Standing Hard Cover Book Mockup
What's inside
- Applications Photoshop
- File Types PSD
- License Free (see author's terms)
- Author Mockupful
Need to show a novel jacket to a client? This standing hard cover book mockup does the job in a few minutes.
Useful for authors as much as for cover designers. A small 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.
This is a free file from Mockupful. When you click download you’ll land on their page to grab it.
Editable options in the Standing Hard Cover Book Mockup PSD
Main things you can change in Photoshop:
- Your design, placed through the smart object
- Paper or background colour
- Front and back artwork, where both sides are shown
How to use the Standing Hard Cover Book Mockup
- 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.
- Export a full-size image for your portfolio and a smaller one for social media.
Use CMYK-friendly colours in the artwork itself, even though the mockup is RGB, so what the client sees is close to print.
Ways to use this Standing Hard Cover Book Mockup
- Use it as the cover image for a cookbook in your portfolio.
- Show a book cover to a client before it goes to print or production.
- Show an annual report cover on your online shop or product page.
Quick notes on this mockup
- Made by Mockupful. 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.
- Built for Adobe Photoshop. A recent CC version handles the smart objects best.
- Check the smart object size before you design, so your artwork fits without stretching.
Need a different angle? The book mockups category has plenty more free PSD files.
Questions about this mockup
What licence does it come with?
That depends on the author's terms. The download page lists what is allowed; when in doubt, ask the author directly.
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.
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.
