A board that cannot be called out on a walkie is a picture book. Numbering is the API between departments.
The scheme that crews already know
Example footer: 12A / B / MCU / 50mm / static / 2.0s
When you insert a shot between A and B, use AA or A1 — do not renumber the whole scene after the shot list has been published. Renumbering mid-prep is how people shoot the wrong setup.
- Scene number from the script (12, 12A if a scene was inserted)
- Shot letter or number inside the scene (12-A, 12-B, or 12-01)
- Take is not on the board; that is camera
- Revision is a version of the board, not a new shot number
What not to do
- Filenames (
board_final_REAL_v3.pdf) as identity - Restarting at 1 in every scene without the scene prefix
- Using the same letter for a reverse and the master
- Changing numbers because the edit order changed. Boards are shoot order *or* story order; pick one and label the document. Story order is the default for client boards. Shoot order is a stripped shot list for the AD.
Keep numbers attached to frames
If the drawing lives in one file and the number lives in a spreadsheet, they will drift. CineoBoard stores the code on the frame. Reorder in story sequence and the numbers stay with the picture; a shot list view can still sort by code.
FAQ
Should animatic order match shot numbers?
No. Animatic order is story order. Shot numbers are identity. An editor can rearrange 12-A and 12-C without the codes changing.