Turn a brief into an editable, narrated storyboard. Refine each shot, reuse approved characters or products, and review credits before rendering.
1. Define the One Question the Video Must Answer
Write the audience, the problem, and the single idea that should be clear by the end. A common failure is trying to explain an entire company, every feature, and the pricing page in 60 seconds. APOB can generate a sequence from a rich brief, but a narrow learning goal gives every scene a useful job.
Example: A SaaS team does not ask for “a video about our analytics platform.” It writes: “Explain to ecommerce managers why blended ROAS can hide an unprofitable campaign, then show how the profit view changes the decision.” The video now has a specific viewer, misconception, mechanism, and outcome.
Problem solved: Scope creep. Limiting the explainer to one viewer question prevents rushed narration and repeated visuals.
2. Open Storyboard to Video and Create the Brief
In the APOB Create workstation, select a model and open Storyboard to video. Choose Create new storyboard, then set the target platform—TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, or YouTube—the planned length, and an aspect ratio. Current length options range from 15 seconds to 10 minutes; aspect ratios include 9:16, 3:4, 16:9, 4:3, and 1:1. In the live August 2026 interface, the subject and supporting instructions share one required Video brief field with a displayed 20,000-character counter. This differs from the June Help Center article, which documents separate Topic and Relevant info inputs; follow the labels in the live workstation if the two sources differ (APOB Help Center).
Example: For the tested ROAS explainer, select YouTube Shorts, 15 seconds, and 9:16. In Video brief, enter the learning goal, ecommerce-marketer audience, four-shot structure, approved evidence boundary, and an instruction not to invent dashboards, brand logos, or customer claims.
Problem solved: An underspecified first draft. Platform, runtime, frame shape, learning goal, and evidence constraints give the generated storyboard a usable production boundary.
3. Review the Shot Order Before Editing Details
Wait until the storyboard is marked ready, then open it. The editor lays out an Elements column followed by shot cards from left to right. Each card contains one prompt, and that order becomes the final playback order. You can reword prompts, delete a shot, or append a new one at the end, but there is currently no drag-to-reorder control. Changes save automatically. Plan the logic as problem → mechanism → verified example → decision → next step before investing in the final render (APOB Help Center).
Example: The live test produced four ROAS shots: (1) the four-times blended ROAS headline, (2) hidden fees and refunds, (3) subtracting cost of goods and fees, and (4) verifying net profit before scaling. If the generated proof scene appears last, rewrite the existing sequence before adding more shots; appending an extra card will not move the proof earlier.
Problem solved: Attractive but illogical scenes. Reviewing the left-to-right reasoning chain prevents the final explainer from hiding the answer behind B-roll.
4. Add Reusable Characters, Backgrounds, and Products
Use Elements for subjects that should recur. A storyboard can hold up to three Characters, three Backgrounds, and three Products. Add or select an Element once, then click its chip—or type @—inside any shot prompt that should use it. A single Element can be referenced across multiple shots (APOB Help Center). Use approved source assets for exact packaging, real people, and branded environments; Elements improve continuity but do not replace factual review.
Example: A skincare routine adds the authorized bottle as a Product Element, a bathroom shelf as a Background Element, and an original virtual educator as a Character Element. The product is mentioned only in the routine shots, while the educator returns for the opening and safety note.
Problem solved: Identity and product drift. Shared Elements give the app explicit references instead of relying on a fresh natural-language description in every scene.
5. Rewrite Each Shot as One Focused Prompt
The current editor does not provide separate boxes for the visual prompt and voiceover. Each shot is one plain-language prompt with inline @ references for Elements and the voice model. The August 2026 live editor displayed a 20,000-character counter per shot, although the June Help Center article still describes a 500-character limit. Keep one explanatory beat per card even when more space is available: what the viewer sees, what the narrator explains, and which approved reference must remain consistent. The app computes shot timing and shows only the total storyboard Duration in the bottom bar (APOB Help Center).
Example: @Serum Bottle on @Bathroom Shelf. Macro close-up; label faces camera; one drop forms at the pipette; slow push-in. @Educator Voice explains that two drops are the approved amount for the next step. Preserve the 30 ml label, glass shape, cap, and logo. Do not add ingredients or medical claims.
Problem solved: Visual and narration overload. A focused prompt reduces competing actions and makes the fact being taught easier to check.
6. Select One Voice Model for the Whole Storyboard
Choose the voice from the top-bar Voice model selector or from the voice pill on a shot card. One voice model is shared across the complete storyboard and is required before final generation. You can use an available model or create a personal voice model if your plan supports it; obtain permission before cloning or using another person's voice (APOB Help Center).
Example: A cybersecurity onboarding series selects one calm instructional voice across all five shots. Acronyms and product names are written clearly in the relevant prompts, then the team listens for pronunciation before approving the message.
Problem solved: Narration inconsistency. One shared voice keeps tone stable and prevents a different speaker from appearing between explanations.
7. Choose Resolution and Quality, Then Check the Cost
In the bottom bar, choose Resolution—720P, FHD, QHD, or 4K—and Quality—Ultra or Ultra S. FHD and Ultra are the current defaults; 4K is available only with Ultra S. APOB displays the per-second rate, total Duration, and total credit cost on or near Generate. The exact amount depends on the plan and selected settings, and building the storyboard is a separate credit event from rendering it (APOB Help Center).
Example: In the live 15-second test, FHD/Ultra showed 220 credits per second and a 3,300-credit total. Switching to 720P/Ultra changed the estimate to 120 credits per second and 1,800 credits. That lower-resolution pass was enough to review presenter continuity, narration, and the proof scene before considering a higher-resolution rerender.
Problem solved: Spending credits before the structure is approved. The visible estimate lets teams match output settings to the real delivery channel.
8. Generate, Add Captions if Needed, and Run the Final Review
Before pressing Generate, make sure the storyboard is ready, every required shot has a prompt, one voice model is selected, and the total Duration has been computed. The finished render locks the storyboard, so later shot, Element, or voice changes require Regenerate storyboard or Recreate to build a fresh editable copy. Storyboard to video has no subtitles toggle; send the finished video through Add Subtitles to extract or edit caption lines, choose a style, preview the result, and generate the captioned version (final-generation guide, subtitle guide).
Example: An ecommerce reviewer finds that a generated product label says 25 ml instead of the approved 30 ml. Because the video has already been generated, the team recreates an editable storyboard, corrects the product reference and prompt before rendering again, then uses Add Subtitles and checks that the CTA stays above the Reels interface zone.
Problem solved: Plausible-looking errors and locked drafts. A pre-generation check reduces avoidable rerenders, while a separate caption pass makes muted viewing easier to review.
Expert Prompts for AI Explainer Videos
Replace every bracketed fact with approved source material. These prompts are designed for the current storyboard workflow: one brief, editable shots, reusable Elements, and one voice model.
SaaS Feature Explainer
Purpose: Explain one product decision without inventing interface evidence. Prompt: Create a 45-second 16:9 explainer for ecommerce marketing managers. Question: why can a campaign with high blended ROAS still lose money? Use five shots: surprising result, hidden costs, one approved numeric example, decision change, and neutral next step. Use the same original virtual presenter in Shots 1 and 5. Reserve Shot 3 for the verified screen recording I will insert. Do not generate dashboards, logos, prices, claims, or extra text. Expected output: A five-shot storyboard with presenter bookends and a clearly marked evidence slot.
Ecommerce Product Routine
Purpose: Demonstrate an approved product routine while protecting packaging and claims. Prompt: Create a 30-second 9:16 product explainer using @Serum Bottle, @Bathroom Shelf, and @Educator Voice. Show the problem, the approved two-drop amount, application order, and a final pack shot. Preserve the exact 30 ml label, bottle shape, cap, and logo. Do not add ingredients, medical claims, badges, prices, or before-and-after results. Expected output: A short routine video in which the same authorized bottle remains identifiable across shots.
Cybersecurity Onboarding
Purpose: Turn one internal policy into a reviewable training sequence. Prompt: Create a 60-second 16:9 onboarding explainer for new employees about reporting a suspicious login. Use six shots: warning signs, what not to click, the approved reporting channel, a verified screen-recording placeholder, expected response, and recap. Use @Security Trainer and @Office Background in the presenter shots. Do not invent email addresses, response times, legal requirements, or software screens. Expected output: A six-shot draft that compliance can compare with the current policy before rendering.
Before publishing an AI explainer video, confirm the following points with the people responsible for brand, legal, privacy, and platform compliance.
Consent and likeness. Use an identifiable face, voice, or persona only with explicit, verifiable permission for the intended channels, territory, and duration. Keep the consent record, and review the APOB Terms.
Commercial rights. Own or license every uploaded logo, product photo, screenshot, font, music track, character, and stock asset. APOB's terms do not clear third-party rights for you.
Copyright and human authorship. Keep the human-written script, shot selection, factual edits, arrangement, captions, and final cut documented when ownership matters. The U.S. Copyright Office distinguishes human-authored expression from purely AI-generated material.
Disclosure and platform rules. Label realistic synthetic or materially altered media when required. Recheck the current rules for YouTube, Meta, and TikTok before upload.
Testimonials and factual claims. Do not make an AI presenter imply personal experience, endorsement, or results that did not occur. Follow FTC guidance, and verify interfaces, calculations, labels, prices, dates, and high-stakes claims frame by frame.
Privacy and confidential data. Do not upload customer lists, health information, credentials, unreleased financial data, or private roadmaps without authorization and an appropriate data review. Check APOB's current Privacy Policy and your organization's retention rules.
Review the Story Before Paying for the Final Render
APOB separates storyboard planning from final generation. Teams can check shot order, narration, references, duration, and the displayed credit estimate before committing to the finished video.
Reuse the Same Approved Presenter, Product, or Set
Character, Product, and Background Elements can be referenced across multiple shots. This is useful when an onboarding presenter, bottle, or branded room must remain recognizable throughout one explanation.
Mix Presenter-Led and Visual-Led Shots
A recurring AI presenter can introduce the question, while product close-ups, diagrams, or verified screen recordings handle the evidence. The workflow does not force every scene into the same talking-head format.
See When a Revision Requires a New Storyboard
The final render locks the storyboard. APOB makes the boundary explicit: revise prompts and Elements before generation, or recreate an editable copy when the approved message changes later.
Video explainers meet a real learning preference. In Wyzowl's 2026 survey of 266 respondents, 68% of video marketers said they had created explainer videos, 93% said video improved understanding of their product or service, and 96% of consumers said they had watched an explainer to learn about a product or service (Wyzowl). These figures describe the survey sample, not a guaranteed outcome for any individual video.
SaaS Feature Explanation for a Landing Page
A product marketer needs to explain why a new “profit by campaign” view differs from familiar ROAS reporting. The presenter states the misconception, an approved numeric example shows fees and returns, and a verified screen capture demonstrates where to find the view. Generated UI is avoided because exact labels and numbers matter.
Ecommerce Product Mechanism Video
A skincare seller explains the order of a three-step routine. An authorized bottle image anchors Image to video, a virtual educator narrates the timing, and captions name each step without adding unapproved ingredient or medical claims. A square site version can emphasize the pack; a vertical social version can emphasize the before-routine problem.
Employee Onboarding and Policy Update
An operations team turns a revised expense policy into four short scenarios: valid receipt, missing category, manager approval, and reimbursement timing. A recurring presenter connects the modules, while verified screenshots replace fabricated software panels. Because the policy can change, each rule lives in its own replaceable scene.
LinkedIn Founder Explanation Without Weekly Filming
A founder publishes a weekly 45-second explanation of one industry concept. An original AI host uses a consistent office and wardrobe, while each episode includes one concrete example and one limitation. Wyzowl reports LinkedIn was used by 70% of video marketers in its 2026 sample, supporting the channel's relevance without implying guaranteed reach (Wyzowl).
Course Lesson and YouTube Short Recap
An educator explains compound interest with a recurring character, three visual beats, and a worked example that has been checked independently. The horizontal lesson keeps the full calculation; the vertical recap explains only the intuition. YouTube currently categorizes square or vertical uploads up to three minutes as Shorts for standard channels, subject to current eligibility rules (YouTube Help).
Agency Versioning for One Approved Campaign Idea
An agency builds one approved explainer architecture, then changes the opening scenario for a startup founder, ecommerce operator, and enterprise buyer while preserving the mechanism and evidence. IAB reported that 86% of video-ad buyers were using or planning to use generative AI for video ad creative, while buyers expected GenAI creative to reach 40% of ads in 2026 (IAB). That scale makes version control, consent, and claim review more important, not less.
Scene-level planning: Storyboard cards make the logic visible before the complete video is rendered.
Reusable presenter identity: A saved or approved character can connect episodes, modules, and campaign variants.
Hybrid visual workflow: Presenter, generated concept scene, approved product image, voice, lip sync, and caption layers can serve different parts of one explanation.
Explicit editing stage: Shot prompts, Elements, and the voice can be reviewed before final generation, and the editor auto-saves changes.
Faceless production: Teams can explain products or ideas without scheduling a new on-camera session for every revision.
Free test path: The current Nano plan refills 80 credits per day; the live buttons disclose the cost before each storyboard build or final render.
Generated facts can be wrong: Product labels, calculations, diagrams, and interfaces require manual verification or replacement with authoritative assets.
Consistency is not guaranteed: Faces, clothing, props, product geometry, and backgrounds may still drift between scenes.
Complex prompts reduce control: Multiple actions, characters, and camera movements in one shot can create unstable output.
No drag-to-reorder control: Shots play from left to right. You can append or delete cards, but sequence planning matters because current cards cannot be freely dragged into a new order.
The final Generate action locks the storyboard: After rendering, shot, Element, and voice edits require Regenerate storyboard or Recreate, which builds a new editable copy and may require additional credits.
Not a verified one-click document converter: Automatic URL, PDF, deck, or long-video import is not claimed for this workflow.
No dedicated whiteboard workflow is promised: Whiteboard-style searches should confirm the current available styles or use approved illustrated assets.
Captions require a second tool: Storyboard to video does not include a subtitles toggle; use Add Subtitles after the narrated video is ready.
Credits and plan conditions vary: Duration, quality, resolution, watermark, privacy, and commercial settings should be checked in the live account before delivery.
No Credit Card Required
Pricing, workflow, quality, rights, privacy, and publishing answers based on the tested APOB flow and current platform guidance.
What is an AI explainer video generator?
It is a video tool that helps turn a product, process, feature, or concept into an ordered sequence of visuals and narration. In APOB's Storyboard to video workflow, the app expands a Video brief into shot prompts, lets you edit the sequence, reuse Elements, choose one voice model, and then render the finished video.
Can I use an AI explainer video generator for free?
Yes. The current Nano plan is $0 and refills 80 credits per day. It has no concurrent tasks, and paid plans remove the watermark and add private content/models. Both creating a storyboard and rendering the final video can cost credits; read the current amount displayed on each Generate button before continuing (APOB Help Center).
How much does it cost to make an explainer video with APOB AI?
There is no single render price for every explainer. Storyboard creation costs scale with the selected target length. Final video cost is the displayed per-second rate for the selected Quality and Resolution multiplied by the computed Duration. In a signed-in test on August 13, 2026, the 15-second storyboard showed 30 credits; the final video showed 1,800 credits at 720P/Ultra and 3,300 credits at FHD/Ultra. Treat these as dated examples, not a price promise, and follow the current amounts on the two Generate buttons (APOB Help Center).
Can APOB turn text into an explainer video?
Yes. Enter a focused Video brief in Storyboard to video, then review the generated shot sequence. The current live interface combines the topic and supporting instructions in this field, while an older Help Center article documents separate Topic and Relevant info inputs. Each shot has one editable prompt—not separate visual and voiceover fields—and can include inline references to Elements and the shared voice model. Treat the first draft as a production plan, not fact-checked final copy.
Can I upload a PDF, website URL, slide deck, or long video and convert it automatically?
That automatic import workflow was not verified for this page. Extract and approve the relevant text yourself, then paste a focused brief or script into the storyboard. Use a dedicated document-to-video or long-video clipping tool if direct import and extraction are essential.
Can I create a product explainer video?
Yes. Add an authorized item as a Product Element, then reference it with @ inside the shots that need it. The current storyboard supports up to three Product Elements. Use only approved claims and replace any inaccurate generated label or demonstration with verified media.
Can I use an AI presenter or talking avatar?
Yes, but choose the workflow deliberately. In a storyboard, use a Character Element and the storyboard's one required voice model for a recurring host. If you already have one still face image and an audio track, Talking Avatar can animate the image directly. Use an original avatar or a real person's likeness only with explicit permission; do not imply an endorsement or experience that did not occur (APOB Help Center).
How long should an explainer video be?
Use the shortest runtime that answers one viewer question without rushing. Storyboard to video currently offers 15 seconds, 30 seconds, 45 seconds, 1 minute, 3 minutes, 5 minutes, and 10 minutes. Wyzowl's 2026 sample found that 71% of respondents considered videos between 30 seconds and two minutes most effective, but topic complexity and channel should decide the final length (APOB Help Center, Wyzowl).
How do I keep the same presenter across scenes?
Add the approved presenter as a Character Element and reference the same @ Element in every relevant shot prompt. Use a Background Element for a recurring set and keep identity details concise. APOB currently allows up to three Character and three Background Elements per storyboard. Review every result because a reference reduces drift but cannot guarantee perfect continuity.
Can I add my own voice or audio?
Storyboard to video requires one voice model selected for the complete narration. For a separate talking-avatar or lip-sync clip, you can upload audio or create it with Generate audio. Lip Sync uses an existing video plus the new audio; Talking Avatar uses one face image plus audio. Check the current file requirements and obtain permission before cloning or using another person's voice.
Does APOB support multiple languages?
Voice and audio workflows may offer multiple languages, but the exact selection depends on the current voice model and mode. Confirm the required language and pronunciation in the live picker before creating a client deliverable, then use a human reviewer for translation, captions, legal copy, and timing. Storyboard to video uses one voice model for the whole video.
Which aspect ratios can I use?
When creating a storyboard, the current choices are 9:16, 3:4, 16:9, 4:3, and 1:1; 9:16 is the default. Choose the ratio for the primary destination before generating the storyboard. Uploaded-source modes may derive their shape from the source instead of showing the same control.
Which resolution and quality settings are available?
The current storyboard controls offer 720P, FHD, QHD, and 4K plus Ultra and Ultra S quality. FHD and Ultra are the defaults. 4K is available only with Ultra S, and higher settings increase the displayed per-second and total credit cost (APOB Help Center).
Can I add captions inside Storyboard to video?
Not with a toggle in the current Storyboard to video editor. Generate the narrated video first, then open Add Subtitles, select or upload the video, extract or write caption lines, adjust their timing and style in the live preview, and generate the captioned version. Add Subtitles supports videos up to 10 minutes, although the interface recommends short clips under one minute (APOB Help Center).
Can I edit the storyboard after generating the final video?
No. Final generation locks the storyboard, including shot prompts, Elements, and the voice model. Choose Regenerate storyboard in the editor or Recreate from the storyboard menu to build a new editable copy from the same brief. Review the live credit amount before doing so because storyboard creation is a credit-consuming action.
Why is the Generate button greyed out?
For storyboard creation, you need a completed Video brief and a selected page model. For final rendering, the storyboard must be ready, contain the required shot count, have a selected voice model, and have a valid computed Duration. On desktop one shot is sufficient; on mobile the current Generate button requires more than one shot (APOB Help Center).
Can I use the finished video commercially?
Commercial use may be possible under APOB's current terms, subject to applicable law, third-party rights, and the licenses in those terms. You must own or license every input and avoid unauthorized likeness, voice, music, trademarks, screenshots, and claims. Review the current terms for the project rather than relying on this summary.
Are AI explainer videos safe to post on YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook?
They can be posted when they comply with the platform's current content, advertising, intellectual-property, synthetic-media, and disclosure rules. Realistic altered media may require a label. Sponsored or commercial content can require an additional paid-partnership disclosure.
What happens to the images, scripts, audio, and videos I upload?
Review APOB's current Terms of Service and Privacy Policy before uploading sensitive or confidential assets. Use only materials you are authorized to submit, avoid unnecessary personal information, and follow your organization's data-handling rules.
How was this APOB workflow verified?
APOB AI's content team completed a signed-in 15-second, 9:16 storyboard-to-video workflow on August 13, 2026 using one brief, four shots, the Lexy voice model, and a 720P/Ultra final render. The guide screenshots come from that run. Interface labels, plan allowances, and credit estimates can change, so check the live account before production.
