Better PDF Export

We're working on a new PDF exporter for Storyboarder with an expanded feature set.

• Export an entire project, with multiple scenes, to a single PDF
• More control over layout
• More control over included text and data

Exclusions:

• Existing Worksheet Import/Export remains as-is
• Save/Load Presets/Templates of PDF export configuration will be part of a later phase

User Controls

Page

• Size A4 or Letter
• Orientation Landscape or Portrait

Layout

• Grid 1 × 1 – 8 × 8
  OPEN QUESTION: What's a good max for rows/cols? 8x8? 10x10? No limit?

• Layout Horizontal or Vertical.
  In Horizontal, boards are placed one after another horizontally in the grid, and board text/data is placed above and below the image. In Vertical, boards are placed one after another vertically, and board text/data is placed to the left and right of the image.
  Vertical is also known as a Japanese-style layout.

Board Options

• Text Dialogue, Action, and Notes (one, multiple or none)

• Info Shot Number

• Time Duration, Scene Time, Script Time (one, multiple, or none)

Shot Generator Options

• Text Shot Type, Focal Length, f-Stop (one, multiple, or none)

• Camera Plot Yes / No
  If a camera plot exists for the board, it will be placed near the board image.

Header Options

• Pages None, All, First of Scene
  On which page(s) should the header appear?

• Titles Project, Scene (none, one, or multiple)

• Stats Boards, Shots, Scene Duration, Aspect Ratio, Date Exported
  For the current scene on the current page, stats for # of boards, # of shots, the duration of the scene, its aspect ratio, and the date the PDF was exported.

Footer Options

• Pages None, All, First of Scene
  On which page(s) should the footer appear?

• Attribution/Logo
  A text field to enter credits for the storyboard and to select a file for a logo.

Pagination

• Placement Header, Footer or Both

• Style Page # or Page # of Total

Include

• Scenes All, Current

• Boards All, Selected

• Pages All, Only A – Z

• User can choose a range of pages for export.

OPEN QUESTION: How to handle watermarks?

OPEN QUESTION: Will Vertical layouts always have column guides drawn, or is that optional?

Property: Text Size

Individual controls for Text Size TBD

At least at the component (Header, Footer, Boards) level. Possibly at the individual item of text level (e.g. dialogue, actions, notes).

Ability: Export PDF

• Export to a PDF file. Will appear in exports/ and folder will open.

Ability: Print

• Attempt to send to the printer (how this works exactly will depend on operating system support)

Automagic Features

• Scenes are split up into pages of boards based on the dimensions of the selected grid.

• New Shot markers: A "New Shot" is represented with a marker on the board where the new shot starts.

• Cells spacing: Cells are placed in the grid with spacing between them automatically to make the best use of the available space.

Persistent Settings

• The PDF exporter should probably remember what settings you used last.

OPEN QUESTION: Should this be global? Per project? Per scene?

Situations

• I want to print just the images, with no text or guides, to keep on my wall.