Set up a storyboard

Create a slide

Do one of the following:

• In edit mode, click Story > Create Storyboard Slide. The new slide is added to the storyboard.
• Right-click an existing slide, then choose Insert from the menu that pops up. The new empty slide will be created to the left of the slide you clicked on.
• Click the Create button on the Storyboard interface. The new slide is added to the storyboard.

In all cases, the newly created slide is empty and has a default duration of 3 seconds.

Add scene items to a slide

You can add individual items (alternatives, shots, behaviors, or one environment) to an empty slide or to a slide that already has items in it.

To add a scene item to a slide:

1. If the slide to which you want to add an item already exists, make sure that slide is current (click it); otherwise go to the next step.

   The current slide has a checkmark in the lower left corner of the slide.

2. Open the interface that displays the item you want to add (for example, press E for the Environments interface).
3. Right-click the item you want to add to the slide and select Add to Current Storyboard Slide (or Add to New Storyboard Slide if no slides currently exist) from the menu that appears. The item is added to the current slide.
   
   Note

   When adding items with duration such as Shots or animated Behaviors, the Slide Duration will be extended to contain that duration of that item if it is not long enough.

Add behaviors to a slide

You can add a behavior to an empty slide or to a slide that already has items in it. The playback action of the behavior is set when adding to the slide.

To add a behavior to a slide:

1. If the slide to which you want to add an item already exists, make sure that slide is current (click it); otherwise go to the next step.

   The current slide has a checkmark in the lower left corner of the slide.

2. Open the Behaviors interface.
3. Right-click the behavior you want to add to the slide and select Add to Current Storyboard Slide (or Add to New Storyboard Slide if no slides currently exist) from the menu that appears.

   A sub-menu appears with various playback actions:

   
4. Select a playback action for the behavior when it is triggered by playing the slide.

   The playback actions are:

   • Play forward from start: moves the behavior playback point to the start and plays forward when the slide is played.
   • Play backward from end: moves the behavior playback point to the end and plays backwards when the slide is played.
   • Pause: pauses the behavior when the slide is played.
   • Continue: continues a behavior (in whichever direction it was playing) from its paused state when the slide is played.
   • Stop and reset to start: stops a behavior (if playing) and moves the behavior playback point to the start.
   • Stop and reset to end: stops a behavior (if playing) and moves the behavior playback point to the end.
   • Continue forward: continues a behavior in the forward direction from its paused state when the slide is played.
   • Continue backward: continues a behavior in the backward direction from its paused state when the slide is played.
   • The behavior will be added to the selected Storyboard slide and will be triggered when the slide is played.

     The icon for the behavior will be visible in the slide and will indicate the playback method in the upper right corner.

     

Change a behavior playback action within a slide

If a slide has a behavior in it, an arrowed tab is attached to the upper right outside of the tab. When the slide is opened, you can see the icons for any behaviors triggered for playback by the slide, and each icon will indicate the playback method in the upper right corner.

To change a behavior playback action in a slide:

1. Open the slide by clicking on the arrowed tab in the upper right of the slide icon.
2. Right-click over the behavior in the slide you wish to edit, and select Change action to... from the menu.

   A sub-menu appears with various playback actions (see Add behaviors to a slide).

   
3. Select a new playback action for the behavior in that slide.

Associate a hotkey with a storyboard slide

Right-click the slide (it must have an item added to it), select Set Key, then select a hotkey combination from the Key pull-down menu in the Hotkey Editor.

Associated hotkeys are shown in the Storyboard interface.

Associate a 3D trigger with a storyboard slide

Right-click the slide (it must have an item added to it), select Associate Trigger, then select a trigger from the submenu.

Slides with triggers associated are shown in the Storyboard interface with an icon in the upper left corner.

View items in a slide

If a slide has something in it, an arrowed tab is attached to the upper right outside of the tab. When the slide is opened, you can see all the different elements in it: alternatives, environments, behaviors, and shots, or any combination of these.

To open a slide, click the arrowed tab attached to the upper right outside of the slide. To close it, click on the tab again.

Delete items in a slide

To delete an item from a slide:

1. Open the slide by clicking on the arrowed tab in the upper right of the slide icon.
2. Right-click over the item in the slide you wish to delete, and select Delete from the menu.
   

   The item will be removed from the Storyboard slide.

Edit the properties of items in a slide

To open the properties of editable items in a slide:

1. Open the slide by clicking on the arrowed tab in the upper right of the slide icon.
2. Right-click over the item in the slide you wish to edit, and select Properties from the menu.
   

The Properties window for that item will open.

Save a storyboard

A storyboard is automatically saved when you save the scene.