PSD Notepad Mockup
What's inside
- Applications Photoshop
- File Types PSD
- License Free (see author's terms)
- Author Pixeden
A notepad mockup, made for presenting a planner design. Drop in your artwork and the lighting and shadows stay as they are.
Corporate gift designers and stationery brands tend to get the most out of files like this. Quick tip: dark designs often look flat on paper mockups. Turning the highlight layer up slightly brings back the sheen.
Seeing a layout on a real notebook 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.
This is a free file from Pixeden. When you click download you’ll land on their page to grab it.
What’s inside the Notepad Mockup PSD
Main things you can change in Photoshop:
- Your design, placed through the smart object
- Shadows and highlights on their own layers
- Paper texture you can turn up or down
Add your design to the Notepad 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”.
- Paste your design, resize it to fill the area, then save (Ctrl/Cmd + S) and close that tab.
- Export a full-size image for your portfolio and a smaller one for social media.
One more thing: export your artwork at the size the smart object asks for; scaling a small file up is the usual reason print mockups look soft.
Best uses for this Notepad Mockup
- Use it as the cover image for a branded cover in your portfolio.
- Make two or three colour versions of a planner design and let the client pick.
- Share a journal cover on Instagram, Behance or Dribbble with a real-looking preview.
Good to know
- Made by Pixeden. The download size and format are listed on their page.
- Check the smart object size before you design, so your artwork fits without stretching.
- 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 notebook mockups on Artistic Orbit, with new files added every day.
Questions about this mockup
What licence does it come with?
Pixeden 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 notebook?
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 Pixeden gets the visit and you get the file exactly as they published it.
