Paperback Book Mockup
What's inside
- Applications Photoshop
- File Types PSD
- License Free (see author's terms)
- Author Pixeden
Need to show a cookbook to a client? This paperback book mockup does the job in a few minutes.
Good pick for publishers, cover designers or anyone putting together a portfolio. A small tip: design the spine too, even if it’s narrow. Book mockups showing the side look unfinished with a blank spine.
Print jobs are expensive to redo, so a realistic preview before the order goes out is cheap insurance. If you’re building a full identity, pair it with an envelope or letterhead mockup for a matching set.
Works well for
- A cookbook
- A novel jacket
- An annual report cover
Pixeden created this one and hosts the download on their own site, so you always get the latest version straight from the source.
What’s inside the Paperback Book Mockup PSD
The PSD is layered, so you can change:
- Your design, placed through the smart object
- Paper texture you can turn up or down
- Front and back artwork, where both sides are shown
How to use the Paperback Book Mockup
- Get your artwork ready at print size, with 1/8 inch 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.
Dark designs often look flat on paper mockups. Turning the highlight layer up slightly brings back the sheen.
Ways to use this Paperback Book Mockup
- Use it as the cover image for a novel jacket in your portfolio.
- Share a cookbook on Instagram, Behance or Dribbble with a real-looking preview.
- Show an annual report cover on your online shop or product page.
Quick notes on this mockup
- Made by Pixeden. 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.
- 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
Is it free for commercial use?
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 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.
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.
