In this post, we’ll look at one method a designer may express themselves via work and promote themselves as a brand. We’ll discuss mockups: what they are and what they’re used for.
Briefly about mockups
Mockups are product layouts that depict the future design “in action”. You may just provide the customer with a logo in PNG format, or you can demonstrate how the logo will appear on other media such as business cards, posters, t-shirts, and calendars.
Mockups can be created in a graphic editor by hand, or you can use services that provide ready-made free mockups. Typically, such sites operate on the following tenet:
- You choose the desired category or put the name of the mockup object into the search box. For instance, cups, business cards, boxes, and signs;
- Choose an appropriate mockup and save it in the proper format. Mockups are often created in PSD format. This implies that once downloaded, the template must be edited in Photoshop.
However, a ready-made mockup is not always the best option. Templates are unsuitable if:
- You must create an object that is exceptional in shape or size;
- A suitable template was only located on a foreign site – and printing businesses in your nation have their own standards for size, color reproduction, and so on.
What you can do with it
You might become a designer and start earning money by creating mockups. You might begin by creating a few mockups and posting them on free online platforms. If your work is good enough, it will undoubtedly be in demand. You may change the direction of your work by analyzing the nature of demand: identify needs and focus your efforts on initiatives with the highest demand. This will help you to move more quickly in a competitive atmosphere and draw more user attention to your work.
Your name will become well-known and your work will be in high demand at some point.
You may identify like-minded folks and invite them to collaborate. Making mockups for renowned companies may subsequently help you develop your own brand, manage your own staff, and further your career. This type of job pays nicely, of course, especially if your customer is a well-known clothes firm or, say, a well-known coffee shop.
It’s never too late to attempt something new
We have excellent news for those who are not designers but are constantly seeking new challenges or talents to learn: anyone trying to expand their horizons may give designing mockups a try.
You will not advance if you dodge difficulties. In actuality, the process of developing mockups, like any other, follows a set of steps. The work becomes less difficult after you comprehend this procedure. The main idea behind making a mockup is as follows:
- The designer photographs the product or obtains a photograph on the Internet;
- The image is being loaded into Photoshop;
- The Rectangle Tool is used to create a rectangle on top of the object, which is then transformed into a smart object using the program’s Options menu;
- The rectangle is being changed to match the form of the object, as if it were a duplicate. The object gets a virtual 3D model;
- This 3D model may now be utilized to apply various logos and make several additional alterations. The geometric parameters of the model will be used to color it.
This is a very simplistic explanation of the procedure. Of course, a truly excellent mockup includes several extra factors such as shadows and highlights. Mockups of items constructed of unique materials may also include other features such as light refraction or different visual distortions. The designer’s duty is to duplicate all of the characteristics of the real item within the 3D model.
Conclusion
There are several ways for a designer to promote themselves. One of them is creating mockups. Mockups are essential in today’s environment when every organization wants to maximize working time and decrease the mundane aspects of the job. As a result, making mockups may become not only a means of self-actualization but also a means of achieving a whole new level of financial wealth by establishing your own brand in this crucial sector.
