Most of our mock-up templates come as .tif files in order to save space. They don’t open like normal Photoshop files, so be sure to right-click and choose ‘Open with Photoshop’. This will open the file like a normal Photoshop file with all the layers. You can save this file as a normal PSD on your machine if you would like.

Every mock-up is organized the same way. The lighting layers are in a yellow folder, the design smart layers are in a blue folder, and the color layers are in a purple folder. There may be more options in other places, but the general idea is the same throughout. Mock-ups with more customization, such as the Kit Builder mock-ups, come with folders that may be red and/or orange. A red folder means there is an element with multiple options, such as the collar in the Kit Builder, or the shoes in the Full Basketball Mock-up Template. These options have their own lighting, designs, and color folders and layers. An orange folder represents different textures or styles, such as the texture options on the Kit Builder Mock-ups.

The color layers are the easiest layers to edit. Simply double click the color, and you will be prompted to choose a new color.

Select whatever color you want, and it will make the element that color.

The smart layers open up their own Photoshop file where you can place your custom designs. Double click the smart layers to open them.

The smart layer will typically have placeholder text, logos, or designs.

Replace them with your own designs and logos.

SAVE THE FILE! If you don’t save the file it will not update the mock-up, so be sure to SAVE!

Once you save, go back to the mock-up to see your changes.

The lighting gives the mock-up the 3D effect. There are 2 layers which make the highlights and shadows.

The strength of the highlights and shadows can be modified by using the ‘Levels’ clipping masks.

Move the arrows at the bottom of the levels to see the changes in lighting to the mock-ups.

Moving the Highlights level’s white arrow left a little bit, increases the strength of the highlights.

Certain mock-ups feature an orange group with textures. You can check the eyeball to make these textures visible or not. See which ones you like and choose to have the layers on or off.

This is an example of the Normal Texture being checked on the Kit Builder Mock-up Template. The texture is a subtle material, so the effect doesn’t stand out too much.

Certain mock-ups feature a red group with more customization options. These options feature their own lighting, colors, and smart layers, and work the same way as the rest of the mock-up. Only one of these options should be visible at a time.

The Kit Builder Mock-ups also come with various sleeve options that feature their own color and smart layers.

Sometimes your design might not fit or look right on the mock-ups. That may not be your fault as the smart object layers are warped to fit most designs, but can’t fit them all. To modify a smart object’s warp, in this case the front design layer, select the smart object’s layer.

Click the chain between the layer thumbnail and the mask thumbnail. This will unlink them.

Go up to Edit > Transform > Warp (or CMD + T to transform and right click > Warp). You will now be able to modify your design layers warp. It may be smart to duplicate your smart layer by right clicking on it and selecting ‘New Smart Object via Copy’ before modifying the warp.

Move the anchor points to adjust the warp, but try your best to keep both sides even.

In most cases, you won’t have to warp too much of the layer. Do a small warp and see how it looks first. In this case, I moved the 2 bottom center anchor points out wider.

Go to File > Export > Save for Web (Legacy) and choose PNG 24. Be sure that Transparency is checked so no background will be saved. If you save with a background it might be better to save it as a JPG.