What it does
Storyboarder is Wonder Unit’s free desktop program for sketching shots and arranging them into a sequence. Boards can include dialogue, action notes, timing and audio, with exports for editing software, PDF and animated GIF. It is available for Windows, Mac and Linux, and its code is published on GitHub.
Create a board sequence
Choose Create New Storyboard, then Create a blank, select an aspect ratio and name the file. Use the plus button to add boards, sketch each shot and enter its dialogue or action in the side panel.
Switch from Boards to Timeline mode to change shot duration and view an attached audio waveform. An audio file attached to one board can keep playing over subsequent boards, which also supports music or narration across a scene.
Paper drawings and external editors
You can print a Storyboarder worksheet, draw on paper and import a photograph of it. The phone import route needs the phone and computer on the same Wi-Fi network; importing an image file is another option.
The Edit in Photoshop button can use another PSD-capable editor selected in Preferences. Saving the external edit updates the board in Storyboarder. The website supplies download links by email, while the project repository also publishes releases.
Strengths
- Dialogue, action and shot timing sit alongside each board
- PDF contact sheets and animated GIFs serve different presentation needs
- The external PSD editor can be changed from Photoshop to another application
Watch out for
- Phone-to-computer worksheet import needs the same Wi-Fi network
- Pen-pressure support varies by tablet and operating system
Best for
- Directors arranging a visual shot list
- Story artists making an early timed animatic
Sources
- Storyboarder by Wonder Unit (Oct 27, 2026)
- Storyboarder frequently asked questions (Oct 27, 2026)
- Storyboarder project repository (Oct 27, 2026)