Binded Book Mockup
What's inside
- Applications Photoshop
- File Types PSD
- License Free (see author's terms)
- Author Mockups Design
This binded book mockup is a quick way to show an annual report cover without a photo shoot.
Useful for authors as much as for publishers. Tip: design the spine too, even if it’s narrow. Book mockups showing the side look unfinished with a blank spine.
Seeing a layout on a real book is also the easiest way to catch problems early. A phone number that looked fine on screen can turn out too small once it sits on paper.
Credit goes to Mockups Design. We link to their download page rather than re-uploading the file, so check their terms there before commercial use.
Binded Book Mockup: editable parts
The PSD is layered, so you can change:
- Your design, placed through the smart object
- Shadows and highlights on their own layers
- Paper or background colour
How to use the Binded Book Mockup
- Set up the design flat at the real print size and keep text inside a safe margin.
- 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.
- Save a JPG for clients and social media, and keep the PSD for later changes.
Worth remembering: if the paper has texture, drop the opacity of your art by a few percent so the grain shows through.
Ways to use this Binded Book Mockup
- Show an annual report cover to a client before it goes to print or production.
- Share a book cover on Instagram, Behance or Dribbble with a real-looking preview.
- Make two or three colour versions of a novel jacket and let the client pick.
Before you download
- Made by Mockups Design. The download size and format are listed on their page.
- 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.
Browse more free book mockups on Artistic Orbit, with new files added every day.
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 book?
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.
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.
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.
