In the world of designs and graphics, the true picture and value of a design is appreciated more when it is seen in the real world, out of the screen of a computer or other electronic device. While this is true, it is not always feasible to create a physical copy of a design every time just for preview sake, with this in mind, *mock-up designs were born.
In design and production, a mockup or mock-up is a full-size or scale model of a design or device that is used for teaching, showcasing, evaluating the design, promoting, and other reasons. It is a graphical representation of a product or a design that shows how it works (product in action).
From the above explanations of what a mock-up is, for today, we will be focusing on a mock-up as a representation of a design in action. So, with a very simple tool, I will show you how to create a mock-up design.
The basic idea is simple, we use mock-ups to show what a design will look like in real-life without having to develop the tangible product. So, let's say you have finished creating a wonderful logo for your business, how will it look like on bags, t-shirts, polos, marketing materials, etc. That is where a mock-up design comes in.
One of the simplest tools to create a mock-up design is Canva, and interestingly, there are lots of free options to work with, and these options are pretty good. So, let's go through a basic step-by-step process of doing this, we'll be creating the Hive cup, bag, and shirt in my cover image.
Step One: Visit Canva.com and simply sign up or log in if you have an account already.
Step Two: When logged in, scroll down to show the Smartmockups option as in the screenshot below:
Select it.
Step Three: In the "Smartmockups" page, select your design by searching for it, for this DIY section, we'll be selecting the cup design. (Let's make a Hive branded cup). So, in the search bar, we will be typing "cups" to reveal all cup designs, both free and paid (paid designs usually have a crown by the lower right):
Step Three: Select your preferred design by clicking on and then "Select" to reveal the image picker interface. Here, you should select the image you've designed to be imprinted on the object of your choosing, I recommend you use a .PNG file without a background for best results.
So, I'll be selected my .PNG Hive logo, and see what we've got:
You may leave the design as it is or use the adjust image option to modify it to your taste. When you are done, simply save your mockup and share to the world.
That's the simple process for creating mockups.
Here are some of my designs:
If you have to pay someone for this, you are looking at spending a minimum of $15 dollars and more. So, let's start creating mockups, shall we?
