Scene Polaroid Mockup
What's inside
- Applications Photoshop
- File Types PSD
- License Free (see author's terms)
- Author Pixelbuddha
This polaroid mockup is a quick way to show a mood board without a photo shoot.
Useful for wedding designers as much as for photographers. A small tip: dark designs often look flat on paper mockups. Turning the highlight layer up slightly brings back the sheen.
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 instant photo. For a complete brand board, show it next to a business card and a notebook.
The file is made by Pixelbuddha. The download button takes you to their page, where you get the original file and the licence details.
Editable options in the Scene Polaroid Mockup PSD
Everything below is on its own layer:
- Your design, placed through the smart object
- Front and back artwork, where both sides are shown
- Paper texture you can turn up or down
How to edit this Scene Polaroid Mockup in Photoshop
- Set up the design flat at the real print size and keep text inside a safe margin.
- Open the PSD in Photoshop and find the smart object layer, usually named “Your Design” or “Place Here”.
- Drop your artwork in, fit it to the canvas, save and close. The mockup updates by itself.
- Export with File › Export › Export As: JPG for sharing, PNG for the web.
Worth remembering: keep text at least a few millimetres from the edge. The mockup shows the trim, and cramped margins read as a mistake.
Ways to use this Scene Polaroid Mockup
- Present photos in a client proposal or brand guide.
- Show a social post to a client before it goes to print or production.
- Show a mood board on your online shop or product page.
Before you download
- Made by Pixelbuddha. The download size and format are listed on their page.
- Check the smart object size before you design, so your artwork fits without stretching.
- The preview shows the angle, background and lighting you’ll get.
- Some free mockups ask for credit when you post them. A short line in your caption is enough.
Need a different angle? The polaroid mockups category has plenty more free PSD files.
Questions about this mockup
Is it free for commercial use?
It's free to download, but the licence belongs to Pixelbuddha. Check their page: it states whether commercial use is allowed and if attribution is needed.
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.
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.
