Designers tend to prefer to use stock images and templates in creating their product mockups. However, it is also possible to forgo that and start by creating your own mockup images, especially if there’s that specific pizzazz that you wouldn’t get from stock photos.
Read on as we discuss the key steps and tips that you’ll need for creating unique and professional mockup images that’ll get the job done.
Essential Tools for Creating Your Own Mockup Images
For creating mockup images, everything revolves around your tools of choice. Let us discuss some of the topmost must-have tools you must have in your arsenal as a designer looking to create custom mockup images.
1. Photo editing software
If you’re going to be creating your own photos, the very first tool you’re going to need is a design tool – a reliable photo editing software. There are quite a few of them out there. Adobe Photoshop is the industry standard and offers a wide range of features that enable you to manipulate and enhance your images with a significant degree of freedom.
2. Stock mockup photos for inspiration
I know that we’re talking about creating entirely new images from scratch. But it can’t hurt to have some stock pictures for guidance. You can buy some off websites like Yellow Images just to see how they typically are done and then model your custom photos based on that.
3. A collection of design elements
Aside from the photos, you also need to have an extensive collection of design elements like icons, graphics, patterns, and textures, which you can manipulate your images to achieve the desired results. You can also typically get these from creative templates in PSD and other formats that you can buy on online marketplaces like Yellow Images.
4. 3D software
3D is all the rave now. Almost every mind of product mockup now features 3D models, as they more realistically portray how the product would look. With 3D software like Blender and Cinema 4D, you can easily adjust lighting, angles, and perspectives to create 3D models with the most realistic look.
Step-by-Step Guide to Designing a Simple Mockup Image
Creating a simple mockup image is a rather straightforward process. In this section, we will outline a few key steps to designing your very own mockup images.
Step 1: Choose the Right Stock Photo (take new ones if you’d like)
To start with, you will need photos to form the base for your design. You can either choose to use stock photos or to take new custom photos if your budget permits.
If you decide to use stock photos, there are tons of sources to get stock photos on the internet. Websites like Unsplash, Pexels, and Pixabay offer vast libraries of free stock photos that you can browse through.
Either way, ensure that whatever images you choose have clean and uncluttered backgrounds, as this will make it much easier for you to add other design elements later on in the process.
Step 2: Gather Your Design Elements
Next, you want to make sure to have all the necessary design elements that you need on hand. This can include anything from icons and graphics to patterns and textures. Again, they are typically wide selections for you to choose from on websites and online marketplaces on the internet.
Step 3: Set Up Your Workspace
The next step is to bring up your photos in your chosen photo editing software. Then, create a new layer to add, move, and manipulate all your other design elements without altering the original image. Make sure to organize all these layers properly, keeping everything tidy and easy to navigate.
Step 4: Add Your Design Elements
When everything is all set, you can then begin to add your design elements to the design. Your logos, poster, and/or text, if it’s apparel that you’re designing, or your website or app interface if you’re mocking up a digital product.
Using the selection tools and transformation options, you can then adjust these elements until they fit seamlessly into the scene that you’re trying to create.
Step 5: Fine-tune and Adjust
Then, take time to refine your images to achieve that final look that you want. Adjust the colors and lighting as much as necessary until you get a cohesive and visually appealing composition. Play around with all the different blending modes and layer effects to add depth and realism, and don’t be afraid to experiment and iterate over and over again until you achieve the result you were going for.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid While Designing Mockup Images
There are a few common mistakes that designers tend to make when creating mockup images. Let us discuss some of them.
1. Clutter
There’s usually the temptation to use as many design elements as possible in creating a single image, and many designers, unfortunately, can’t resist its allure. As they say, too many cooks spoil the broth; in the same vein, too many design elements ruin the image. You should be aiming to keep things professional-looking and clutter-free in a way that ensures that there’s absolute clarity about the main focus of the design.
2. Poor image resolution
This is another rookie mistake that anyone shouldn’t be making. Trying to get by with low-resolution images will only leave you with pixelated and blurry mockup images. And that wouldn’t speak very well to your professionalism and the quality of your work.
3. Not being consistent
It’s often said that consistency is key, and nothing is more true. You need to make sure that the colors, fonts, styles, and all other elements of your design align with the overall theme and concept that you’re trying to show with your mockup. Otherwise, your mockup images may end up looking disjointed and unprofessional.
4. Not paying attention to detail
The small details make all of the difference. These details – alignment, spacing, and proportions, among others, will help elevate the overall quality and professionalism of your designs.
Conclusion
Creating your own images can be an absolute game-changer for you and the quality of your mockup designs. By following the tips we have outlined in this article and avoiding the common pitfalls, you can begin to create stunning mockups that will leave your clients more than impressed.
Also, even though you may want to create your images entirely from scratch, it is still advisable to use existing templates as guidelines for how the final result is expected to look. You can get these at online marketplaces like Yellow Images, with tens of thousands of high-quality creative templates, images, and other elements on sale.