Springboard
Springboard is a Windows application for sketching and annotating storyboards for film, video, animation, and other dynamic media.
What Springboard is
Springboard is a Windows application for sketching and annotating storyboards for film, video, animation, and other dynamic media. Users arrange frames and story sections in an outline, reorder them by drag and drop, and add text beneath frames. Bitmap and vector drawing, color-coded overlay layers, and pressure-sensitive WinTab pen support are included. Springboard can record frame timing and layer animation, add or import sound, and play storyboards as animatics. Exports include web pages, sequenced images, WAVE audio, standalone movies, AVI, BMP, GIF, JPEG, Targa, and HTML files. The maker says it supports projects including feature films and longer. A free version expires after 30 days, adds image watermarks, and limits some printing and exports. The Personal license costs $39.95, paid once, removes those limits, and covers minor releases until the next major release. Tutorials appear in documentation and built-in Help.
Good
- Outline-based frame and scene organization
- Bitmap, vector, and pressure-sensitive drawing
- Timing, animation, sound, and animatic playback
- Exports web, image, audio, and movie formats
- Personal license removes free-version limits
Watch out
- Windows platform only
- Free version expires after 30 days
- Free version adds image watermarks
- Personal license costs $39.95, paid once
Who it suits
It suits Windows users planning and illustrating storyboards for film, video, animation, or other dynamic media. It also fits projects needing sound, animatics, pen input, and varied export formats.
Verdict
Springboard combines storyboard planning, drawing, animation timing, sound, and broad export options in a Windows application. The free version is time-limited and restricted, while the 39.95 USD personal license removes those limits.
Plans and prices
From Springboard's own pricing page, checked 11 Oct 2001.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Personal license | $39.95, paid once | Removes free-version limitations · License covers minor releases until the next major release |
The facts
Each one read from Springboard's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Animation and sound
- Users can record frame timing and layer animation, add or import sound, and play back storyboards as animatics.checked 11 Oct 2001
- Export
- Springboard can export storyboards to web pages, sequenced images, WAVE audio, and standalone movie files.checked 11 Oct 2001
- File formats
- The software imports images including BMP, EPS, GIF, JPEG, Photoshop, PNG, Targa, TIFF, WMF, and EMF, and exports AVI and sequenced BMP, GIF, JPEG, or Targa files.checked 11 Oct 2001
- Layers and drawing
- The software offers color coded overlay layers, bitmap and vector drawing tools, and pressure sensitive tools for standard pen devices.checked 11 Oct 2001
- License use
- A personal license code may be used by the purchaser and household members on an unlimited number of computers; institutional use covers one designated employee or member.checked 11 Oct 2001
- Pen support
- Springboard supports WinTab compatible pens, including pressure sensitivity and eraser mode.checked 11 Oct 2001
- Project size
- The maker says Springboard supports large projects, including feature films and longer.checked 11 Oct 2001
- Purpose
- Springboard is a Windows application for sketching and annotating storyboards for film, video, animation, and other dynamic media.checked 11 Oct 2001
- System requirements
- The maker lists Windows 2000, XP, Vista, 7, 8, and 10 as tested operating systems; sound hardware is required for sound recording and playback.checked 11 Oct 2001
- Tutorials
- Tutorials are available in the documentation section, which is also included in the program's built in Help.checked 11 Oct 2001
Money
- Free version limit
- The free version adds watermarks to images, limits some printing and exports, and expires 30 days after installation.checked 11 Oct 2001
- Planning
- Users can organize frames and story sections in an outline, reorder them by drag and drop, and add text below each frame.checked 11 Oct 2001
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