Magazine Cover Mockups
What's inside
- Applications Photoshop
- File Types PSD
- License Free (see author's terms)
- Author PSD Graphics
Presenting a magazine cover? Put it on this magazine cover mockup and the client sees the real thing, not a flat file.
Good pick for design students, publishers or anyone putting together a portfolio. Quick tip: 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 magazine. If you’re building a full identity, pair it with an envelope or letterhead mockup for a matching set.
Use it for
- A magazine cover
- An editorial spread
- A company newsletter
The file is made by PSD Graphics. The download button takes you to their page, where you get the original file and the licence details.
What’s inside the Magazine Cover Mockups PSD
The PSD is layered, so you can change:
- Your design, placed through the smart object
- Front and back artwork, where both sides are shown
- Shadows and highlights on their own layers
- Paper or background colour
Add your design to the Magazine Cover Mockups
- Get your artwork ready at print size, with 3 mm of bleed if it runs to the edge.
- Open the file in Photoshop and double-click the smart object thumbnail in the Layers panel.
- Drop your artwork in, fit it to the canvas, save and close. The mockup updates by itself.
- 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.
Worth remembering: dark designs often look flat on paper mockups. Turning the highlight layer up slightly brings back the sheen.
Best uses for this Magazine Cover Mockups
- Present a company newsletter in a client proposal or brand guide.
- Show an editorial spread to a client before it goes to print or production.
- Share a magazine cover on Instagram, Behance or Dribbble with a real-looking preview.
Quick notes on this mockup
- Made by PSD Graphics. 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 licence on the author’s page. Personal and commercial terms differ from file to file.
Browse more free magazine mockups on Artistic Orbit, with new files added every day.
Questions about this mockup
Is it free for commercial use?
It's free to download, but the licence belongs to PSD Graphics. Check their page: it states whether commercial use is allowed and if attribution is needed.
How do I put my artwork on the magazine?
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.
