What is a mockup — and how do you use one?

A mockup is a ready-made scene (a t-shirt on a model, a poster on a wall, a phone in a hand) with a smart-object layer where your design goes. You don’t rebuild the scene; you just place your artwork and the mockup handles the perspective, lighting and shadows for you.

The workflow for a PSD is always the same: open the file, double-click the smart object, paste your design, save. You’ll need Photoshop for layered files — if you don’t have it, you can get a Photoshop plan from Adobe here. Prefer no software? Look for the browser-based generators across the site.

Free mockups: FAQ

Are all these mockups really free?

Yes. Every mockup featured on Mckups is free to download. Each links to its own page with the file and the original creator’s license, so check the terms there before commercial use.

What format are the files?

Most are layered Photoshop PSD files with smart objects. Some are browser-based generators you can use without any software.

Do I need Photoshop?

For the PSD files, yes. For the online generators, no — they run in your browser.

What’s the difference between a mockup and a template?

A mockup shows your design in a realistic setting; a template is an editable starting layout. Many files here are both — a realistic scene you fully customize.