Hardcover Book Mockups
What's inside
- Applications Photoshop
- File Types PSD
- License Free (see author's terms)
- Author Pixeden
A hardcover book mockup, made for presenting a cookbook. Drop in your artwork and the lighting and shadows stay as they are.
Useful for cover designers as much as for authors. Use CMYK-friendly colours in the artwork itself, even though the mockup is RGB, so what the client sees is close to print.
It also makes a good cover image for a Behance or Dribbble post, where the first thumbnail decides whether anyone clicks. If you’re building a full identity, pair it with an envelope or letterhead mockup for a matching set.
Credit goes to Pixeden. We link to their download page rather than re-uploading the file, so check their terms there before commercial use.
What you can edit in this Hardcover Book Mockups
The PSD is layered, so you can change:
- Your design, placed through the smart object
- Paper or background colour
- Shadows and highlights on their own layers
- Paper texture you can turn up or down
Editing the Hardcover Book Mockups, step by step
- Export your artwork as a high-resolution PNG or JPG, around 300 ppi at print size.
- In the Layers panel, find the layer with the small smart object icon and double-click it.
- Place your design, hide the sample artwork, save, and go back to the main file.
- Tweak the shadow and highlight layers to suit your colours.
- Export with File › Export › Export As: JPG for sharing, PNG for the web.
Export your artwork at the size the smart object asks for; scaling a small file up is the usual reason print mockups look soft.
Best uses for this Hardcover Book Mockups
- Use it as the cover image for a book cover in your portfolio.
- Share a novel jacket on Instagram, Behance or Dribbble with a real-looking preview.
- Make two or three colour versions of a cookbook and let the client pick.
Quick notes on this mockup
- Made by Pixeden. The download size and format are listed on their page.
- The preview shows the angle, background and lighting you’ll get.
- Built for Adobe Photoshop. A recent CC version handles the smart objects best.
More free book mockups are listed below, each linking to the original author.
Questions about this mockup
Can I use this book mockup for client work?
Pixeden 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 add my design?
Open the file in Photoshop, double-click the smart object thumbnail, paste or place your artwork in the new tab, save it (Ctrl/Cmd + S) and close. The main file updates on its own.
Do I need Photoshop?
Yes. This is a PSD mockup built with smart objects, so you edit it in Adobe Photoshop. Any recent CC version works.
Can I show both sides?
It depends on the file. Many print mockups include a front and a back smart object; the preview usually shows whether both sides are visible.
Why does the download open another website?
We list free files from designers around the web and link to the original page, so Pixeden gets the visit and you get the file exactly as they published it.
