Storyboard VR
Download a free tool to prototype VR ideas
Technology
Storyboard VR helps creators imagine and visualize VR experiences, in VR.
We believe that VR as a medium will transform the way we communicate, create and experience content. As we dove into VR projects, however, we found that experimenting with this new form of storytelling and engagement posed a brand new set of challenges. Rapid iteration and refinement, a cornerstone of any human-centered design process, was even more essential in VR. Yet we found no tools to help us envision and plan VR experiences without first investing time and resources into development.
That is why we created Storyboard VR, a prototyping and visualization tool that helps content creators, artists and designers use their existing skills to imagine and visualize VR experiences, in VR.
“[T]he most compelling possibility of Storyboard VR isn’t Storyboard VR itself, but that many content creators like Artefact may be actively building such tools for their own use. And whether or not these studios even release that software, it means the experiences we all have in VR, as consumers, will be getting better, fast.”
For designers, by designers
Storyboard VR is the result of the wizardry of our UX director Paul Hoover and prototyping developer Sam Baker. It is also an example of Artefact’s commitment to eliminating obstacles to creativity and making the impossible real.
Who is Storyboard VR for?
Storyboard VR is the ideal tool for designers, artists and content creators across industries who want to experiment and create VR experiences — from games and education programs, to movies and marketing campaigns — without investing in development software or skills.
How Storyboard VR works
Designed for ease of use, Storyboard VR includes pre-loaded 3D sphere maps and planes and allows you to upload transparent images, like .png files. These assets appear in the Storyboard VR menu, which gives you complete control and lets you “storyboard” story progression and changes.
Why Storyboard VR?
VR is exploding, but there are very few tools that let designers and content creators experiment, visualize and prototype experiences in VR. Storyboard VR was created to bridge the gap between designing and developing a VR experience, saving time and resources early in the creation process.
“That’s where Storyboard VR is useful. The tool is essentially a virtual reality sketchbook. Designers can test initial concepts before investing in higher-level development.”
The fine print
Storyboard VR is free and open to use as you wish, but the flip side is that it is an unsupported alpha application. As with any alpha release, bugs and issues are to be expected.
If you experience any issues, feel free to let us know. However, although we use Storyboard VR in our daily work at Artefact, we have no immediate plans to continue to update and develop the software. As the saying goes, don’t look gift software in the code.
So, dive in! Give your ideas shape and form with Storyboard VR. It will help you work faster and collaborate more easily. Tag your creations on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with #SBVR to share what you make.
Resources
To get started using Storyboard VR, checkout the Storyboard VR User Manual for information on downloading, installing, and creating projects with Storyboard VR.
If you need additional guidance or want to see Storyboard VR in action, watch our video series below that shows how to create and manage Storyboard VR projects.
Happy prototyping!
FYI: Storyboard VR is only supported on HTC Vive and requires Windows to run (PC only.) For full requirements, check the Storyboard VR User Manual.
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