How to make a mockup without Photoshop
What is a mockup?
Mockups are the unsung heroes of design presentation. They’re the secret sauce, the finishing touch that transforms a good design into a jaw-dropping masterpiece. Even top designers, big-name agencies, or clients use them to showcase their ideas with flair.
They’re great because they let you see what a product or service would look like in real life, saving you a ton of time and hassle. Plus, they help catch any design snags early on, so you don’t end up with bigger headaches later.
Table of contents
Types of mockups
Although there are as many mockups as products you can think of—trust us, we’ve seen them all!— there are some categories we can use to classify them.
These are the most common types of mockups you can come across:
Branding mockups
If you’re working with a new or existing brand, these mockups will allow you to see the visual identity of your project on business cards, notebooks, or envelopes.
Print mockups
Before you start printing your designs on things like flyers, postcards, or posters, using print mockups can really help. They give you a chance to see how your work will actually look, which can save you from spending money on prints that don’t turn out the way you want.
Product mockups
Product mockups range from apparel like hoodies, t-shirts, and swim shorts to tote bags, mugs, and any kind of packaging. Besides helping you get a clear view of what your design might look like on real products, they can also inspire you with ideas you might not have thought of beforehand.
Devices mockups
If you want to see how a post will look on your social media feed, it only takes an instant with devices mockups. These types of mockups can be convenient when it comes to content planning, for example
How to customize a mockup
Understanding your mockup’s target needs is crucial, so you should spend some time defining your objectives with it first. Depending on the type of mockup you want to create, you should use different design software. Platforms like Sketch or Figma offer intuitive ways to customize your mockups, whereas Photoshop has become the king of crafting highly detailed mockups.
How to make a mockup without Photoshop
However, if you’re reading this article, you might have already hit a dead-end with mockups or can’t afford to pay for any software. Well, we’ve got a little trick up our sleeve that’ll have you working with mockups like a seasoned pro in no time.
Introducing: Freepik Mockup generator, your new design pal
Imagine accessing easy, versatile, and free mockups for your projects, all in the same place. An intuitive platform that allows you to visualize your ideas in real time. Well, that’s precisely what the Freepik mockup generator can do for you, so whether you’re a seasoned pro or a newbie just dipping your toes into the world of design, this generator’s got your back.
Search for your desired mockup
Let’s say you’ve created a beautiful design that would look gorgeous on a tote bag. First, we will open the mockup generator and pick one that catches your eye. Oh, have we mentioned it already? You have full access to our mockup templates library if you’re premium. But don’t worry–we can still sort our results by Free and get amazing mockups.
They all look great! Let’s go for this one.
Add your design
Once your mockup is fired up, click on the object—in this case, the tote bag. A pop-up menu will appear, allowing you to upload your design. If you pay attention, you’ll also see the default Fill option selected. This preset will crop your image to fill the frame, while the Fit option will keep the original aspect ratio of your design. And here’s the kicker: even after you’ve uploaded your masterpiece, you still have room to tweak and adjust.
Click on Add image and select your design from your computer. After opening it, the design will be automatically placed on the object, fitting it or filling it depending on what setting you’ve chosen earlier.
Make your edits
Now comes the fun part: you can resize or rotate your design and watch the results in real-time on the mockup screen on the right. Make those tweaks, and watch your creation come to life before your very eyes. Once you’re set, click Save changes at the top right, and you’ll return to the mockup menu.
Maybe a touch of color will be the icing on the cake for your design. If you look closely at the right part of the menu, you can navigate the object’s different parts and change its color. We think a pastel yellow will do wonders with this example, but feel free to experiment with any color. You can even change the background color!
You can also try your design on any of the other mockups we’ve gathered under the different categories. Pay special attention to our Featured section–our top picks are waiting for you there!
When to use a design mockup
As you can see, mockups make your designs stand out and give you a glimpse of what any product you have in mind could look like. They can also help you prevent some design mistakes you wouldn’t even consider without a mockup. It’s like a safe laboratory for any experimentation you can think of. And, of course, any idea sells better with a proper mockup!
Start taking your designs everywhere with our Freepik mockup generator and the mockup templates library.
