How to use Elements in StoryTribe

What is Elements?

Elements is your library of Characters, Locations, Props, and any custom categories you create, such as Wardrobe or Cameras. Add a name, description, and reference images to create reusable assets that you can place on the canvas, @mention in scripts, or use to keep AI generations consistent.

Where did my Saved items go?

Saved is now Elements. Your existing items were migrated automatically the first time you opened the page: folders became categories, and any folder matching a default category (such as Characters) was merged into it. In addition to organizing your assets, Elements powers @mentions, improves AI consistency, and lets you filter storyboards by character, location, or other.

Creating your first element

From the dashboard

• Open Elements from the left-hand navigation.
• Click New element.
• Give it a name, pick a category (or type a new one), and add a short description.
• Drag in up to 10 reference photos. The first one is the cover. Clicking the star on another photo makes that one the cover instead.
• Click Save.

From the canvas

Select anything on the canvas and choose Save as element. Pick New element or Add to existing to append it to an element you already have. When you save a selection from the canvas, it preserves its editable layers, so when you use it again, each object remains separate and editable.

Categories

Every account starts with four fixed categories: Characters, Locations, Props, and Style. These categories can't be renamed or deleted, ensuring @mentions and AI generation remain reliable.

You can create custom categories by clicking the + button and giving them any name. Custom categories can be renamed at any time. When you delete one, you'll be asked where its elements should be moved so nothing is left orphaned.

Referencing anything with @

Type @ in a shot's script, a scene title or description, or the Tribe AI prompt box, and one menu opens every time: References, then Elements grouped by category, then Scenes, then Shots. Pick one and it becomes a chip.

Chips stay current on their own. Rename an element and every chip pointing at it updates everywhere; reorder your shots and a mentioned shot's chip renumbers itself.

The fast lane: #

Typing # skips straight to a scenes-and-shots-only picker, handy mid-prompt for something like "generate from #2.1." @ still opens everything. # is just the shortcut for when you already know it's a shot or scene you want.

Batching your shoot day: filtering by element

On the Storyboard tab, type @ or # into the filter bar the same way you would in a prompt. Chips narrow the grid live: combine an actor and a location to see every shot that needs both, so you can shoot everything in one location back to back.

Need help or found a bug?

If you notice anything not working as expected, please report it to [email protected]. Including a screenshot or short video recording helps us resolve issues faster.

You can also get help directly in the app by clicking the Help button (question mark icon) at the bottom of the screen, then selecting Help → Contact support to speak with one of our support team.

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