A storyboard template PNG is best for preview and sharing. Use it when someone needs to see the board layout inside a chat message, slide deck, mood board, or quick review doc. Use a PDF when you need to print or annotate. Use Story2Board when the storyboard still needs to change.
PNG is popular because it is frictionless. You can drag it into a presentation, send it to a client, or paste it into a planning document. But a PNG is not the best format for filling out a full storyboard. Once text and sketches are baked into one image, revisions get clumsy.
When to use a PNG storyboard template
Use PNG when the template is a visual reference, not the working file.
| Job | Is PNG a good fit? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Pitch deck preview | Yes | one image drops cleanly into a slide |
| Chat feedback | Yes | no download step for reviewers |
| Blog or tutorial illustration | Yes | loads fast and explains the layout |
| Printable worksheet | Sometimes | PDF handles page size better |
| Multi-page storyboard | No | one PNG per page becomes messy |
| Client revisions | No | editable board or PDF annotation works better |
The simplest rule: if the template needs to be seen, PNG is fine. If it needs to be filled out, start from PDF or an editable board.
How to make a PNG from a PDF template
Download one of the printable templates first:
| Template | Download |
|---|---|
| 4-panel storyboard | |
| 6-panel storyboard | |
| Dialogue storyboard | |
| Vertical video storyboard |
Then export the page as PNG in any tool that opens PDFs. On macOS, Preview can export to image formats. In design tools, import the PDF page and export a PNG at 2x size. For a slide deck, 1600px wide is usually enough. For print, keep the PDF.
What to include in a PNG template preview
A PNG preview should make the structure obvious at a glance:
- panel count;
- aspect ratio;
- space for action notes;
- space for dialogue or audio;
- camera or shot-type field;
- title or scene area;
- page number if the board is part of a longer sequence.
Don't overcrowd the image. A PNG used in a deck will often be seen at half size. If every field label is tiny, the preview fails.
PNG is weak for actual production notes
The problem with PNG is not image quality. The problem is editability.
If a director writes a note on a PNG, the next person may not be able to change it cleanly. If a client asks for a different camera angle, someone has to redraw or cover parts of the image. If a scene grows from four panels to twelve, a single image becomes a dead end.
That is why PNG should be treated as a sharing format, not the source of truth.
Better workflow: PDF first, PNG second
Use this order:
- Pick a PDF template.
- Fill it out by hand or in a PDF app.
- Export a PNG preview only when you need to share a snapshot.
- Move to Story2Board when the board needs frame generation, character consistency, or repeated revisions.
This keeps the source editable while still giving you an easy preview image.
PNG vs PDF vs Story2Board
| Format | Use it for | Avoid it when |
|---|---|---|
| PNG | previews, slides, blog images, quick feedback | the board needs typed notes or multiple pages |
| print, annotation, classroom use, production binders | the sequence changes every few minutes | |
| Story2Board | editable AI storyboards, shot planning, exports | you only need a one-page worksheet |
If you came here searching for a storyboard template PNG, grab the PDF version first and export a PNG from it. That gives you both: a printable working file and a shareable image.
Related: free storyboard template downloads, storyboard template PDF guide, and how to fill out a storyboard template.