Realistic mockups are essential for presenting design ideas, branding concepts, and products in a way that feels tangible and professional. But many mockups rely on templates, and once you move beyond flat surfaces, things quickly become challenging.

In this class, you’ll learn how to create realistic mockups from scratch in Adobe Photoshop, using real objects with different shapes, angles, and materials. Instead of relying on pre-made files, you’ll build mockups manually, gaining full control over perspective, lighting, shadows, and surface details.

We’ll start by preparing your mockup object and setting up a flexible workflow. From there, you’ll work through multiple real-world examples: wrapping designs around cylindrical cans, handling rotated objects, matching perspective on cardboard surfaces, and even placing designs onto complex objects like newspapers with overlapping foreground elements.

Along the way, you’ll master advanced warping techniques, blend modes for realistic lighting and shadows, and Blend If sliders to naturally integrate designs into textured surfaces. Each lesson builds on the previous one, helping you understand why things work, not just which buttons to click.

By the end of the class, you’ll be able to turn almost any object into a convincing mockup, ready for client presentations, portfolios, product visuals, or branding projects.

What You’ll Learn

How to create realistic mockups from scratch in Adobe Photoshop
How to prepare and isolate objects for mockup workflows
Advanced warp techniques for curved, tilted, and irregular surfaces
How to match perspective on real-world objects
How to create realistic lighting and shadows using blend modes
How to use Blend If sliders for seamless surface integration
Techniques for removing existing text or graphics from objects
How to mock up complex objects with overlapping foreground elements
A reusable workflow for packaging, branding, and product visuals

Requirements

Adobe Photoshop (any recent version)
Basic familiarity with Photoshop’s interface is helpful but not required
A computer with an internet connection
Images or objects to use for mockups (your own or stock images)
Willingness to experiment and refine details

Who This Class Is For

Graphic designers creating branding or packaging visuals
Freelancers preparing mockups for client presentations
Product designers and brand creators
Digital artists who want more control than template-based mockups
Beginners looking to understand how realistic mockups actually work

Tom Baxter

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