Hard Cover Book Mockup
What's inside
- Applications Photoshop
- File Types PSD
- License Free (see author's terms)
- Author Pixpine
If you’re presenting a book cover, this hard cover book mockup makes the idea feel real before anything is produced.
Good pick for authors, publishers or anyone putting together a portfolio. Tip: use CMYK-friendly colours in the artwork itself, even though the mockup is RGB, so what the client sees is close to print.
It also makes a good cover image for a Behance or Dribbble post, where the first thumbnail decides whether anyone clicks. If you’re building a full identity, pair it with an envelope or letterhead mockup for a matching set.
Credit goes to Pixpine. We link to their download page rather than re-uploading the file, so check their terms there before commercial use.
Hard Cover Book Mockup: editable parts
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
Add your design to the Hard Cover Book Mockup
- Export your artwork as a high-resolution PNG or JPG, around 300 ppi at print size.
- Open the PSD in Photoshop and find the smart object layer, usually named “Your Design” or “Place Here”.
- Place your design, hide the sample artwork, save, and go back to the main file.
- Save a JPG for clients and social media, and keep the PSD for later changes.
Worth remembering: keep text at least a few millimetres from the edge. The mockup shows the trim, and cramped margins read as a mistake.
Best uses for this Hard Cover Book Mockup
- Use it as the cover image for a book cover in your portfolio.
- Make two or three colour versions of an annual report cover and let the client pick.
- Show a cookbook to a client before it goes to print or production.
Before you download
- Made by Pixpine. 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.
Scroll down for similar book mockups from other designers.
Questions about this mockup
Can I use this book mockup for client work?
Pixpine 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.
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 Pixpine gets the visit and you get the file exactly as they published it.
