Open Ringed Sketchbook Mockup
What's inside
- Applications Photoshop
- File Types PSD
- License Free (see author's terms)
- Author Pixeden
This open ringed sketchbook mockup is one of the simpler ways to present illustrations or lettering convincingly.
Useful for illustrators as much as for lettering artists. Dark designs often look flat on paper mockups. Turning the highlight layer up slightly brings back the sheen.
Seeing a layout on a real sketchbook 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. For a complete brand board, show it next to a business card and a notebook.
Credit goes to Pixeden. We link to their download page rather than re-uploading the file, so check their terms there before commercial use.
What you can edit in this Open Ringed Sketchbook Mockup
Open it in Photoshop and you can change:
- Your design, placed through the smart object
- Paper texture you can turn up or down
- Shadows and highlights on their own layers
Add your design to the Open Ringed Sketchbook 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.
- Place your design, hide the sample artwork, save, and go back to the main file.
- Change the background or paper colour with the colour layer.
- Export a full-size image for your portfolio and a smaller one for social media.
Another tip: use CMYK-friendly colours in the artwork itself, even though the mockup is RGB, so what the client sees is close to print.
Ways to use this Open Ringed Sketchbook Mockup
- Show lettering on your online shop or product page.
- Show illustrations to a client before it goes to print or production.
- Share sketch pages on Instagram, Behance or Dribbble with a real-looking preview.
Before you download
- Made by Pixeden. 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.
- Check the smart object size before you design, so your artwork fits without stretching.
- Built for Adobe Photoshop. A recent CC version handles the smart objects best.
More free sketchbook mockups are listed below, each linking to the original author.
Questions about this mockup
Can I use this sketchbook mockup for client work?
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 sketchbook?
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.
