Clipboard Mockups
What's inside
- Applications Photoshop
- File Types PSD
- License Free (see author's terms)
- Author Mockups Design
This clipboard mockup is one of the simpler ways to present a document or a menu convincingly.
Good pick for office brands, print designers or anyone putting together a portfolio. One thing worth knowing: if the paper has texture, drop the opacity of your art by a few percent so the grain shows through.
Clients sign off faster when they can picture the finished piece, and a flat PDF rarely does that as well as a photo of the clipboard.
Good for
- A document
- A menu
- A checklist
This is a free file from Mockups Design. When you click download you’ll land on their page to grab it.
What’s inside the Clipboard Mockups PSD
Open it in Photoshop and you can change:
- Your design, placed through the smart object
- Paper or background colour
- Shadows and highlights on their own layers
How to use the Clipboard Mockups
- Export your artwork as a high-resolution PNG or JPG, around 300 ppi at print size.
- Open the PSD in Photoshop and find the smart object layer, usually named “Your Design” or “Place Here”.
- Paste your design, resize it to fill the area, then save (Ctrl/Cmd + S) and close that tab.
- Change the background or paper colour with the colour layer.
- Export a full-size image for your portfolio and a smaller one for social media.
Another tip: export your artwork at the size the smart object asks for; scaling a small file up is the usual reason print mockups look soft.
Where the Clipboard Mockups works best
- Show a menu on your online shop or product page.
- Share a document on Instagram, Behance or Dribbble with a real-looking preview.
- Make two or three colour versions of a checklist and let the client pick.
Good to know
- Made by Mockups Design. The download size and format are listed on their page.
- Some free mockups ask for credit when you post them. A short line in your caption is enough.
- Check the smart object size before you design, so your artwork fits without stretching.
- Built for Adobe Photoshop. A recent CC version handles the smart objects best.
More free clipboard mockups are listed below, each linking to the original author.
Questions about this mockup
What licence does it come with?
Mockups Design sets the licence, and it can differ from file to file. Many free files allow personal and commercial use, but some are personal-only or ask for credit. Read the terms on the download page before a paid project.
How do I put my artwork on the clipboard?
Find the smart object layer (it has a small icon on its thumbnail), double-click it, place your design, then save and close that tab.
Which Photoshop version do I need?
A recent Photoshop CC version is best. Older versions can open the file but sometimes have trouble with smart objects and effects.
Will my artwork look printed or pasted on?
Most print mockups keep the paper texture and lighting on separate layers above your design, so it takes on the grain and shadows. If it still looks too clean, lower the opacity of your artwork a little.
