Recently, I was required to create lots of storyboards and previs, so carried out a bit of investigating into the available packages -
Storyboards are sometimes called previsualization or previs and can be any process that tries to visualize scenes within a movie before filming kicks off.
The benefit of previsualization is that it facilitates directors to realize distinctive staging and art direction options with no need to bear the fees of day to day production.
Storyboards might include music, sound files and dialogue to thoroughly previs the feel of edited sequences, and so are often useful for complicated or tricky scenes that involve stunts and special effects.
My investigation revealed that Previs software is roughly split between 3 areas:
2D, 3D and character/environment style and design.
The 2D products can be considered like a digital version of old fashioned storyboarding -they don't offer up camera passes or character motions inside the time line.
All of the 3D selections have the 2D traditional storyboard choice but also allow manipulation of characters in time and space: camera passes can be designed and changed.
Many of the 3D applications are meant to operate in real time (just about) to ensure that a director/operator could make changes on the fly with very small rendering lag time. These packages come up with characters and environments that typically lack intricate detail and textures, nevertheless this is rapidly improving.
The 3rd group is focused on environment and character style and design. Even with their capability to render time-line animation and camera movement, it is very unlikely these particular programs would eventually be utilized for on-set storyboard previs due to their render engines actually being intended for high quality output, on the other hand they may be very, very useful for complete detail figure development, costumes, and environments due to extremely high resolution renders.
I'm going to make an effort to categorize a handful of of the most renowned programs that you can buy at the time of writing.
Storyboard Quick
'Storyboard Quick can be considered a regular storyboard system, as it doesn't take advantage of 3d images. Due to this it's easy to understand and the interface is not difficult. You could import any location photos, which often might possibly be better than the rather 'childlike' clip art work provided.
Google SketchUp
'Google SketchUp' doesn't possess timeline animation although the pro choice does feature dynamic properties or limited animation within a scene, in spite of this it is an impressive piece of free software that has a large service community and absolutely free models. It's great, entertaining and fun plus the user interface is fairly simple to negotiate.
Toon Boom Storyboard Pro
'Story Board Pro' from Toon Boom is a very different program from the other 2D storyboard software listed in this doc. Instead of utilising clip art plus imported textures Storyboard Pro is an amazing illustrating application well suited for using a pen tablet program - so for those who can't draw it is better to stay clear. If you can draw then the program is outstanding, encouraging extremely quick paint and brush options,
Storyboard Artist
I believe the name of this particular software is a touch inaccurate as it is allot more than a 2D, old fashioned, storyboard interface. This program will allow for 3-d animatics, oral sync animation and seems to have excellent 3D clip art and models currently built in.
Frameforge previs studio
'FrameForge Previz' studio has fairly quickly, become the main industry standard, on-set produce,t for directors to shape 3D storyboards in (practically) real time it will output accurate timeline animation and mix several camera moves.
E frontier poser
'Poser' is a really unique program that enables fast and simple character development employing a vast number of three dimensional templates and open source contributions. It makes it possible for a developer to quickly integrate three dimensional characters into any kind of animation, animatic or still frame.
Vue
Vue is an extremely significant, niche piece of software that employs templates to create environments which can be used for full-res matte paintings. It's been recently used on Avatar and Indiana Jones 4 to create jungle panoramas.
Hitchcock Storyboard Composer for iPhone/iPod touch platform
Just creeping in on the end of my previs exploration is Cinemeks 'Hitchcock storyboard composer' for iPhone/iPod touch (needs camera).
You simply collect scene images within the camera and make use of the technology to control the framing, order and timing of the shots in your storyboard.
Despite the small interface the reviews are favorable, however, if I was paying actors to aid me with a photographic storyboard I would almost certainly employ a more effective stills camera which would enable depth of field and lighting options. Never the less, I'm sure a lot of people will find it a particularly useful tool.
The Previsualization Society
Last but not least it is worth taking a look at the newly formed Previsualization Society for much more in-depth info. They endorse the utilization of previs in numerous groups around the world by promoting effective applications and a knowledge of the abilities of previsualization as a collaborative tool and interaction method.
The Author, Michael Barnes runs a video production Cardiff company and the main website can be found here.
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