# Storyboard Numbering and Shot Codes That Survive a Shoot

Canonical URL: https://www.cineoboard.com/blog/storyboard-numbering-and-shot-codes

How to number scenes and shots so a 1st AD, editor and VFX vendor all mean the same frame. Scene 1, shot 1A, not 'final_v7'.

Published: 2026-09-09 · 6 min read · Production

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

- **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

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.

## 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](/shot-list-template) 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.

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