Motivation

I built this tool because I needed a way to sort images with essential storyboard features. As someone working in AI filmmaking, my workflow involves generating hundreds of images based on a story and then selecting the best frames for a sequence.

I was unhappy with the existing solutions: I had to choose between simple image viewers that were too limited for proper sequencing and full fledged storyboard tools that were far too complicated for this specific task.

Storyboard Imagesorter fills that gap. It is a simple tool for a simple task, yet powerful enough to do actual storyboarding with.

User Guide (Workflow)

1. Import your images

• Drag & Drop: Select image files from your file explorer and drag them directly into the window, or click the “＋ Import” button.
• Auto-Magic Import: If you import images from a folder that already contains a _sorter_data.txt file, the tool will automatically detect it and restore all your colors and notes for those images instantly.

2. Organize your sequence

• Reorder: Click and drag any image to move it to a new position.
• Move Groups: Use the arrow buttons in the top toolbar to shift selected groups of images left or right.
• The Stash: If you have images that don’t belong in your current sequence, drag them into the Stash Zone at the bottom. They are “parked” there and can be brought back later without being deleted.

3. Add details (Notes & Colors)

• Color Tagging: Use the sidebar on the left to quickly tap a color onto your selected images (e.g., Blue for “Close-up”, Red for “Action”).
• Writing Notes: Click the “📝 + Add Note” button on any image card to type in descriptions, camera angles, or timing info.

Note that you need to activate the text feature in the settings menu first. It is off by default to reduce the visual noise.

4. Edit and see changes live

Need to fix a drawing? Double-click an image to open it in your preferred editor (like Photoshop or Krita). Once you hit Save in that program, the thumbnail in the Imagesorter updates automatically via our live file watcher.

5. Export and “Save” your project

• To get your final files: Use the “↓ Export” menu. You can create a clean, numbered image sequence, or professional layouts like Contact Sheets (for quick review) or Storyboard Lists (to see your notes alongside the art).
• IMPORTANT – Image Sequence Export: When exporting an image sequence, the tool creates copies of your images in a new folder with sequential names (e.g., prefix_01.png). Your original source files remain completely untouched and unchanged in their original location.
• IMPORTANT – Saving your progress: When you export, the tool creates a small file called _sorter_data.txt. This is your project’s “brain”. It contains all your colors and text notes. Keep this file safe! To reload your work later, simply drag and drop the _sorter_data.txt file directly into the application window. All your annotations will be restored instantly.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Main View:

• Space: Open/Close Full-screen Lightbox
• Ctrl + Z / Ctrl + Y: Undo / Redo last action
• Ctrl + A / Ctrl + D: Select All / Deselect All
• Delete: Remove selected images from the sequence
• Tab: Hide/Show the Stash at the bottom
• B: Hide/Show the Color Sidebar
• Left / Right Arrows: Move selected images left or right in sequence
• Plus / Minus: Zoom in and out of the canvas
• Scroll: Scroll through large sequences
• Shift + Scroll: Fast scroll through large sequences

Lightbox Mode (Full-screen):

• Esc / Space: Close Lightbox
• Left / Up Arrow: Previous image
• Right / Down Arrow: Next image

Technical Specifications

For developers and technical users:
• Core Stack: Python 3.10+ and PyQt6.
• Architecture: Implements the Command Pattern for a robust Undo/Redo system across all manipulations (sorting, tagging, moving, deleting). Uses a custom Flow Layout engine for dynamic image arrangement. Features a background File Watcher service to monitor file system changes for real-time thumbnail synchronization.
• Data Management: Metadata (colors/notes) is handled via a lightweight text-based exchange format (_sorter_data.txt), allowing for easy project reloading without proprietary database overhead.

Installation & Execution

Windows:

The application is provided as a standalone executable.
1. Download the storyboard_imagesorter.zip
2. Extract the Zipfile.
3. Run the .exe directly.

macOS & Linux (Source Distribution):

For macOS and Linux, it is recommended to run via a Python virtual environment.
1. Clone the repository: git clone https://github.com/ReinerBforartists/storyboard_imagesorter
2. Set up a Virtual Environment (Recommended):
python3 -m venv venv
source venv/bin/activate
3. Install Dependencies:
pip install -r requirements.txt
4. Run the Application:
cd storyboard_imagesorter
python storyboard_imagesorter.py

License: GNU General Public License v3.0
Feedback and Pull Requests are welcome!
Copyright © 2026 with ❤️ by Reiner Prokein (Haizy Tiles)