Below is the ninth and most important episode of the Adobe Photoshop Mega Series . Today's topic is 3D object and mockup design, the most professional aspect of graphic design.
Adobe Photoshop (Part 9): 3D Effects and Mockup Design Give Your Designs a Realistic Look
Written by : Team Daily Tech News
Website: Tech News 24
Assalamu Alaikum. In the last eight parts of the Photoshop series, we have learned about image editing, manipulation, and animation. Today we will learn how to superimpose a simple 2D design of yours (such as a logo or business card) onto a realistic object. You may have seen on the Internet a logo carved into a beautiful office wall, or someone's photo placed on a beautiful coffee mug. These are called mockups .
As a freelancer, when you just give a client a logo file, it may seem simple to them. But when you display that logo on a 3D building or premium packaging, the client will be much more satisfied with your work. In today's mega guide, we will learn those professional presentation techniques.
Chapter 65: What is a Mockup and why is it important?
A mockup is a 'template' or realistic image where you can place your design to see how it will look in reality. It creates a bridge between the designer and the client.
Benefits of using mockups
1. Realistic presentation: The client can understand how the logo will look on a T-shirt or signboard.
2. Portfolio Growth: Your simple designs can be made much more attractive on Behance or Dribbble.
3. Error correction: It is possible to check whether the size or color of the design is correct before printing.
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| The professionalism of the design increases manifold through the use of mockups. |
Chapter 66: Smart Objects are the Key to Mockups
The main hero of creating mockups in Photoshop is the Smart Object . A Smart Object is a layer that allows you to repeatedly change a design without losing the original pixels. When you download a mockup file (such as a .psd file), you will find a layer that says "Double Click Here to Edit". That layer is essentially a Smart Object.
Chapter 67: Step-by-Step Guide: How to Use a Premium Mockup?
The rules for editing mockup files downloaded from online are given below:
1. Open the file: First, open your favorite mockup PSD file in Photoshop.
2. Find the Smart Object: Go to the Layers panel and look for a small box icon in the thumbnail of one of the layers. This is a Smart Object.
3. Go to Edit Mode: Double-click on that thumbnail. You will see a new tab open.
4. Change the design: Delete the existing design and place the logo or design you created.
5. Save: Press Ctrl + S on your keyboard. Now go back to the main tab. You will see that like magic, your design has been placed perfectly on that mug or wall!
Chapter 68: Creating Custom Mockups Turn your own photos into mockups
Mockups from the internet don't always work. Sometimes you need to base your design on a photo you've taken. The Vanishing Point tool is the best for this.
- Method : Suppose you want to place your ad on the side of a truck.
- First, copy (Ctrl + C) the ad image.
- Go to the original truck image and click Filter > Vanishing Point.
- Now create a grid or frame with 4 points along the side of the truck.
- Now paste your ad with Ctrl + V and drag it into the grid with the mouse. You will see that the image has automatically been bent and set according to the angle of the truck.
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| Using vanishing points, it is possible to perfectly place designs on any diagonal or curved surface. |
Chapter 69: Photoshop 3D Text Effects
You can convert any text into a 3D object directly in Photoshop. (Note: This will work smoothly if your computer has a good graphics card).
1. First, write something with the type tool.
2. From the top menu, click 3D > New 3D Extrusion from Selected Layer.
3. Now you will see that your screen has turned into a 3D workspace. Here you can rotate the text and add Extrusion Depth behind it.
4. Material & Light: If you want, you can add a steel, plastic, or glass texture to the text and change the direction of the light.
Chapter 70: Displacement Map Placing designs on folds of fabric
When you place a design on a T-shirt, you will notice that the fabric of the T-shirt is folded. In a normal mockup, the design looks completely straight, which looks fake. To place a design on fabric or on a raised or lowered surface, you need to use a Displacement Map .
- Method : First, convert the original T-shirt image to black and white and save it as a separate PSD file.
- Now go to your design layer and click Filter > Distort > Displace.
- Select that black and white file. You will see that your logo has been raised and lowered according to the folds of the fabric. This is professional level work.
Chapter 71: 3 Important Things to Remember During Mockup Presentations
1. Resolution: Always try to use high-resolution (300 DPI) mockups so that the image doesn't crack when zoomed in.
2. Color Grading: Mockup colors are often too bright. Use adjustment layers to adjust the lighting and shadows to match your design.
3. Shadows and Reflections: If the shadow or reflection layers are turned off after placing the design, turn them on so that it looks like the object is actually in the light.
Chapter 72: Top 5 websites where you can get free mockups
The following sites are very effective in saving designers time:
1. Pixeden : Best for high-quality mockups.
2. GraphicBurger : Many unique and free PSDs are available here.
3. Mockup World : Good for getting all kinds of mockups in one place.
4. Freepik : There are plenty of mockups here, both vector and PSD.
5. Behance : Many designers share the premium mockups they create for free.
Photoshop 3D and mockup design is the final step to making your work attractive to clients. In today's mega guide, we learned how to make designs realistic using smart objects, vanishing points, and displacement maps. This skill will transform you from a simple editor to a professional graphic designer.
How did you like this episode? Were you able to create your first mockup? If you have any problems, ask us in the comment box. Tech News 24 is always there for your technical support.
In the next episode, we'll learn Photoshop tips, tricks, and shortcuts that will double your work speed and conclude our Photoshop mega series. Until then, stay creative!
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