How to Use Microsoft PowerPoint for a Storyboard

Telling a story can be an ideal way to get an audience to join in your vision for a project, but the actual process of putting that story together, called storyboarding, can be a hassle. Take advantage of Microsoft PowerPoint's slideshow functionality to make a storyboard in just a couple of quick clicks. PowerPoint, the electronic presentation software, is optimal for storyboarding because its slide-by-slide features mimic that of a storyboard. Put a quick storyboard together in Microsoft PowerPoint and start telling your tale.

Instructions

1. Open Microsoft PowerPoint. A single slide defaults to start the presentation. Click inside the "Click to add title" text box. Type the name of the storyboard, such as "Cat Food Commercial." Click inside the "Click to add subtitle" box and add the name of the storyboard presenter, agency or other line of information. To remove the text box, click the frame and press the "Delete" key on the keyboard.

2. Click the "Home" tab at the top of the screen. Click the "New Slide" button on the ribbon/toolbar below the tab. A second slide is added to the slide deck.

3. Click inside the top line, "Click to add title," and type the name of the first storyboard square, such as "Opening logo."

4. Select the border of the "Click to add text" text box and press the "Delete" key to remove it. Select the "Insert" tab at the top of the screen.

5. Click the "Picture" button below the tab. Browse to a logo or image to use for the first storyboard. Double-click the file name and the image appears on the slide.

6. Add a new slide to the deck and type the title for the second storyboard, such as "Cats eating cat food."

7. Type any dialog, such as an unseen announcer's voice describing the scene, in the "Click to add text" text box.

8. Add slide image using the "Insert" and "Picture" options. Add stock artwork to the slide by clicking "Insert" and selecting "Clip Art." Type a word or phrase to go with the storyboard scene such as "cats," "cat food" or "television" into the "Search for" box. Click "Go," scroll through the results and double-click an image to add it to the slide.

9. Add additional slides to the deck, one for each piece of the storyboard, with a title and/or dialogue typed onto the slide.

10. Add a new slide to the deck. Type "End" in the "Click to add title" text box at the top of the slide to signify the storyboard's completion.

11. Click the "File" menu, select "Save As," type a name for the storyboard and save it to the computer.

References

• University of Rhode Island: What is PowerPoint?
• The PowerPoint FAQ: PowerPoint Frequently Asked Questions