Scene Maker

Scene Maker draws every scene of your video as a picture and puts them on one sheet you can show, print or send on.

What it does

You give it an idea or a script. It breaks the story into scenes, draws one frame for each, and composes a sheet with the frames, a caption for each scene, the lines spoken, and details such as shot size, lens, light and sound. You can change any scene, draw it again, and download the sheet as a PDF or as PNG pages.

Your people and your product can be locked into the frames, so the same face and the same product appear in every scene.

When to use it

• You want to show a client or a partner what the video will look like before you make it.
• You want a clean sheet for your crew, with one picture per scene.
• You already have a script and want to see it scene by scene.

If you want to keep working shot by shot with dialogue, voices and clips, send the sheet to Storyboard. To make the finished film, use Film Maker.

Step by step

Make a sheet from an idea

1. In the menu, open Scene Maker.
2. Under Start from, stay on Idea. Type your idea in Your idea, for example a girl who walks home in the first rain of the year and meets an old friend.
3. Choose Genre, Language and the number of scenes: 6 scenes or 8 scenes.
4. Press Write the script to see the scenes first. The button shows its price. Each scene can then be edited.
5. In the settings on the left, set the people, the product, the place and the look. All of these are optional.
6. Press Generate sheet (or Write script and generate sheet if you skipped step 4). The frames draw one by one.
7. When every frame is in, the sheet is composed for you. Press PDF, or a PNG link for one page, to download it.

Screenshot coming soon

Make a sheet from a script

1. Under Start from, open Script.
2. Paste your script into Paste your script. Numbered scene headings work best, with an optional shot line in capitals, the action, and lines written as NAME: line. Fountain and plain text also work.
3. Press Read the script. Your scenes appear in the frames grid.
4. Press Generate sheet.

Check and fix the frames

1. Press a frame. The scene editor opens, titled Scene and its number.
2. Change the Caption, Shot, Lens, Seconds, Dialogue, Light or Sound, then press Save.
3. Press Redraw to draw that scene again.
4. The sheet says when it is older than the frames. Press Regenerate the sheet, or Make the sheet to compose it again without drawing anything.

Every option explained

Start from

Settings on the left

The frames grid

Each frame shows its number, a caption, the first line and the seconds. A frame can show Drawing while it is made or Changed when the scene changed after the picture. Some frames can have Use it and Regenerate buttons.

Above the grid: Make the sheet, Open in Storyboard and Make storyboard from this sheet.

Scene editor

Caption, Shot, Lens, Seconds, Dialogue (speaker: line, one per row), Light, Sound, Outfit in this scene (when Cast is on) and Show product. Buttons: Earlier, Later, Add a scene after, Remove, Redraw, Save.

The sheet

Shows the sheet version, its pages, and the PDF and PNG downloads. A line tells you if the sheet is older than the frames.

Who can use it

Free plan: included. Pro plan: included.

Today the tool is open to the Team only, and this page stays hidden until it opens for everyone. Drawing can also be limited to the Team while prices are reviewed.

What it costs

The editing, composing and downloading of the sheet use no credits. Writing the script shows its price on the button. Drawing frames uses your credits, and the tool tells you the total when the frames start. A Draft sheet is the cheaper way to get a first look. Reading your own sheet shows its price, and nothing is charged if it cannot be read. A frame that fails follows the same refund rules as other image jobs.

Tips

• Run a Draft sheet first, then redraw only the scenes you like.
• Turn Cast on and add your product before you draw. Changing them later marks the frames to draw again.
• Write the place and the outfit in a few words. Short words work best.
• Send the sheet to Storyboard when you are ready to add voices and clips.

Common problems

"No scenes were found in this script. Use numbered headings like 1. EXT. ROOFTOP, NIGHT." Add numbered scene headings and press Read the script again.

"Every frame is up to date." There is nothing new to draw. Change a scene first.

"Reading your own sheet is not open for you yet." The My sheet tab is switched off for your account.

"Nothing to check: add Cast or Product first." Check needs a person or a product to compare with.

"Generation is open to the team while prices are reviewed." Drawing is limited to the Team for now.

"Cast is off: no person lock, no Realism and no cast voices." Turn the Cast switch on if you want your people locked.

"Something went wrong. Please try again." Press the button again.