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How to Use Mockups

Most free mockups are PSD files with smart objects. Once you’ve done it once, it takes about a minute. Here’s the short version.

  1. Download and unzip. Hit Download on the listing; you’ll land on the designer’s page. Grab the file there and extract the ZIP.
  2. Open the PSD. Open it in Adobe Photoshop (CC versions work best with smart objects).
  3. Find the smart object. Look in the Layers panel for a layer called something like “Your Design” or “Place Artwork Here”. It has a small icon in the corner of its thumbnail.
  4. Double-click the thumbnail. A new tab opens with the artwork canvas.
  5. Paste your design. Drop in your logo or artwork, resize to fit the canvas, then save (Ctrl/Cmd + S) and close that tab.
  6. Adjust the scene. Back in the main file, most mockups have layers for background colour, shadows and highlights. Tweak them to match your brand.
  7. Export. File → Export → Export As, choose JPG or PNG, and you’re done.

Small things that make a big difference

  • Keep your artwork in the colour mode the mockup expects (usually RGB) or colours will shift.
  • If the design looks “stuck on”, lower the opacity of your art slightly or turn up the texture/shadow layers.
  • Check the license before using the image in paid ads or for a client. Credit the author when they ask for it.