact I even have a storyboard artist use my frame forge frames as reference and re-draw them in pencil/ink.

Chris Smith
https://www.sugarfilmproduction.com

[Bj Ahlen]

I’ll really second that on FrameForge. Wonderful, and a pain in the rear.

I found that the software was getting in the way of putting my vision on paper. Pencil and paper won’t give you as nice looking boards unless you’re an artist, but they are quick to create.

If you’re not using the boards to sell a production or get financing, it’s no problem if you draw real ugly as long as you can see the intent, which is all this is about anyway.

I can create very nice things with of a camera or a handful of clay, but I couldn’t draw nicely if my life depended on it.

Still, my stick drawings communicate what is needed, and that’s what counts.

[Nicholas Toth]

I just wanted to pick something up for CONSISTENCY purposes — I have a million sketches that I need to scan in and then embed in a file alongside the script — I’m steering away from PS or AI because I think they will just complicate things. I’m going to check out FRAMEFORGE. What were your problems with it? I guess all programs are a love hate relationship though……….

Nicholas Toth
Freelance Animator
nicholastoth.com

[Bj Ahlen]

Chris mentioned some of his concerns.

For me it was simply a case of the software slowing me down rather than speeding me up.

[Chris Smith]

It just involves a lot of tweaking of character joints, placing walls, etc. Just to set up a scene. If you need accuracy so you can plan a very complicated scene, then use it. If you just need framing boards that may not be accurate down to the camera’s lens, place,ent, angle, etc Then just draw boards.

When I have to build a set, I’ll rough it out in 3D and set cameras where I think I want them to be. Then I’ll place walls, people, etc. So I know how big the set should be, what lenses to rent, etc.

What’s cool about it is I can set it to only let me use Panavision Primo primes, which I use a lot when shooting so I can make sure the cam is in a more accurate position.

But like I said if you aren’t planning to the 9th, just draw.

The camera functions in Frame Forge drive me nuts. They may have changed it since I last updated the software 3 years ago.

Lately I’ve just been using C4D to create animatics instead.

Chris Smith
https://www.sugarfilmproduction.com