Video Editing Starter · free course

Free course · Lesson 5 of 5

Video Storyboarding, Scripting & Multi-Format Exporting

In this lesson you will

  • Plan a short video
  • Export for different platforms

A script and storyboard are your blueprint. The script defines what is said; the storyboard sketches what is shown. Together they ensure every shot serves the story, reducing wasted footage and editing time. Exporting is the final step where you choose the right codec, resolution, and bitrate so the video looks great and plays smoothly on the target platform — whether that is WhatsApp, YouTube, or a TV broadcast.

  • Script first: Write a simple 2-column script: left column = "Visual" (what the viewer sees), right column = "Audio" (dialogue, narration, music). This clarifies timing before you start editing.
  • Storyboard: Draw rough thumbnail sketches of each key shot. Even stick figures work. The goal is to plan camera angles and transitions before you film — this is especially important for NGO field shoots with limited time.
  • Export codecs: H.264 is the universal standard for web & social media — great quality with manageable file sizes. H.265 (HEVC) gives the same quality at roughly half the file size but requires newer devices to playback. H.264 is safer for mobile sharing in low-bandwidth areas.
  • Platform presets: YouTube: H.264, 1920x1080, 15 Mbps. WhatsApp: H.264, 1280x720, 4-6 Mbps (compressed for mobile data). Facebook/Instagram: H.264, 1080x1080 (square), 6-8 Mbps.

Practical Skill: When exporting an NGO impact video for sharing via WhatsApp in South Sudan, use H.264 with a target bitrate of 4-6 Mbps at 1280x720 resolution. This keeps the file under 50 MB for a 3-minute video — easy to download on mobile data. For YouTube uploads, export at 1920x1080 with 15 Mbps VBR (Variable Bitrate) for crisp quality. Always use VBR 2-Pass for the best quality-to-size ratio.

TemplateOptimised Export Preset Blueprint
Worksheet
==== EXPORT PRESETS FOR COMMON PLATFORMS (Adobe Premiere / DaVinci Resolve / CapCut) ==== --- PRESET A: WhatsApp Mobile Share (Optimised for Low-Bandwidth) ---  Best for: NGO field reports, short updates, advocacy clips   Video Settings:    Format:           H.264 (MP4 container)    Resolution:       1280 x 720 (720p — sharp enough for phones)    Frame Rate:       25 fps or 29.97 fps (match source)    Bitrate (Target): 4 Mbps (4000 kbps)    Bitrate (Max):    6 Mbps (6000 kbps)    Bitrate Encoding: VBR, 2-Pass (best quality for file size)    Profile:          High    Level:            4.0 or 4.1   Audio Settings:    Codec:            AAC    Sample Rate:      48,000 Hz (48 kHz)    Channels:         Stereo    Bitrate:          128 kbps (clear dialogue, small file)   Estimated file size: ~30-45 MB for a 3-minute video  Notes:             This preset keeps the file small enough to                     download on mobile data networks (3G/4G).                     Test play it on a phone before distributing. --- PRESET B: YouTube Upload (Crisp Quality) ---  Best for: Full documentaries, training videos, public campaigns   Video Settings:    Format:           H.264 (MP4 container)    Resolution:       1920 x 1080 (Full HD)    Frame Rate:       25 fps or 29.97 fps (match source)    Bitrate (Target): 15 Mbps (15,000 kbps)    Bitrate (Max):    20 Mbps (20,000 kbps)    Bitrate Encoding: VBR, 2-Pass    Profile:          High    Level:            4.2 or 5.0   Audio Settings:    Codec:            AAC    Sample Rate:      48,000 Hz    Channels:         Stereo    Bitrate:          320 kbps (rich, broadcast-quality audio)   Estimated file size: ~120-180 MB for a 5-minute video  Notes:             YouTube will recompress your video anyway, so                     exporting at 15 Mbps gives YouTube's encoder                     plenty of quality to work with. --- PRESET C: High-Quality Archival Master ---  Best for: Long-term storage, broadcast delivery, future re-edits   Video Settings:    Format:           H.265 (HEVC) or ProRes 422 (if storage allows)    Resolution:       1920 x 1080 or source-native    Bitrate:          50 Mbps (H.265) or ProRes (~220 Mbps for HD)    Encoding:         Constant Bitrate (CBR) for maximum quality   Audio Settings:    Codec:            PCM (uncompressed WAV) or FLAC    Sample Rate:      48,000 Hz    Bit Depth:        24-bit    Channels:         Stereo or dual-mono   Notes:             Keep this master on an external drive. Export                     smaller H.264 copies from it for sharing. ==== QUICK BITRATE GUIDELINE ====  Resolution    Standard Bitrate    Low-Bandwidth Bitrate  − (dash continued)  1080p (Full HD)   10-15 Mbps            4-6 Mbps   720p              6-8 Mbps            2-4 Mbps   480p (SD)         3-4 Mbps            1-2 Mbps   Rule: Lower bitrate = smaller file = lower quality.  Find the sweet spot for your audience and platform.

Practice exercise

Write a one-paragraph script for a 60-second video and work out the file size of a three-minute export at 8 Mbps and at 2 Mbps.

Key takeaways

  • Start from purpose and audience
  • File size = bitrate × seconds ÷ 8
  • Get consent from people you film
In the full program Module 5: Planning and Exporting Videos See how this topic is taught in depth, with practical activities and an assessment.

Free self-study lesson — no certificate. For the full instructor-led program, see registration options.