How-to Use Psd Mockups & Smart Layers
1. Instant download.
2. What you will need?
3. Info about the file.
4. Open .psd file.
5. First approach to Smart Layers.
6. Background options.
7. Color Smart Layer.
8. Save as / Export file.
1. Instant download.
Once you have purchased any of the mockup files or bundles on the web or Etsy Shop, you'll have access to the download links.
2. What you will need?
To edit the mockup files with smart layers, you can do it with the following softwares:
- Adobe Photoshop,
- Affinitty Photo,
- or Photopea (free and online tool).
3. Info about the file's License.
Within the files available for download, you will also find a detailed guide on how to use PSD Mockups and a copy of the license we grant when buying our bundles.
For example, our license file contains info about how you can use our files and details that you can’t transfer or sell any image/file in any form to any third party.
4. Open .psd file.
After the download is complete, the file may open automatically.
If not, double click the .psd file and, Photoshop (or any other software that can edit PSD Mockups) will start.
5. First approach to Smart Layers.
Depending on each mockup, you will be able to visualize different intelligent layers:
➝ Highlights,
➝ Shadows,
➝ "add your design" layer,
➝ Product layer,
➝ layers that should not be moved.
Usually most of the layers are saved with the layer lock active (🔒): this is to prevent them from being moved or modified by mistake. But you can always open the lock and modify them.
Both the highlights and the shadows layers are editable. You can darken or lighten them by modifying the percentage of opacity.
The recommendation here is to test the percentage that would improve to see with each design: the differences will be noticeable if your design's colors are lighter or darker.
In all PSD Mockups you'll find a smart layer to modify the product design.
The “add your design” layer allows you to change the product design easily and it will adapt to the product shape.
To change the design, you need to double click on the thumbnail of the layer and a .psb file will open on a new tab. This one is the file where you have to add your design.
It will be faster if you have your designs ready as jpg or png files, so you can drop in the layer from a folder or copy and paste. In order for the changes to be displayed in the main image, these changes must be saved in the .psb file. So go up and hit save file or use your keyboard shortcuts. (Win: Press Ctrl+S Mac: Command+S).
Go back to the original file and you’ll be able to see your design on the product.
And finally there is the option of finding a layer that says: "don't modify/touch this layer". Some elements of photography maybe are in the foreground and are superimposed on the design. Therefore, the recommendation is not to touch these elements.
6. Background options.
You can also find a smart layer to add your own background:
it will work like the design layer, you only need you double click on the thumbnail of the layer and a .psb file will open on a new tab. Here you have to add your background. (most of our bundles come with a series of ready-made backgrounds to incorporate.)
So double click on the thumbnail, the PSB tab opens, add your background, save the .psb file, and go back to the main mockup.
7. Color Smart Layer.
To change the color you'll have to double click on the layer thumbnail and a color picker window should appear.
You can set any color that you like (even by Hex Code #RRGGBB).
Notice that for in most cases you should use light colors, as the smart layers are usually put to multiply blend mode. It means that the background will be darker than the color you picked.
8. Save as / Export file.
Once your design is on the product and your image is ready you have two options to save it. The first one is to save as, assign a name and choose what type of file you want to save.
The second option is: export as. This is the recommended option to export from PSD Masterfile's: you can also choose the file format and which images you want to export.
