> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://edwardswhite.gitbook.io/storyboard-animatic/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://edwardswhite.gitbook.io/storyboard-animatic/how-to/get-started.md).

# Get Started

## Installation

The newest version of the add-on is available to patrons on [Patreon](https://www.patreon.com/edwardswhite3d). 

The add-on is available for free on [Gumroad](https://gumroad.com/l/StoryboardAnimatic). 

1. From Blender's Edit menu, select "Preferences...".  
2. In the column of buttons on the left, pick Add-ons.  
3. Press the "Install..." button at the top right and choose the zip file for this add-on. \
   **NOTE: if updating the add-on, quit Blender after install and then restart Blender.**

The Storyboard panel is available in the sidebar of the 3D Viewport. 

* Open the sidebar by pressing the **n** key while the mouse is in the 3D View.

 or

* From the View menu, select Sidebar.

## Create Storyboard

A new storyboard can be created in many ways. It can be started in **2D Animation** mode or **General** mode (traditional Blender 3D Layout). The **Create Storyboard** button will open a new floating window. 

![Create Storyboard button](https://2799917849-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-MOK072YTjfHL4p74n65%2F-MWHIYfAJsT_2sfpyqz3%2F-MWHJwmMYxlcV3fjTjJR%2FCreateStoryboardButton.png?alt=media\&token=22c867ed-cf32-40eb-91e2-8d8d051c0175)

![Floating window to create the storyboard panels](https://2799917849-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-MOK072YTjfHL4p74n65%2F-MUd72Dpn68Y7WaQ7F_h%2F-MUdjbcxTwJ-bV954hWq%2FCreateStoryboardWindow.png?alt=media\&token=bea57ee6-4529-421d-aa38-3f1db058fa63)

The flow of panels starts in the upper left and goes horizontally left to right and then continues to a next row (if the vertical count is higher than 1). 

![Storyboard creation with live preview of panels](https://2799917849-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-MOK072YTjfHL4p74n65%2F-MWt82PmhLYVDnRUqT_1%2F-MWtwcN9WE5UZs_IVs7Z%2FStoryboardCreation.png?alt=media\&token=8d2b4831-42b1-4a72-8aab-308a294c852a)

After pressing OK, a series of panels, cameras, and a new directional light are created.

![Perspective view of storyboard panels and orthographic cameras](https://2799917849-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-MOK072YTjfHL4p74n65%2F-MWtwwKLjiL9dC5cNq5X%2F-MWtzBfzmfdYWETDupJh%2FStoryboardCameras.png?alt=media\&token=8094ae42-af22-4237-aadd-0f70a5366b3e)

The point of creating a series of panels at first is that an extra camera is created to view (or render) a group of panels.

!["Storyboard" camera and directional light](https://2799917849-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-MOK072YTjfHL4p74n65%2F-MWtwwKLjiL9dC5cNq5X%2F-MWtzghmpdGVtdylmc2C%2FStoryboardOverview.png?alt=media\&token=8def0c31-e707-41f0-8c92-3e4dbe433317)

If the storyboard was created in a 3D layout mode, press the camera toggle button next to the Storyboard interface or press the zero button on the numerical keypad of a full size keyboard.

![Toggle camera view](https://2799917849-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-MOK072YTjfHL4p74n65%2F-MWtwwKLjiL9dC5cNq5X%2F-MWu4gLRfwOfW7624EnN%2FToggleCameraView.png?alt=media\&token=bf907d06-b9de-46b3-8411-69877f216584)

Once the storyboard is created, the **Create Storyboard** button gets replaced by a **Draw** button. For a storyboard panel without a Grease Pencil object, the button will make a new object and go into draw mode. Layers and materials that are active in the Storyboard add-on preferences will be created for the current shot.

![default Layers and Materials created by the add-on](https://2799917849-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-MOK072YTjfHL4p74n65%2F-MWtwwKLjiL9dC5cNq5X%2F-MWu9nPmKeYcCELOM99e%2FLayersMaterials.png?alt=media\&token=34fc4a2e-8c08-44c8-b5cc-be22498c9ad9)

At the top of the Viewport window, there is a Tool Settings bar that allows changing various Grease Pencil settings.

![Active tool, material, and layer](https://2799917849-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-MOK072YTjfHL4p74n65%2F-MWtwwKLjiL9dC5cNq5X%2F-MWuChBh07rID2ePA2ht%2FToolMaterialLayer.png?alt=media\&token=60d90ae2-2fc7-428d-bd8e-a5c3751c42e5)