How to Be Storyboard Illustrator - Job Description, Skills, and Interview Questions

Apr 16, 2023 / 5 Minutes Read / By Albert

How to Become

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Steps How to Become

Obtain a Bachelor's Degree. A bachelors degree in graphic design, animation, illustration, or a related field is typically the minimum educational requirement for becoming a storyboard illustrator. Courses in art, drawing, computer graphics, and animation can also be helpful.
Develop Your Professional Portfolio. Develop a portfolio of your work that you can show to prospective employers. Include your best drawings and sketches, as well as storyboard samples if you have any.
Gain Experience. After graduation, look for opportunities to gain relevant experience as a storyboard illustrator. This could include internships, freelance jobs, or entry-level positions at production houses or animation studios.
Get Certified. Consider earning a professional certification from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences or the National Certification Commission for Animation and Interactive Media Technology. This can help demonstrate your proficiency in this field to potential employers.
Network. Networking with other professionals in the industry can be helpful for staying up-to-date on industry trends and connecting with potential employers. Consider joining professional organizations such as the International Animated Film Society and the Visual Effects Society.

The use of Storyboard Illustrators to create ideal and capable visuals is essential in today's world. Their expertise in designing and creating compelling visuals can be the difference between a successful project and one that fails. Storyboard Illustrators are capable of creating visuals that capture the essence of a story or idea, allowing the audience to better understand the concept.

Furthermore, they can develop illustrations that clearly depict characters, settings, and other elements of a story or concept. As a result, Storyboard Illustrators can help bring a project to life, making it easier for viewers to connect with and appreciate the subject matter.

You may want to check Freelance Illustrator, Studio Illustrator, and Character Illustrator for alternative.

Job Description

Storyboard Artist: Creates illustrations based on scripts and story ideas, using a range of traditional and digital drawing techniques.
Storyboard Revisionist: Reads scripts and reviews storyboards, making changes to ensure accuracy, consistency, and clarity.
Storyboard Supervisor: Oversees the work of storyboard artists and revisionists, ensuring that deadlines are met and that the storyboards meet quality standards.
Storyboard Animator: Transforms storyboards into animated sequences, using a variety of software and techniques.
Storyboard Layout Artist: Works with the director to create the overall layout of a scene or sequence, using paper or digital tools.
Storyboard Colorist: Applies color to storyboards, either by hand or digitally, to create a desired visual effect.

Skills and Competencies to Have

Knowledge of artistic and technical drawing techniques.
Knowledge of computer software related to storyboarding, such as Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator.
Ability to think creatively and to visualize the story creatively.
Ability to understand and interpret written scripts.
Ability to communicate ideas effectively.
Ability to work collaboratively with other creative professionals.
Ability to meet deadlines and deliver quality work.
Knowledge of animation techniques and processes.
Knowledge of color theory and its application to storyboarding.
Knowledge of anatomy and perspective drawing techniques.

Having a strong ability to storyboard is essential for any illustrator looking to create successful visuals. Storyboarding involves creating a visual representation of a narrative, providing the backbone of a project. It is important to be able to effectively communicate a story with visual elements and create compelling compositions to keep viewers engaged.

being able to think through timing, pacing and transitions can help an illustrator to create an effective and cohesive story. Having a strong understanding of color theory, light and shadow, and perspective can also help an illustrator to bring the story to life. Furthermore, having the technical skills to create the work in a digital medium is also critical in order to effectively produce the story.

A thorough knowledge of software such as Photoshop and Illustrator is also necessary in order to confidently create the visuals needed for a successful storyboard. With these skills, an illustrator can take their artwork from concept to completion.

Advertising Illustrator, Senior Illustrator, and Technical Illustrator are related jobs you may like.

Frequent Interview Questions

What experience do you have with storyboarding?
How do you approach the creative process of storyboarding?
What tools and software do you prefer to use when creating storyboards?
Tell us about a project that you are especially proud of in terms of storyboarding?
Do you have experience working in a fast-paced environment?
How do you handle tight deadlines and multiple projects?
What techniques do you use to ensure accuracy in your storyboards?
What challenges have you faced when creating storyboards and how did you overcome them?
How do you stay motivated and inspired to create new content?
How would you ensure that all the elements of a storyboard are consistent and work together?

Common Tools in Industry

Adobe Illustrator. A vector graphics editor used to create illustrations, logos, diagrams, and more. (eg: creating a storyboard with illustrated characters).
Adobe Photoshop. An image manipulation and editing program used to create and edit raster images. (eg: creating storyboard backgrounds or manipulating storyboard images).
Toon Boom Storyboard Pro. A specialized software for creating storyboards with drawing and animation tools. (eg: creating a storyboard with animated characters).
Clip Studio Paint. A digital painting software used to create illustrations, comics, and more. (eg: creating storyboard illustrations with detailed characters and backgrounds).
Corel Painter. A digital art software used for creating digital paintings, drawings, and illustrations. (eg: creating storyboard illustrations with realistic textures and colors).

Professional Organizations to Know

American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA)
Animation Guild
Association of Illustrators
Graphic Artists Guild
International Animated Film Association
National Cartoonists Society
Society of Childrens Book Writers and Illustrators
Visual Effects Society
Women in Animation
3DTotal Network

We also have Automotive Illustrator, Book Cover Illustrator, and Vector Illustrator jobs reports.

Common Important Terms

Storyboard. A sequence of illustrations or images that represent a story, typically in a comic book or film.
Storyboarding. The process of creating a storyboard, which involves planning out the details of a story or scene.
Composition. The arrangement of elements within a design or image.
Layout. The arrangement of elements on a page or canvas to create a visual design.
Timing. The duration of each scene within a storyboard, which is determined by the amount of time it takes to tell the story.
Dialogue. The words that are spoken by characters in a storyboard, which are used to advance the plot and provide information to the viewer.
Animation. The process of creating moving pictures to give life to a storyboard.
Color Palette. A selection of colors used within a design or storyboard, which are used to create a cohesive look and feel.
Visual Storytelling. The process of conveying a story through visuals, such as illustrations, images, and animation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Storyboard Illustrator?

Storyboard Illustrator is a software program used to create illustrated visuals that tell a story. It can be used to create storyboards for video, animation, and other forms of media.

What features does Storyboard Illustrator offer?

Storyboard Illustrator offers a variety of features including a library of royalty-free illustrations, customizable character templates, sound effects, and music. It also offers an array of drawing tools and an intuitive user interface.