Blender Grease Pencil Storyboard Animatic Tutorial

6 PART Video tutorial series covering how to use Blender Grease Pencil for 2d-3d hybrid storyboards and animatics.

THESE LESSONS ARE FREE ON YOUTUBE.

BLENDER FILES INCLUDED

This tutorial series is currently available on my youtube channel for free:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeV-rteYibcvBvW-WNPMtajsaaGfGay6Y

MY MASTERCLASS and INTRO TO BLENDER are NOW AVAILABLE

I NOW HAVE A NEW COURSE , WHICH IS MUCH MORE UP TO DATE AS OF 2025.

THE COURSE IS NOW AVAILABLE , HERE IS THE LAUNCH 15 MIN PREVIEW

https://youtu.be/D1Inqi7lrPs?feature=shared

Direct links to the 2 Formats of the Courses (Please read the information)

Option 1 - The FULL 2D/3d STORYBOARDING MASTERCLASS

https://spitfirestoryboards.gumroad.com/l/tciowl

This covers everything mentioned in this video. This is for those of you wanting to learn not only how to use Blender, but how to use it within the fuller context of storytelling and sequence construction.

Option 2 - The INTRO TO BLENDER for Storyboarding

https://spitfirestoryboards.gumroad.com/l/xzviv

This 6 Lesson Mini Course (which is a Standalone version of Module 2 of the Masterclass Course) is for Blender beginners who just want to learn the basics and functions without any of the broader storytelling and process framework found in my Masterclass, and who are not yet looking to commit to a full course.

This current Product

PART 1 Contents:

-Intro and UI/Navigation Tips

– EXAMPLE SCENE 1 - BASICS

– Create Grease Pencil Object

– Draw mode, Canvas modes and Orientation

– Standard Brushes

-'Super Simple Man 2D' – Layers and materials

- Bonus round : Sculpt and Edit modes (brief)

PART 2 contents:

– EXAMPLE SCENE 1 cont.- LAYOUT STAGE (the real fun starts here)

– Blocking out a plan / path

– Roughing out 2D poses

– 2D -3D Hybrid and its flexibility

– Refining artwork

– Cameras : create, keyframing and lenses

PART 3 contents:

- EXAMPLE SCENE 1 cont – Step by step

– Roughing out time lapse

– Clean up and time lapse

– Secondary character

– Exploring camera angles

-Bonus round : Interpolation modes (Linear v Constant)

PART 4 contents:

– EXAMPLE SCENE 2 – 3D Object Parenting

– 3D Object for layout and ref

– Parenting Grease Pencil to 3D Object

– FX layer : Rim light ; Modifier : Hue/saturation/ Tint

PART 5 contents:

– EXAMPLE SCENE 3 – Advanced action , flight path, multiple cameras

– Camera view

– 'Super simple man 3D' – basic animation, camera

– Camera Constraint for camera tracking

– Make GP Object , parent to 3D

– Rough and clean layers time lapse

– Switching Cameras on timeline ; markers + binding

PART 6 contents:

– EXAMPLE SCENE 4 – Rotoscoping in 3D Space

– Mixamo and importing FBX animation

– Setting up GP for rotoscoping

– Optimal viewport for rotoscoping

(PART 6 NOTE : The purpose of this video is stated clearly as being specifically geared towards rotoscoping freeware 3d animations, as part of the previs (previsualisation) process. Mixamo is free and allows for the animations to be used in personal, commercial and non profit projects. Please do not use any animations that you do not have the right/permissions to. I am not encouraging the use of rotoscoping for beginners as something to lean on, but for use as part of a particular process.)

Credits:

"Scaffold Building pack 1" kit created by StarGraveStudios/ Copper Stache available on Blendswap. Used as part f a creative commons license CC-BY : This license allows reusers to distribute,remix,adapt,and build upon the material in any medium or format, so long as attribution is given to the creator. The license allows for commercial use.

All other content created by Paul Coulthard, Spitfire Storyboards

This tutorial series is currently available on my youtube channel for free:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeV-rteYibcvBvW-WNPMtajsaaGfGay6Y