Glossy Paper Mockup
What's inside
- Applications Photoshop
- File Types PSD
- License Free (see author's terms)
- Author Pixeden
This glossy paper mockup is a quick way to show a letter without a photo shoot. Because it’s glossy, the material shows through a little, which keeps the result believable.
Useful for agencies as much as for print designers. One thing worth knowing: keep text at least a few millimetres from the edge. The mockup shows the trim, and cramped margins read as a mistake.
It also makes a good cover image for a Behance or Dribbble post, where the first thumbnail decides whether anyone clicks. For a complete brand board, show it next to a business card and a notebook.
This is a free file from Pixeden. When you click download you’ll land on their page to grab it.
What you can edit in this Glossy Paper Mockup
Open it in Photoshop and you can change:
- Your design, placed through the smart object
- Paper or background colour
- Front and back artwork, where both sides are shown
- Paper texture you can turn up or down
How to use the Glossy Paper Mockup
- Get your artwork ready at print size, with 1/8 inch of bleed if it runs to the edge.
- In the Layers panel, find the layer with the small smart object icon and double-click it.
- Paste your design, resize it to fill the area, then save (Ctrl/Cmd + S) and close that tab.
- Save a JPG for clients and social media, and keep the PSD for later changes.
Worth remembering: if the paper has texture, drop the opacity of your art by a few percent so the grain shows through.
Best uses for this Glossy Paper Mockup
- Use it as the cover image for a CV in your portfolio.
- Present a report page in a client proposal or brand guide.
- Make two or three colour versions of a letter and let the client pick.
Good to know
- Made by Pixeden. The download size and format are listed on their page.
- The preview shows the angle, background and lighting you’ll get.
- Check the licence on the author’s page. Personal and commercial terms differ from file to file.
Need a different angle? The paper 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 Pixeden. Check their page: it states whether commercial use is allowed and if attribution is needed.
How do I put my artwork on the paper?
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.
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 Pixeden gets the visit and you get the file exactly as they published it.
