# A storyboard template crews can actually shoot from

Canonical URL: https://www.cineoboard.com/storyboard-template

Free storyboard template structure for film and commercials: panel count, footer fields, aspect ratio, and a sample 16-shot board you can copy in CineoBoard.

Last updated: 2026-09-13

A useful storyboard template is not a page of empty rectangles. It is a page of rectangles whose footers already ask the right questions.

## Footer fields on every panel

- Scene number and [shot code](/blog/storyboard-numbering-and-shot-codes)
- Shot size (WS / MS / CU)
- Lens and movement
- Duration in seconds
- Audio (dialogue, VO, FX, music)
- Notes (VFX, legal, product)

Printable PDFs that omit duration and audio become moodboards. Copy this footer even if you still draw on paper.

## Pick a panel count on purpose

| Panels | Fits | Watch-out |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 6–8 | 6s bumper, simple insert, one joke | Will not hold a 30s spot |
| 12 | Most 15–30s commercials | Cut beats before adding panels |
| 16 | 30s spot with coverage | Sample CineoBoard board is this size |
| 24+ | Dialogue scenes, music videos | You need an animatic, not more paper |

A [16-shot sample board](/downloads/cineoboard-sample-storyboard.pdf) is available as PDF. The same project is the default in the [live demo](/demo).

## Aspect ratio

Set 16:9 for most film and YouTube ads, 9:16 for Shorts and Stories, 1:1 only if the buy is actually square. Changing ratio after you draw is a recrop, not a template.

## How to use this in CineoBoard

Create a project, pick panel count, fill footers as you block. Export PDF for the crew. If you also need the table view, use the [shot list template](/shot-list-template) — it is the same frames.

## FAQ

### Can I download a blank storyboard template?

Use the sample PDF as the layout, or start a blank board in CineoBoard and export PDF. A blank grid without footer fields is how shot data gets lost.

### Is this template free?

The layout described here is free to copy. The sample PDF is free to download. CineoBoard itself is a paid product with a free [demo](/demo).

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More machine-readable entry points: [/llms.txt](https://www.cineoboard.com/llms.txt) · [/sitemap.xml](https://www.cineoboard.com/sitemap.xml)