Storyboard sizes and their form are essential, and while there is no one standard size and shape for all storyboards, you will still need to relate the aspect ratio to the dimension of your media. No matter the method of presentation you select, having a specialized storyboard template on your side will surely add efficiency and quality to your pitch.

storyboard sizes

Storyboard sizes play a vital role in planning visual narratives for films, animations, commercials, and presentations. The right dimensions help organize scenes clearly, ensuring each frame effectively communicates the story, timing, and camera angles. In this guide, we’ll explore standard storyboard sizes used in creative industries. Perfect for filmmakers, animators, and content creators aiming to streamline their production process with well-structured, professional storyboards that bring ideas to life visually.

Storyboard Sizes

Standard Storyboard Sizes

Storyboard Sizes

Storyboard Type Size (inches) Size (pixels) Common Use
Letter Size (US) 8.5″ × 11″ 2550 × 3300 px Widely used in schools, commercials, and story drafts
Legal Size 8.5″ × 14″ 2550 × 4200 px Used when more panels or notes are needed
Tabloid Size 11″ × 17″ 3300 × 5100 px For detailed storyboards or film previsualization
A4 Size (Intl.) 8.27″ × 11.69″ 2480 × 3508 px Standard international print storyboard size
A3 Size (Intl.) 11.69″ × 16.54″ 3508 × 4961 px Larger storyboard for presentations
16:9 Digital Frame Varies (typically horizontal strips) 1920 × 1080 px HD layout for animation or film, digital previews
Square Storyboard 10″ × 10″ or 12″ × 12″ 3000 × 3000 px For square ad platforms like Instagram/Facebook
Web/Presentation Format Custom, often 1920 × 1080 16:9 aspect ratio Pitch decks, digital storytelling visuals

Since storyboards are versatile, there is also flexibility in terms of their sizing. You will need to plan on which medium you will be utilizing so that they can fit best together. For your benefit, these are the standard sizes:

A3

An A3-sized storyboard is 11-3/4 by 16-1/2 inches or 297 by 420 mm and is an alternative for storyboard users who want a larger canvas.

Letter

A letter-sized storyboard is 8.5 by 11 inches or 215.9 by 279.4 mm, the same as the A4 paper size used in most other countries.

Legal

As an alternative to letter paper, the legal paper dimensions in America are 8.5 by 11.75 inches or 216 by 356mm.

Storyboard Sizes for Social Media

Storyboard Sizes

Platform Recommended Size (pixels) Use
Instagram Story 1080 × 1920 Vertical scene storyboarding
Facebook Story 1080 × 1920 For mobile-based storyboard previews
YouTube Thumbnail 1280 × 720 For scene preview thumbnails
Pinterest 1000 × 1500 Long vertical storyboard panels

Storyboard Sizes for Digital

Format Aspect Ratio Size (pixels) Example Common Use Case
TV (Classic) 4:3 (1.33:1) 1440 × 1080 or 1024 × 768 Retro TV shows, cartoons, or vintage-style filmmaking
HDTV (Widescreen) 16:9 1920 × 1080 or 1280 × 720 Modern television, YouTube, web series, video advertising
Standard Widescreen 1.85:1 1920 × 1038 or 1280 × 692 Feature films, cinema-inspired TV series
Anamorphic (CinemaScope) 2.39:1 1920 × 803 or 3840 × 1608 High-end films, cinematic trailers, wide scenic storyboarding
IMAX / 70mm 2.76:1 2048 × 741 or 4096 × 1484 Epic-scale films, science documentaries, premium cinematic releases

TV

The first films were shown in a 4:3 aspect ratio, and until the arrival of widescreen HDTV, this was the conventional aspect ratio for standard-definition television sets. Today, the 4:3 or 1.33:1 aspect ratio is mainly used for aesthetic purposes, such as recreating a manner of filmmaking before widescreen became the standard.

TV

HDTV

The most common aspect ratio used today is 16:9, the typical size for high-definition widescreen televisions and most computer displays. Because film aspect ratios are typically wider to generate a more cinematic effect, it is commonly connected with a video filmed for TV and the Internet.

HDTV

Standard Widescreen

Since the 1.85:1 video is slightly wider than the 16:9 content, it will appear with thin black bars on the top and bottom of the screen when viewed on widescreen TVs and computer displays. Though this is the most frequent ratio for feature films, many TV shows attempting to achieve a cinematic appearance also shoot in 1.85:1.

Standard Widescreen

Anamorphic

Anamorphic is the most prevalent aspect ratio in contemporary film. It produces an aesthetic typically associated with high-end dramatic feature films, and its broad field of view makes it ideal for filming magnificent vistas. It has a 2.39:1 aspect ratio.

Anamorphic

IMAX

The 2.76:1 or 70mm aspect ratio gained popularity in the late 1950s, but it progressively slipped out of use. As it is frequently shown on IMAX screens, the 70mm aspect ratio gives spectators a one-of-a-kind experience that cannot be replicated on their respective home TV.

IMAX

Storyboard Sizes for Print

The standard storyboard sizes for print are A3 (11-3/4 by 16-1/2 inches or 297 by 420 mm), Letter (8.5 by 11 inches or 215.9 by 279.4 mm), and Legal (8.5 by 11.75 inches or 216 by 356mm). Since one page is not enough for a storyboard, primarily for animations or feature films, storyboard writers or artists often keep their printed storyboards in an organizer manner through a well-protected envelope or binder.

Storyboard Sizes for Print

Storyboard Sizes for Email

Sending a storyboard through email would need to be limited to a specific digital size since email carriers have a limit. Storyboards may exceed in size as there will be a need to produce numerous pages. Films alone with important shots require more than three pages, but it does not stop there; animation may require more panels to be filled in, which corresponds to an even larger digital size for a storyboard. Upon sending the email of the file, you should keep in mind not to exceed 25 MB.

Storyboard Sizes for Email

Storyboard Sizes for Business

Corporate films come in various formats and sizes, which would mean you have other details to determine before planning the storyboard sizing for your business use. Before constructing a storyboard, examine the film’s aim and where it will be presented. A standard size to use is the letter page or 8.5 by 11 inches or 215.9 by 279.4 mm.

Storyboard Sizes for Business

Storyboard Sizes for Adobe Photoshop

Due to layering, creating storyboards in Photoshop may be difficult. You must know how to make a storyboard in Photoshop if you want to construct their storyboard in Photoshop. The most typical resolution for animation-related storyboards is 1080 × 720, with the desired aspect ratio of 16:9.

Storyboard Sizes for Adobe Photoshop

Storyboard Sizes for Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Illustrator has a maximum artboard or storyboard size. It supports artboard sizes up to 227 × 227 inches; however, if your design is greater, it will not work. When you send it to print, you can always scale it accordingly. You can view the width and height of your choices in the top bar or Transform window.

Storyboard Sizes for Adobe Illustrator

FAQs

What is the layout of the storyboard?

A storyboard layout comprises boxes in a set or row of panels and their designated notes either at the side or bottom.

How long are storyboards usually?

In a 60-second storyboard, you may anticipate seeing at least 15 to 20 sequences.

What is the best aspect ratio for a storyboard?

Each box is typically 4″ width x 3″ high for television, with three panels on an 8 1/2″ x 11″ sheet.

How to measure the size of a storyboard?

Measuring the size of a storyboard will be much easier if you utilize a software program or one of the available templates provided.

How to size images for storyboard using Word?

You can use the handlebar in the bottom right-hand corner to resize the image to fit in the table cell.

What is the storyboard size in Photoshop?

For storyboards in Photoshop, the most frequent resolution is 1080 × 720, with the desired aspect ratio of 16:9.

What are the dimensions of a storyboard?

A storyboard size should be between 18″ and 24″ (in one direction) and 24″ and 30″ (in the other) (in the other direction). The suggested size is 18″ × 24″.

How to adjust the storyboard width?

Depending on the software program you are using, you will need to locate the sizing in the edit options.

How to deal with scroll view content size with a storyboard?

Users of the scroll view content must know the scrollable content width and height, as well as the frames X and Y, such as where the scroll view should be placed and what size.

What is the perfect resolution for a storyboard?

There is no definite answer, but if you want to preserve your aspect ratio and specify a specified resolution, altering the screen width will modify the screen height to keep it the same.

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