Hardcover Book Cover Mockup
What's inside
- Applications Photoshop
- File Types PSD
- License Free (see author's terms)
- Author Dribbble
Need to show an annual report cover to a client? This hardcover book cover mockup does the job in a few minutes.
Cover designers and authors tend to get the most out of files like this. Export your artwork at the size the smart object asks for; scaling a small file up is the usual reason print mockups look soft.
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.
A designer on Dribbble created this one and hosts the download on their own site, so you always get the latest version straight from the source.
What you can edit in this Hardcover Book Cover Mockup
Open it in Photoshop and you can change:
- Your design, placed through the smart object
- Shadows and highlights on their own layers
- Paper or background colour
How to edit this Hardcover Book Cover Mockup in Photoshop
- Get your artwork ready at print size, with 3 mm 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.
- Place your design, hide the sample artwork, save, and go back to the main file.
- Turn the texture layer up or down to match the paper you’ll print on.
- Save a JPG for clients and social media, and keep the PSD for later changes.
One more thing: keep text at least a few millimetres from the edge. The mockup shows the trim, and cramped margins read as a mistake.
Ways to use this Hardcover Book Cover Mockup
- Make two or three colour versions of a cookbook and let the client pick.
- Share a book cover 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 a designer on Dribbble. 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.
- Check the smart object size before you design, so your artwork fits without stretching.
- Check the licence on the author’s page. Personal and commercial terms differ from file to file.
More free book mockups are listed below, each linking to the original author.
Questions about this mockup
Can I use this book mockup for client work?
It's free to download, but the licence belongs to a designer on Dribbble. 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.
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 a designer on Dribbble gets the visit and you get the file exactly as they published it.
