Infraworks: Storyboards

Last updated: 2022-12-13

Total time: 41:05

iwx-lvl02-strybrd-01.mp4 7:19

Storyboards creator is a tool that will generate a fly through of your model. This fly through can be created by manually adding keyframes based on the current view of the model or directly from a design or component road. Addition animations can be added to streamline the overall fly through. Once the storyboard is complete it can be exported out to a windows media format.

Open storyboard creator

  1. Ribbon > Present/Share tab > Present panel > select Storyboard Creator

Storyboard toolbar

  1. Storyboard Name - Editable, name of the storyboard
  2. Duration - The total time of the storyboard
  3. Play & Stop - Play or stop the animation of the storyboard
  4. Follow storyboard position
  5. Add a new Camera Path animation
    1. Import a path from another design
    2. Create a path from the component road, this will follow the center line.
  6. Add a new Zoom animation
    1. Including Crane, Look around, Orbit, Pan and Zoom, Recorded walk, Still motions, Track, and Zoom
  7. Add a new Caption
  8. Add a new Title
  9. Add a new Date/Time animation
    1. Includes editing sun & sky settings
  10. Import existing storyboards
  11. Add new Storyboard
  12. Export current Storyboard
  13. Export current Storyboard to video
  14. "-" Zoom out
  15. "+" Zoom in
  16. Zoom resolution - 1 sec. - 30 mins.
  17. Hide Item Details
  18. Show Storyboard Library

Storyboard and properties

Storyboard is broken into 2 parts; Captions & Titles and Paths & Animations. At the top is a time ruler that measures the time placement of each container or keyframe.

  1. Select Title, displays the title of the video
    1. The properties box includes
      1. Name of item selected and its duration
      2. Transition in/out information
      3. Text tab
        1. Font styles and placement
        2. Window that displays how the text will appear
        3. Text or HTML
        4. Transparency
  2. Select Caption, displays information within the video
    1. The properties box includes
      1. Name of item selected and its duration
        1. Transition in/out information
        2. Text tab
        3. Font styles and placement
        4. Window that displays how the text will appear
        5. Text or HTML
        6. Transparency
  3. Select a keyframe, a frame from the video
    1. The properties box includes
      1. Name of item selected and its duration
      2. Keyframe station and transition information
      3. Camera speed control settings
      4. Reset button

iwx-lvl02-strybrd-02.mp4 3:23

The Crane animation will create a fly through that will simulate the path being linked to the end of a crane. As the path moves higher it will also move backwards. As the path moves lower it will also move forward.

Open storyboard creator

  1. Ribbon > Present/Share tab > Present panel > select Storyboard Creator

Add crane animation

  1. Play through animation to the point you want the crane animation to start.
  2. On the time ruler, select and drag red arrow to the start time of crane animation.

  3. Storyboard toolbar > Add a new Zoom animation dropdown > select Add Crane Animation
  4. In properties box
    1. Name: name animation
    2. Duration: 3.0 sec.
    3. Transition: Cut
    4. Type: Crane up
    5. Distance up: 150.0 ft.
    6. Distance back: 75.0 ft.
    7. Select play button to preview

Add another crane animation

  1. On the time ruler, select and drag red arrow to the end of previous animation.
  2. Storyboard toolbar > Add a new Zoom animation dropdown > select Add Crane Animation
  3. In properties box
    1. Name: name animation
    2. Duration: 3.0 sec.
    3. Transition: Cut
    4. Type: Crane down
    5. Distance down: 100.0 ft.
    6. Distance forward: 75.0 ft.
  4. Pull back video playthough (blue line) and press play button 

iwx-lvl02-strybrd-03.mp4 4:18

The Look Around animation allows the user to rotate the camera to the left, right, up, or down based off of a current pivot point on the cameras path.

Open storyboard creator

  1. Ribbon > Present/Share tab > Present panel > select Storyboard Creator

Add looking left animation

  1. Play through animation to the point you want the look around animation to start.
  2. Storyboard toolbar > Add a new Zoom animation dropdown > select Add Look Around Animation
  3. In properties box
    1. Name: name animation
    2. Start time and duration, adjust if needed
    3. Angle Left, 90.0 degrees
    4. Select play button to preview

Add a pause after an animation

  1. Storyboard toolbar > Add a new Camera Path animation dropdown > select Add Camera Path animation
  2. With new keyframe selected, adjust waiting time.
    1. In properties box
      1. Waiting time: 1.0 sec.

Add looking right animation

  1. On the time ruler, select and drag red arrow to the end of previous animation.

  2. Storyboard toolbar > Add a new Zoom animation dropdown > select Add Look Around Animation
  3. In properties box
    1. Name: name animation
    2. Start time and duration, adjust if needed
    3. Angle Right, 90.0 degrees
  4. Pull back video playthough (blue line) and press play button

iwx-lvl02-strybrd-04.mp4 3:39

The Orbit animation will create a fly through that will simulate the path being rotated about a pivot point that is equal to the center of the screen. Similar to the Look around animation just the pivot point is in front of the camera and not at the location of the camera.

Open storyboard creator

  1. Ribbon > Present/Share tab > Present panel > select Storyboard Creator

Add orbit animation

  1. Play through animation to the point you want the orbit animation to start.
  2. Add a crane up animation.
  3. Storyboard toolbar > Add a new Zoom animation dropdown > select Add Orbit Animation
  4. In properties box
    1. Name: name animation
    2. Start time and duration, adjust if needed
    3. Angle Left, 180.0 degrees
    4. Select play button to preview

Add a pause after an animation

  1. Storyboard toolbar > Add a new Camera Path animation dropdown > select Add Camera Path animation
  2. With new keyframe selected, adjust waiting time.
    1. In properties box
      1. Waiting time: 2.0 sec.

Add another orbit animation

  1. Storyboard toolbar > Add a new Zoom animation dropdown > select Add Orbit Animation
  2. In properties box
    1. Name: name animation
    2. Start time and duration, adjust if needed
    3. Angle Right, 180.0 degrees
  3. Pull back video playthough (blue line) and press play button

iwx-lvl02-strybrd-05.mp4 4:27

The Pan and Zoom animation will create a fly through that will simulate the path sliding horizontally, and will move the model either left or right or move forward (up) or backwards (down). Applying a zoom factor to the animation will adjust the vertical relationship with the model.

Open storyboard creator

  1. Ribbon > Present/Share tab > Present panel > select Storyboard Creator

Add pan and zoom animation

  1. Play through animation to the point you want the pan and zoom animation to start.
  2. Add a crane up animation.
  3. Storyboard toolbar > Add a new Zoom animation dropdown > select Add Pan and Zoom Animation
  4. In properties box
    1. Name: name animation
    2. Pan Right, 80.0 ft.
    3. Distance Up, 75.0 ft.
    4. Percentage Zoom-in, 75%
    5. Select play button to preview

Add a pause after an animation

  1. Storyboard toolbar > Add a new Camera Path animation dropdown > select Add Camera Path animation
  2. With new keyframe selected, adjust waiting time.
    1. In properties box
      1. Waiting time: 2.0 sec.

Add another pan and zoom animation

  1. Storyboard toolbar > Add a new Zoom animation dropdown > select Add Pan and Zoom Animation
  2. In properties box
    1. Name: name animation
    2. Pan Left, 160.0 ft.
    3. Distance Up, 75.0 ft.
    4. Percentage Zoom-in, 70%
  3. Pull back video playthough (blue line) and press play button

iwx-lvl02-strybrd-06.mp4 3:03

The Recorded Walk animation will create a fly through that will record the actions or my movements throughout the model.

Open storyboard creator

  1. Ribbon > Present/Share tab > Present panel > select Storyboard Creator

Add a walking animation

  1. Play through animation to the point you want the walking animation to start.
  2. Storyboard toolbar > Add a new Zoom animation dropdown > select Add Recorded Walk Animation
  3. In properties box
    1. Name: name animation
    2. Select Start Recording
  4. Use mouse on the model and rotate view, zoom in or out, or pan around.
  5. In properties box 
    1. Select Stop Recording

Add a still image

  1. Zoom to object or area you want to take a still image of.
  2. Storyboard toolbar > Add a new Zoom animation dropdown > select Add Recorded Walk Animation
  3. In properties box
    1. Name: name animation
    2. Select Start Recording
    3. Select Stop Recording

iwx-lvl02-strybrd-07.mp4 2:12

The Still Motion animation will create a fly through that will simulate the path not moving. The camera does not move during the shot, although other transitions may be introduced or added into the shot.

Open storyboard creator

  1. Ribbon > Present/Share tab > Present panel > select Storyboard Creator

Add a still motion animation

  1. Play through animation to the point you want the still motion animation to start.
  2. Storyboard toolbar > Add a new Zoom animation dropdown > select Add Still Motion Animation
  3. In properties box
    1. Name: name animation
    2. Start time and duration, adjust if needed

iwx-lvl02-strybrd-08.mp4 4:06

The Track animation will create a fly through that will simulate the path sliding to the left or to the right without pivoting.

Open storyboard creator

  1. Ribbon > Present/Share tab > Present panel > select Storyboard Creator

Add a track animation

  1. Play through animation to the point you want the still motion animation to start.
  2. Storyboard toolbar > Add a new Zoom animation dropdown > select Add Track Animation
  3. In properties box
    1. Name: name animation
    2. Start time and duration, adjust if needed
    3. Dropdown above preview: Start here, Half-way point, or End here
    4. Type: Track right or Track left
    5. Track distance: 100.0 ft.
    6. Check box lock camera on center of interest if you want the view to pivot.
    7. Select play button to preview

iwx-lvl02-strybrd-09.mp4 4:07

The Zoom animation will create a fly through that will simulate a camera path zooming in or out from the model.

Open storyboard creator

  1. Ribbon > Present/Share tab > Present panel > select Storyboard Creator

Add a zoom animation

  1. Play through animation to the point you want the still motion animation to start.
  2. Add a crane up animation.
  3. Storyboard toolbar > Add a new Zoom animation dropdown > select Add Zoom Animation
  4. In properties box
    1. Name: name animation
    2. Start time and duration, adjust if needed
    3. Dropdown above preview: Start here, Half-way point, or End here
    4. Type: Zoom in or Zoom out
    5. Zoom distance: 500.0 ft.
  5. Pull back video playthough (blue line) and press play button

iwx-lvl02-strybrd-10.mp4 4:31

Inserting a Title to a storyboard helps to start the video out with a quick description of the model before the actual fly through takes place. Adding a captions to the storyboard help identify areas of interest in the model as the fly though is taking place.

Open storyboard creator

  1. Ribbon > Present/Share tab > Present panel > select Storyboard Creator

Add a caption

  1. Storyboard toolbar > select Add a new Caption
  2. In storyboard, select and drag caption container to the point you want the caption to appear in the playthrough.
  3. In properties box
    1. Name: name animation
    2. Duration: 5.0 sec.
    3. Transitions:
      1. In: Fade, over 0.5 sec.
      2. Out: Fade, over 0.5 sec.
    4. Font setting toolbar
      1. Font style dropdown
      2. Font size
      3. Bold, Italicize, or Underline
      4. Justifications; Left, Right, or Center
    5. Text preview box: Edit text, add caption
  4. Pull back video playthough (blue line) and press play button

Add a title

  1. Storyboard toolbar > select Add a new Title
  2. In storyboard, select and drag title container to the point you want the title to appear in the playthrough.
  3. In properties box
    1. Name: name animation
    2. Duration: 4.0 sec.
    3. Transitions:
      1. In: Fade, over 1.0 sec.
      2. Out: Fade, over 1.0 sec.
    4. Font setting toolbar
      1. Font style dropdown
      2. Font size
      3. Bold, Italicize, or Underline
      4. Justifications; Left, Right, or Center
    5. Text preview box: Edit text, add title
    6. Transparency: adjust slider or type a percentage, set to 40%
  4. Pull back video playthough (blue line) and press play button