Elegant Hardcover Book Mockup
What's inside
- Applications Photoshop
- File Types PSD
- License Free (see author's terms)
- Author Mockups Design
Need to show a novel jacket to a client? This elegant hardcover book mockup does the job in a few minutes.
Authors and cover designers tend to get the most out of files like this. Quick 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.
The file is made by Mockups Design. The download button takes you to their page, where you get the original file and the licence details.
What’s inside the Elegant Hardcover Book Mockup PSD
Open it in Photoshop and you can change:
- Your design, placed through the smart object
- Paper texture you can turn up or down
- Paper or background colour
- Front and back artwork, where both sides are shown
How to use the Elegant Hardcover Book Mockup
- Get your artwork ready at print size, with 1/8 inch of bleed if it runs to the edge.
- Open the PSD in Photoshop and find the smart object layer, usually named “Your Design” or “Place Here”.
- Paste your design, resize it to fill the area, then save (Ctrl/Cmd + S) and close that tab.
- 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.
Another tip: export your artwork at the size the smart object asks for; scaling a small file up is the usual reason print mockups look soft.
Best uses for this Elegant Hardcover Book Mockup
- Show an annual report cover to a client before it goes to print or production.
- Make two or three colour versions of a book cover and let the client pick.
- Present a novel jacket in a client proposal or brand guide.
Quick notes on this mockup
- Made by Mockups Design. 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.
More free book mockups are listed below, each linking to the original author.
Questions about this mockup
Is it free for commercial use?
It's free to download, but the licence belongs to Mockups Design. Check their page: it states whether commercial use is allowed and if attribution is needed.
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.
Can I show both sides?
It depends on the file. Many print mockups include a front and a back smart object; the preview usually shows whether both sides are visible.
Why does the download open another website?
We list free files from designers around the web and link to the original page, so Mockups Design gets the visit and you get the file exactly as they published it.
