Hard Shadow Square Book Mockup
What's inside
- Applications Photoshop
- File Types PSD
- License Free (see author's terms)
- Author Mockups Design
Presenting a cookbook? Put it on this hard shadow square book mockup and the client sees the real thing, not a flat file.
Cover designers and publishers tend to get the most out of files like this. Tip: design the spine too, even if it’s narrow. Book mockups showing the side look unfinished with a blank spine.
Seeing a layout on a real book is also the easiest way to catch problems early. A phone number that looked fine on screen can turn out too small once it sits on paper. If you’re building a full identity, pair it with an envelope or letterhead mockup for a matching set.
Credit goes to Mockups Design. We link to their download page rather than re-uploading the file, so check their terms there before commercial use.
Editable options in the Hard Shadow Square Book Mockup PSD
Main things you can change in Photoshop:
- Your design, placed through the smart object
- Paper texture you can turn up or down
- Paper or background colour
How to use the Hard Shadow Square Book Mockup
- Set up the design flat at the real print size and keep text inside a safe margin.
- Open the file in Photoshop and double-click the smart object thumbnail in the Layers panel.
- Paste your design, resize it to fill the area, then save (Ctrl/Cmd + S) and close that tab.
- Turn the texture layer up or down to match the paper you’ll print on.
- Export with File › Export › Export As: JPG for sharing, PNG for the web.
Dark designs often look flat on paper mockups. Turning the highlight layer up slightly brings back the sheen.
Ways to use this Hard Shadow Square Book Mockup
- Present a novel jacket in a client proposal or brand guide.
- Use it as the cover image for a cookbook in your portfolio.
- Make two or three colour versions of a book cover and let the client pick.
Quick notes on this mockup
- Made by Mockups Design. The download size and format are listed on their page.
- Check the licence on the author’s page. Personal and commercial terms differ from file to file.
- 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.
Browse more free book mockups on Artistic Orbit, with new files added every day.
Questions about this mockup
Is it free for commercial use?
Mockups Design 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 add my design?
Open the file in Photoshop, double-click the smart object thumbnail, paste or place your artwork in the new tab, save it (Ctrl/Cmd + S) and close. The main file updates on its own.
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.
