🚀 Getting Started: Your First Project
To begin your first project, head to your Dashboard, where you’ll see an overview of all your projects. Click the “Add Project” button to start — you now have three ways to begin:
✏️ Option 1: Type Your Idea
Write your concept directly into the text box.
It can be as short as a two-sentence idea or as detailed as a full outline — Storyboarder.ai will take it from there and build your story structure automatically.
📄 Option 2: Upload a File
Already have a script or concept document? Perfect.
You can upload files from:
Final Draft (
.fdx)CeltX, WriterDuet, or other tools (
.fountain)Or simply a PDF, Word, or TXT file
Our system intelligently reads and imports your file, detects the structure, and creates a shotlist and storyboard foundation from it.
👉 Even well-formatted PDF screenplays will be recognized automatically.
🎬 Option 3: Start from a Shot List
If you want to skip the scene breakdown or screenplay stage, you can jump straight into your shot list.
Just upload an Excel file containing all your planned scenes and shots.
When selecting “Import Shotlist”, you can download our ready-made Excel template to make this process simple and error-free.
🧩 How to Upload a Shot List
Before uploading a shot list, make sure your Excel file follows these rules:
✅ Scene & Shot Structure
Restart shot numbers for each new scene.
Example: Scene 1 → Shot 1, Shot 2 | Scene 2 → Shot 1, Shot 2
✅ Consistent Scene Headings
Use the exact same scene heading for all rows belonging to that scene. (No typos or small variations.)
✅ Numeric Values Only
Only use numbers for Scene and Shot columns. Avoid letters or symbols.
✅ Template Integrity
Don’t add, remove, or rename columns. Stick to the provided layout.
Following these steps ensures that Storyboarder.ai reads your shot list correctly and avoids import errors. 👍
🎥 What Happens Next
Once your project is created, you’ll automatically enter either the Screenplay or Scene Breakdown section — depending on the file you uploaded.
In the Scene Breakdown view, you can edit text, add or rearrange scenes.
In the Screenplay view, your uploaded script will appear fully formatted and ready to edit — just like in any scriptwriting tool.
When you’re happy with your script or scene breakdown, move on to Art Style Selection, then start generating your storyboard.
⚠️ A Note for Beginners
If you’re not familiar with screenplay formatting, we recommend not editing the screenplay section.
Instead, you can freely edit and customize your story later in the Shot List section — where scenes and shots are visualized in a simpler way.
After switching to the Storyboard, the screenplay view will be locked for editing.
🎉 That’s it — your project setup is complete! You’re now ready to create your first storyboard with Storyboarder.ai.