Michal Sanders, Author at Powtoon Blog https://www.powtoon.com/blog/author/michal-sanders/ Make Awesome Videos and Presentations Mon, 01 Jul 2024 17:21:35 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.1.7 https://www.powtoon.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/favicon.ico Michal Sanders, Author at Powtoon Blog https://www.powtoon.com/blog/author/michal-sanders/ 32 32 Storyboard Your Way to a Perfect Video https://www.powtoon.com/blog/storyboard-your-way-to-a-perfect-video/ https://www.powtoon.com/blog/storyboard-your-way-to-a-perfect-video/#respond Tue, 18 Jul 2023 07:21:10 +0000 https://www.powtoon.com/blog/?p=14777 How many of you have a million ideas flying around your head when it comes to creating content to produce a perfect video? It can sometimes make things more confusing when you have so much going on in your head,...

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Read Time: 3 minutes

How many of you have a million ideas flying around your head when it comes to creating content to produce a perfect video? It can sometimes make things more confusing when you have so much going on in your head, and then it comes out as a jumble of information. Many people can relate to this issue, but luckily enough, there is a solution: 

Storyboarding!

As it sounds, storyboarding is a way to express all the content flying around your head and write it out in front of you clearly and coherently. In other words, you are writing out a story, creating scenes in a board form, and placing all your ideas in front of you.

Tip: Spare no detail! The more you have written out in front of you, the easier it will be to create your video.

Let’s dive into all the details you should include in your storyboard.

Visuals 

Visuals are an essential part of any video. They can refer to graphs and charts, rough sketches of characters, or any image you wish to use to express your idea. Drawing out all the visuals you want to use in each scene in as much detail as possible allows you to lay out your ideas visually and helps you clearly see how you want to express your thoughts. 

With bountiful amounts of inspirational images, animations, and videos, Powtoon can assist you every step of the way. Scrolling through Powtoon’s library of animations will inspire you to make a successful rough sketch in no time.

Audio

What would a video be without a little music or an exciting voiceover? During the storyboarding process, you should consider what kind of audio you would like playing in the background of your video. It is essential to make sure that the audio you choose matches the tone of the video. If you plan on doing a voiceover in your video, the storyboard is where you should be writing out your script in full, dividing it between each scene, so when it comes to recording, you can read what it is you want to say for each scene. 

Powtoon offers an array of audio backgrounds for your video and provides you with a voiceover option or the ability to capture yourself on the screen. 

Timing

How does timing help the storyboarding process? Writing out the exact timing of the video will help you create the video much faster. It helps if you storyboard which animations you would like to appear and or disappear first, which should give you a good idea of how your video will flow. 

Powtoon’s user-friendly interface lets you transfer your storyboard vision into the perfect video with just a few clicks! 

Bonus Tip: Emotional Value

One aspect of storyboarding that one might consider an insignificant element is the emotional value of what you are trying to create. When storyboarding your vision, it is essential to try to make an emotional pull and determine what kind of reaction you are trying to draw out of your audience. 

Start creating video storyboards!

Starting every video by creating a storyboard will make your video-creating experience a more smooth and enjoyable experience, and Powtoon will be waiting to bring your storyboard vision to life!

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Powtoon Leads G2’s Best Software Awards in 2022 https://www.powtoon.com/blog/powtoon-leads-g2s-best-software-awards-in-2022/ Mon, 07 Nov 2022 09:00:00 +0000 https://www.powtoon.com/blog/?p=15289 It might seem daunting to create content and edit a video to make it look professional and engaging. But I’ll let you in on a little secret! If you are working with the right software, software that is simple and...

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Read Time: 3 minutes

It might seem daunting to create content and edit a video to make it look professional and engaging. But I’ll let you in on a little secret! If you are working with the right software, software that is simple and easy to use that produces professional results every time, video creation and editing is going to become your new hobby and only mode of communication! 

And that’s where Powtoon comes in! Ranked highly by G2, one of the top peer-to-peer review sites, we are proud to announce that Powtoon has been granted multiple awards across a variety of categories in the creation space. 

So why not use one of the industry leaders in video content and creation to transform your communications. Here’s a look at what Powtoon is ranking for:

Content Creation

What is at the core of any video? It isn’t the animation and the fun colors and sounds, but the actual content itself. You want to make sure that the software you are working with either provides inspiration or can service the amount of content you wish to include in your video. Whether you have a pre-existing idea or need a little bit of guidance, content is key! 

Powtoon has been awarded as both a leader and high performer in content! Powtoon received the award for Enterprise Leader for Content Creation as well as being a High Performer for E-Learning Content. 

Presentation Quality 

It is the presentation software which allows businesses and clients to create clear, engaging and informative presentations, an important tool for any enterprise. When creating a presentation or video demonstration, don’t settle for less than the professional and quality outcomes. 

The key is having an easy-to-use software if you are a beginner video creator, as well as a software that provides experts with everything they need to produce a quality video. You want to make sure that the download quality is clear and precise.

Look no further than Powtoon, awarded High Performer Enterprise for Presentation. 

Animation

What is the most enjoyable part of creating a video? Adding in all the animation – the twists and turns, the ups and downs, the appearances and disappearances. Animation is what dazzles, excites and engages your audience, keeping them entertained and informed. You want to make sure the video presentation platform you have selected provides you an endless variety of animation options that give your video that little extra something.  

And who better to be awarded Leader in Animation than Powtoon! Powtoon prides itself on its endless animation possibilities, growing from the most simple movements to intrinsic motions of objects, customized characters, text and more, integrating a variety of styles and themes to suit any need. 

Course Authoring 

The time has come to shred all those long documents that put people to sleep! Excite your new employees, prospective clients and more with video presentations. Prepare educational material courses, whether it is onboarding a new employee or a demonstration of a new IT software. Ditch the documents and create videos, and revolutionize your general communications to be more accessible and easily understood. 

And what is the best platform to use for course authoring? Powtoon! Awarded Leader in Course Authoring! 

Start working with the best!

Start your video content and creation journey now, with one of the industry’s leading platforms, Powtoon! Go on! You will never look back! 

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7 Video Templates to Promote Your Black Friday Sales https://www.powtoon.com/blog/7-video-templates-to-promote-your-black-friday-sales/ Wed, 02 Nov 2022 23:22:32 +0000 https://www.powtoon.com/blog/?p=15283 It’s that time of year again! Credit cards are out, businesses are preparing, and shopping centers are not going to know what hit them. Black Friday is the day that most people look forward to all year long! With huge...

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Read Time: 4 minutes

It’s that time of year again! Credit cards are out, businesses are preparing, and shopping centers are not going to know what hit them. Black Friday is the day that most people look forward to all year long! With huge sales, an abundance of stock, and the keenest shoppers of the year, Black Friday is a day businesses do not want to miss out on! 

In the weeks leading up to Black Friday, it’s crucial that businesses promote themselves in order to draw in potential shoppers and clients. And with today’s technology, there are so many unique and exciting ways to promote your Black Friday sales. But the most awesome way? 

Here’s how you can use video to take advantage of Black Friday:

1. Video Ad Template

Video advertising allows you to show off your service in a dynamic and exciting manner. A video is a great way to pump up your audience and draw them to your store through an exciting demonstration of your service. Share a story, build emotion and a connection between your service and your audience, and what better time to do it than for your Black Friday promotions?! 

Fun fact: Did you know that 78% of marketing professionals say that video advertising actually boosted their sales? 

Video advertising is also an efficient way of spreading your message far and wide! Through various social media platforms, your video can be liked and shared, reaching millions of people in a manner of seconds! So why not utilize this method to your greatest advantage and create scroll-stopping videos?!

2. Product Promotion

Transform a boring advertisement into an exciting video to promote your product! Use exciting animation, bold colors, and awesome music to give your product that little something extra to stop your audience from scrolling past your posts! 

Use this product promotion template to show off your product and excite your audience into purchasing it!

3. Visit Our Location

All is fine and dandy that you have a product to sell, but people need to know where to shop! Whether you are a massive chain or a small store, an explainer video identifying your store’s location or locations is a key factor to drawing customers to your door. So don’t let your customers miss out on your Black Friday sale! Show them where they can find you with this customizable video template.

4. Value Proposition

If you are reaching out to new customers, a video presentation is an invaluable tool to convey information. This Black Friday, show customers why your company is trustworthy and reliable with a clear expression of results and data! Creating an infographic video of your value proposition allows you to broadcast your successes, results, and any other data in an informative way that reminds customers why they should choose your product!

5. Event Promotion 

Are you having an in-store event or perhaps a pop-up sale? The days of paper invitations are gone! Broadcast your upcoming Black Friday events and impromptu sales through an awesome video. Give your customers something to look forward to with a pump-up event promotion video or a personalized invitation and have the word shared far and wide!

Use this template to create a mind-blowing event promotion this Black Friday!

6. Webinar Invitation

Are you planning to host a webinar around the time of Black Friday? Make the most of Black Friday promotions and send out webinar video invitations and discounts to your audience! Using video, you can inform, enlighten, and amaze your audience with an awesome webinar invitation they can’t resist! 

Use this template to broadcast your upcoming webinar event and blast your audience with an irresistible discount.

7. Keeping It Simple

If you were looking to keep things simple and fresh, focusing just on your Black Friday sale promotion, look no further! Create a scroll-stopping video and keep your customers in suspense with an awesome promotion of your Black Friday Sale! 

Share scroll-stopping videos this Black Friday

Society is always on the hunt for the new hot product on the market, so why not make yours be the one that has their thumbs stop scrolling on social media?! Excite and engage with an awesome product video!

Fun Fact: 96% of people turn to video to learn more about a product, so give the people what they want!

There are so many advantages to using video to promote your product or service! Powtoon can guide you through the process to ensure you stand out above the crowd! Make the most of this Black Friday and start creating now!

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What are the ultimate features of a great online video editor? https://www.powtoon.com/blog/what-are-the-ultimate-features-of-a-great-online-video-editor/ Tue, 06 Sep 2022 09:30:00 +0000 https://www.powtoon.com/blog/?p=15228 So you have come to the decision to make an epic video creation of your insanely awesome idea, and now you have to decide which is the best online video editor. Tough choices right? How are you supposed to know...

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Read Time: 3 minutes

So you have come to the decision to make an epic video creation of your insanely awesome idea, and now you have to decide which is the best online video editor. Tough choices right? How are you supposed to know what to look for in order to determine which is the best online video editor?

Well good thing we are about to run through what are the ultimate features of the best online video editor! 

User Friendly

One of the most important features of an online video editor, regardless of what the interface includes, it needs to be user friendly. There is no point having all the fancy tools if you sit there staring at the screen wondering how to begin. Having a simple, user friendly and easy to use interface defines a great online video editor. Something as simple as a platform offering a drag and drop editing feature makes it the best kind of platform to work with!

Additionally, having access to guides and tutorials helping navigate the interface is really important in ensuring you have a seamless experience creating your video. 

Accessibility 

With the normality of a hybrid workforce, or you are away on vacation and didn’t bring your laptop with you, you want to make sure you always have access to your video editing platform. The ability to access your video editing platform from any gadget, anywhere, anytime allows you to continue your video editing with ease!

Tools

Obviously what are the main things you are looking for in the best online video editor? The tools it includes! This means access to videos, images and audio in order to spruce up your video creation. 

When creating a video you want to make sure you can express your idea visually and with the right audio background. Importing external videos is a feature of a good online video editor, as it gives you the ability to explore all the options of being able to visually portray your idea. Additionally, having access to a library of images on the interface itself, as well as being able to upload your own from an external source allows for maximal creativity. 

And what completes a great video? The audio background. The best online video editors will have an array of audio choices to have in the background of your video, or better yet the ability to voice record, which is a great feature when creating an infographic style video. When creating a video you want to make sure there is no limit to your creativity! That is the mark of the best online video editors. What kind of creative elements are features you should be looking out for? 

Having an array of templates already created and ready for you to edit and make into your own is a great feature as it gives you a baseline and direction as to how you want to present your video. Having unlimited animations is also a creative and fun way to bring your video to life, and the best online video editor will offer an array of animations to jazz up your video. 

Other cool features would include the ability to screen record your video, for example Powtoon’s Screen Capture is a creative way to express yourself, with the ability to record both yourself and your screen at the same time! 

Ability to Share

After creating your awesome video, where is the fun in it if you can’t share it around? What makes an online video editor the best online video editor is the feature and ability to share your creation around. You don’t limit your sharing abilities. The best online video editor would allow for you to post your video on all social media platforms, or for you to download and share via Whatsapp, email or any other method you can think of! 

And now you are ready to decide

Now with your handy dandy guide to the ultimate features of the best online video editors, you can now make your decision. And a little helping hand in the process, Powtoon is here offering all of the ultimate features, just to make your decision a little easier 😉

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How to Choose the Best Motion Graphics for Your Business  https://www.powtoon.com/blog/how-to-choose-the-best-motion-graphics-for-your-business/ Wed, 31 Aug 2022 09:30:00 +0000 https://www.powtoon.com/blog/?p=15215 When you think of the word business, what comes to mind? Corporate, contracts, offices?  It can all seem very dull, colorless, and stuck within a confined box of rules and regulations. Businesses should break that mold, stand out, and engage...

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Read Time: 3 minutes

When you think of the word business, what comes to mind? Corporate, contracts, offices? 

It can all seem very dull, colorless, and stuck within a confined box of rules and regulations. Businesses should break that mold, stand out, and engage an audience of prospective customers and clients! 

How is it possible to achieve such a goal? Through motion graphics!

Motion graphics are extremely beneficial for businesses promoting a product or service, or for their internal departments communications. Motion graphics add value to your content. Essentially, they provide a visual story through sounds and movement, an innovative method to capture the attention and excite customers, clients, and employees. Motion graphics are a unique way of taking a complicated topic and breaking it down into clear and understandable sections, without the use of black and white lengthy documents. 

Motion graphics allow a company to leave their mark and break out of the business mold into a world of endless creative possibilities to promote themselves as a product, a service, or an awesome place to work! 

You might ask, “What goes into creating a motion graphic?”.

The number one tip to remember about motion graphics is that you want to make sure that your designs are awesome, capturing the essence of your content and engaging with your audience!

How to choose the best motion graphics for your business

When choosing what motion graphics software to use for your business, it’s important to look out for what features the platform contains. Here is a list of features that you should ensure the motion graphics software provides:

Feature 1: Video Styles 

Every business has its own characteristics and personality, and you want to make sure that that is expressed in the style motion graphic you are creating. For businesses that involve lots of data and statistics, an infographic style would be very useful, whereas for a business trying to promote a product, an animated explainer is an intriguing and intuitive way to sell your business and product to prospective customers and clients. 

Therefore, you want to make sure that the motion graphics software you use to create your business videos provides you with a multitude of video styles, catering to every need. 

Feature 2: Template Designs

Templates lay the groundwork for your motion graphic video, and therefore you want to make sure that you have access to an array of templates or the ability to create one yourself. Templates set the basic structure and outline, and it is important to make sure that you can choose templates that best represent your business and your brand. Bonus points if the software you choose allows you to brand your template with your logo, brand colors, and other company assets.

Feature 3: Animation

One of the defining features of a motion graphic are the actual motions themselves – AKA the animation! You want to ensure that the motion graphic software you choose for your business has unlimited and unique animations for you to jazz up your video. You want to make sure you can highlight important points with motion graphics that pop, slide, shake and vanish in engaging and exciting ways, keeping the viewer on their toes.

Feature 4: Additional Visuals 

You want to make sure that you can add your own personal stamp to your motion graphics video. Any additional visual that you can add, such as text on screen, thought bubbles, data structuring, and beyond, livens up your video and allows for more awesome animation and transitions, giving your motion graphic lots of variety. Software that allows you to create characters also helps incorporate a personal touch to your motion graphics and take your audience on a visual journey.

Want to know of a motion graphic platform that includes all this and more? It’s called Powtoon!

And now that you know, it’s time to go…

Start creating your own awesome motion graphics videos with Powtoon – it’s quick, easy, and free! Sign up now to get started.

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How to Make a Slideshow with Music and Pictures for Free  https://www.powtoon.com/blog/how-to-make-a-slideshow-with-music-and-pictures-for-free/ Tue, 30 Aug 2022 09:30:00 +0000 https://www.powtoon.com/blog/?p=15211 Do you have an awesome idea that you want to put into a slideshow presentation to show your friends, your boss or coworkers? How cool would it be if you could add awesome pictures that bring color and pizazz to...

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Read Time: 3 minutes

Do you have an awesome idea that you want to put into a slideshow presentation to show your friends, your boss or coworkers? How cool would it be if you could add awesome pictures that bring color and pizazz to your slideshow? And what about the sound? There has to be an awesome track playing in the background, right!?

What would be an even more awesome addition to your video? The fact that the music and pictures are FREE! 

But where can you find a slideshow creating and editing platform that provides such an expansive library of free visuals and audio? 

Look no further! Powtoon is the platform you are looking for! 

Here are the steps to make a slideshow with music and pictures for free with Powtoon! 

Step 1: Choose a template 

Before knowing what kind of pictures and music you want to add into your slideshow, you need to know what style your video is going to be. The template will serve as the base of your slideshow presentation, and good thing Powtoon has a template library jam packed with all different styles and topics for you to choose from! 


Step 2: Select images 

Now that you have your template, and can see the basic outline of your slideshow, you can start selecting the images that you feel will best represent your idea. 

The tool bar on the right hand side of the page is where you can find all the editing tools you need. Click on the picture icon and that will then take you to Powtoon’s library of royalty free visuals, covering any idea, theme, topic, background, profession or anything else you can think of. You also have the option to import your own images, completely free! 

Powtoon wants to make sure that your slideshow is a visual masterpiece, and having access to free pictures is the cherry on top! 


Step 3: Choose your music

You have now made your slideshow into a visual sensation, and now it’s time to add the final piece – the music! Music is what sets the tone of your slideshow, whether it is something fast and upbeat or something soft and melodious, each giving the audience an understanding of what kind of scene you are trying to create. 

Just as with selecting the images, you will find in the toolbar on the right hand side of the page an icon of a music note.

 

Here you have access to a range of music genres for you to select from. In addition to audio soundtracks, you have the option to perform your own voice recording for free, adding that extra personal touch to your slideshow. 

Pro tip: make sure to select a track that matches the tone and theme of your slideshow. Having contrasting music to your visual message can confuse your audience. 

Bonus feature: Powtoon Capture

A cool feature Powtoon offers is the option to capture your screen. This allows you to combine the visual and audio elements of your slideshow in a unique, personal and engaging way. Through capturing your screen, your visual aids are unlimited, as anything you can access, your viewer can see, with the cool addition of your voice dictating what appears on your screen. 

It’s so simple! Give it a go!

Making a slideshow with music and pictures for free is easy with Powtoon, with an easy to use interface and access to all your visual and audio needs, there is no limit to your creativity! Start making your slideshow with Powtoon!

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5 Skills You Need to Become a Successful Video Maker https://www.powtoon.com/blog/5-skills-you-need-to-become-a-successful-video-maker/ Thu, 25 Aug 2022 09:30:00 +0000 https://www.powtoon.com/blog/?p=15208 Ever watched an awesome video and thought to yourself “I wish I could make a video as awesome as that?” Are you under the impression that successful videos can only be made by pro video makers?  Want to hear some...

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Read Time: 3 minutes

Ever watched an awesome video and thought to yourself “I wish I could make a video as awesome as that?” Are you under the impression that successful videos can only be made by pro video makers? 

Want to hear some good news? You too can be a successful video maker! 

How, you might ask? Here are the top 5 skills that you need to become a successful video maker:

Skill 1: Creativity 

One of the most important skills required to be a successful video maker is creativity. Now, that doesn’t mean you need to have the most absurd, out-there ideas. Creativity means having a bit of an imagination and original ideas, or putting your own personal twist on a tried and true idea.

Creativity can manifest itself in many forms when creating a video. The way you design your video is key to engaging your audience, and the more creative you are with your storytelling, animation, audio effects, design and style, the more engaging your video will be for your audience. Anything goes when it comes to creativity. If you want bold letters, flashy colors, unique sounds, USE IT! Think of how you want your video to impact your audience, and find a creative way to express your idea. The more imaginative, the more successful your video will be! 

Pro Tip: It is great to be creative, but careful not to go overboard and make the movements and animation too distracting for your audience. Remember that you can use an AI video generator to create quality content in minutes.

Skill 2: Quick Learner 

A skill that you might not think to be useful to be a successful video maker is being a quick learner. Being able to quickly adapt to the video creating and editing interface is important as, not only does it make the video creating process smoother, but it allows you to be able to produce videos at a quicker pace. 

Pro Tip: Choose an interface that is user-friendly, especially if you are only starting your journey to becoming a successful video maker, such as Powtoon, which is among the best AI video editors!

Skill 3: Organization

As with anything in life, the key to success is organization. This skill covers a multitude of levels. Before even creating your video, you need to make sure that all your thoughts are clear and organized so that when it comes to creating your video, there is no confusion as to the message you are trying to convey. This can be done through either creating a mind map or storyboard that lays out your ideas in a coherent way.

The second aspect to being organized when it comes to video making is making sure your video is “organized.” Meaning that there is a clear flow to your video. This can include making sure that your transitions and timings are all aligned and the idea you are expressing is clear to your audience. 

Skill 4: Networking 

Part of being a successful video maker is knowing how to and with whom to share your videos with. It is important to know which platform is suited to which style of video, and who is the target audience of your video. 

A good idea is to also network with other video makers, taking inspiration from their videos and discussing ideas with them, and learn all the tips and tricks there are to becoming a successful video maker. 

Pro Tip: There should be no limit to your exporting abilities, and with Powtoon, you can directly share your video to many social media platforms, or download your video and share even further

Skill 5: Adaptability

Being a successful video maker means being able to adapt your approach and attitude toward your video. Being able to take on criticism and being flexible with the creation of your video is key to creating a successful video. It allows you to produce an awesome video that is geared toward the right audience and platform, or to adapt to any last minute changes that might occur before production. 

Pro Tip: With Powtoon, being adaptable is easy with team collaboration. Share your video with teammates and friends and receive quick feedback, make any edits, and produce awesome videos with the best results!

Now it’s your time to shine!

See? It is easy to become a successful video maker, whether you are starting out as a beginner or already in the video editing industry! And a great place to help you get started is with Powtoon. Sign up to get started!

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How to Storyboard a Video https://www.powtoon.com/blog/how-to-storyboard-a-video/ Tue, 23 Aug 2022 09:30:00 +0000 https://www.powtoon.com/blog/?p=15176 Video is among the most engaging forms of content in marketing, social media, education, and countless other settings, contexts, and industries. There’s a reason a whopping 96% of marketers indicate they consider video to play an important role in a marketing campaign. Maybe...

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Read Time: 4 minutes

Video is among the most engaging forms of content in marketing, social media, education, and countless other settings, contexts, and industries. There’s a reason a whopping 96% of marketers indicate they consider video to play an important role in a marketing campaign.

Maybe you appreciate the value that creating videos can yield for your business, classroom, etc. However, perhaps you’ve been reluctant to embrace this form of content for a simple reason: you believe video production is too costly.

This isn’t necessarily true. For example, with Powtoon’s video maker offering features such as templates, creating a video can be easier and more affordable than you realize.

Additionally, preparing ahead of time can guard against the actual video production process taking longer than necessary. This is another way to save money.

For example, you should always storyboard a video before actually filming or animating it. This involves planning the sequence of the video’s scenes so that you already have a vision of how the video will tell a story before you start making it. This guide will explain the basics of the process, helping you and your production team chart a course for success.

How to Storyboard a Video Project: Essential Steps

The general process of storyboarding a video will typically involve these steps:

Determine the overall style and tone of the video

Your own videos shouldn’t merely be remakes of other video content you’ve already seen. Be aware video content isn’t just effective because it’s attention-grabbing.

Video content yields a strong return on investment because it allows you to combine visual elements and audio elements to establish your brand. Thus, before you even begin working on a storyboard, you should consider how factors such as color scheme, music, and similar elements will determine the video’s tone.

Consider your video’s intended audience if you’re struggling with this step. Knowing who the video is made for will help you decide whether its “vibe” should be professional, playful, etc.

Identify key scenes and create a projected timeline

List the main points your video needs to make in order to deliver its message or serve its purpose. Then, make a scene-by-scene list of key moments in the video that will touch on these points.

These may not be the only scenes your video ultimately includes. However, they are essential scenes. Once you’ve identified them, estimate the potential length of your video to get a sense of where each scene will fit on the timeline.

Keep in mind that the platform to which you plan to upload your video can influence the ideal length for a piece of video content. For instance, clips shared on most social media platforms like TikTok or Instagram shouldn’t be longer than one minute. A video for YouTube, on the other hand, can be longer.

Determine the basic details of each scene

Once you’ve identified your main scenes, it’s time to establish such key details as:

  • The settings of the scenes
  • How many characters will appear in each scene
  • Camera angles
  • Music (Tip: Along with a video maker, Powtoon offers royalty-free music tracks and other such content if you’re creating a video on a budget)

You may also need to plan whether your video will include any special effects or animation, as you might need to generate these ahead of time. That said, Powtoon’s video maker offers several ready-to-use special effects and intuitive animation tools, simplifying what might otherwise be a complex step.

Write a script

You can technically storyboard a video before writing a final script if you have a list of all the scenes you expect your video to include. However, if you try to convert a storyboard into a script, you may find you need to add extra scenes that you hadn’t initially planned for. This can force you to spend more time reworking your storyboard.

Avoid this by writing your script first. Editing a script later tends to be easier and less time-consuming than editing a storyboard.

Choose a storyboard tool

Just as using the right video maker is key to generating high-quality videos, choosing the right storyboard tool can help you create a storyboard that truly serves as a helpful road map for you and all others involved in production.

Storyboarders come in many forms. You could storyboard a video with just a pen and paper, or you may find you’re better off using an all-in-one storyboarding software. Consider your options and choose one that’s right for your needs and budget.

Sketch thumbnails

This is the step most people associate with the storyboarding process. To storyboard a video, you will sketch basic drawings of your scenes.

Don’t worry if these aren’t perfect works of art. While including more detail can be helpful, if you’re simply drawing stick figures, you should be fine as long as you arrange your drawings in a proper sequence after sketching them.

Annotate scenes

There are various reasons you might annotate scenes in your storyboard. Examples include (but aren’t necessarily limited to) the following:

  • Specifying camera angles and camera movements
  • Explaining what types of music or sound effects a scene might feature
  • Describing character actions

Basically, if there’s any important information about a scene that isn’t clearly represented by your drawings, make annotations accordingly.

Review and revise

Don’t overlook the importance of this step!

You shouldn’t simply storyboard a video because you’ve been told it’s an important step in the process of making a piece of video content. A proper storyboard can minimize your spending by helping you save time during the actual production phase. Thus, by following the tips here and confirming your storyboard is as close to perfect as possible before you move on to production, you’ll avoid unnecessary expenses.

Powtoon’s Video Maker Turns Your Storyboard Into Stunning Content

The production stage shouldn’t intimidate you. Whether you’re making a marketing video, explainer video, or any other type of video content, Powtoon’s video maker allows you to easily and affordably create a video with virtually just a few clicks thanks to its built-in special effects, pre-made video templates, and more. Learn more about what this online video maker can do for you by signing up today!

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5 Tips for Finding the Best Royalty-Free Images for Your Videos https://www.powtoon.com/blog/5-tips-for-finding-the-best-royalty-free-images-for-your-videos/ Tue, 16 Aug 2022 09:30:00 +0000 https://www.powtoon.com/blog/?p=15168 Creating videos is applicable to every stage of life. Whether you are a student, parent, professional editor or in the workforce, videos have transformed to become the new way of interacting and engaging with the world around you. An important...

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Read Time: 3 minutes

Creating videos is applicable to every stage of life. Whether you are a student, parent, professional editor or in the workforce, videos have transformed to become the new way of interacting and engaging with the world around you. An important element in video making is choosing the right images to express your opinion or idea and leave a lasting impact. Many images come at a cost, but is there a way to find royalty free images to use in your videos?

In this article, we will bring 5 helpful tips to help guide you in finding the best royalty free images for your videos. 

Tip 1: Be Inspired 

Before starting your search for the right image, first you have to know what it is you are looking for. Look at the world around you, take inspiration from the blank canvas of the video you are about to create and build a vision of what it is you are going to want to express in your video. 

With Powtoon, the array of templates are a great starting point to giving you that first inspired thought as to what you are envisioning, with templates covering all areas of life. 

Tip 2: Be Specific

When it comes to searching for your image, you need to make sure that when typing into your search engine, you are specific as to what it is you are looking for. Typing in too broad of a word can be overwhelming, especially when you can see the direction you are taking to create your video. Further, many images may come at a cost, or needing to pay royalties to the owner of the image, so reducing your search to royalty free images will help with your search. 

Powtoon offers an array of free images from all categories for you to add to your video creation, making the process a lot simpler and easier. 

Tip 3: Be Clever with your Word Choice

Don’t be afraid to use creative words in order to be specific. Using keywords that will ease your search. Using different types of adjectives describing the color, aesthetic and texture of what you are searching for will consolidate your search and help you more easily decide what is the most appropriate image for your video. 

Tip 4: Be Smart About Your Search Methods

Even more than just being specific about your search for the right image, be smart about it. This means to make sure you’re using filters, or the correct search engines for your search. Google is the most common search engine to look for images on, so why not help yourself out and use the Google Advanced Image Search. Or through Google Images, once you have entered your subject, select the “Tools” button, where you will see the option to select usage rights. Under usage rights is the option to select ‘Creative Commons License.’ This will then filter your image search to show only royalty free images. 

What is great about the Powtoon platform, is if you have not found the ideal image for your video in Powtoon’s library, you can import the images you found through other search engines and insert them into your video. 

Tip 5: Be Creative with your Image Choice

When looking for an image, be creative. Be on the lookout for what colors will burst in your video, what outlines, designs and textures will help your video stand out when it comes to animating your video. Don’t be afraid to be creative, and experiment with different designs, moods and take your creativity to the next level. 

Your image library has never been bigger!

Go create the best Powtoon you can and include all the royalty free images you desire!

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