How to Create a Mockup [Beginners Guide]

Mockups can be incredibly helpful for web designers, business owners, and marketers. They allow you to visualize how a website or marketing campaign will look and feel before investing time and money.

But creating a mockup can be difficult – especially if you’ve never done it before. In this post, we’ll walk you through the steps of creating a mockup. We’ll start with the basics and then do a full tutorial.

By the end, you’ll be able to create beautiful mockups to help your business succeed. But first, let’s cover some common features mockups possess and where to source templates for streamlining your efforts.

What Should a Mockup Include?

A mockup is a static representation of your website or app. It’s not interactive like a prototype, but it should include all the major elements of your design. This might include:

• The homepage
• Internal pages
• E-commerce pages
• Blog posts
• Sign-up forms
• CTAs (calls-to-action)

It might also simply feature a static image sized to appear on a mockup screen to give viewers an idea of what the final product might look like.

Your mockup should also be designed at the correct resolution. This ensures that when you do create a prototype or code your website, everything will fit together perfectly.

Where to Find Mockup Templates

Creating a mockup from scratch can be time-consuming – especially if you’re not a designer. That’s why we recommend starting with a mockup template. This will give you a solid foundation to work from and help you save time in the long run.

There are many great sources of mockup templates online but our favorite is Placeit.

They have a wide selection of high-quality mockup templates that are easy to use and offer interesting designs that allow you to flex your creative muscles.

Creating a Mockup: The Basics

When you’re first starting out, it’s important to keep things simple. You don’t want to get overwhelmed by all the different options and techniques.

Instead, focus on the basics. With a solid foundation, you can always come back and add more later.

Here are the basics of creating a mockup:

1. Choose a tool. There are many different software programs you can use to create a mockup. Some are specific to web design, while others can be used for any type of project.

2. Find inspiration. Once you have a tool picked out, it’s time to start looking for inspiration. browse through websites, magazines, and Pinterest to find designs that you like.

3. Sketch it out. The next step is to sketch out your idea. This doesn’t have to be anything fancy – a simple pencil and paper will do the trick.

4. Create the mockup. Now you’re ready to start creating your mockup. Follow the instructions in your chosen software program (we’ll get to that in a second) to create a visual representation of your design.

5. Save and share. When you’re finished, be sure to save your mockup so you can access it later. You may also want to share it with others so they can give you feedback.

How to Create a Mockup with Placeit in 5 Steps

Now that we’ve covered the general basics, let’s dive into the process of creating a mockup. We’ll walk you through each step so you can create your own mockups with confidence.

Step 1: Choose Your Template

As we mentioned, we recommend starting with a template. This will make the process much easier and help you create a high-quality mockup.

To choose your template, head over to Placeit and browse through their selection of mockup templates. When you find one you like, click on it to open up the mockup editor.

Step 2: Upload Your Images

Once you’ve opened the mockup editor, it’s time to upload your images. To do this, click on the Upload Image button and select the image you want to use from your computer.

For best results, we recommend using high-resolution images. This will help ensure that your mockup looks sharp and professional.

You can also add embellishments by using Placeit’s stock graphics library. They have a wide selection of high-quality graphical elements that you can use for your mockups.

You can access them by clicking on the Add Graphic button on the right hand side of the screen then selecting Add From Our Gallery.

Then you can select the color you’d like the graphic to appear in.

Then you can scroll through the options to find a graphic you’d like to use. Clicking it will insert it into the mockup editor.

Step 3: Adjust the Size and Position

Once the graphic is inserted, you can adjust the size and position to fit your needs. To do this, simply click and drag the image until it’s in the perfect spot.

You can also use the zoom and rotate graphics to perfect their sizing and placement. These features are especially helpful if you’re using mockups for product photos.

Step 4: Add Text

Adding text is the next logical step. To do so, simply click the Add Text button on the left hand side of the screen.

Then input the text you’d like to add to your mockup in the field that says Change Me.

From there you can customize the text by changing the font, font color, and the highlight color.

Then repeat this process for every bit of text you’d like to add.

Step 5: Download Your Mockup

Once you’re happy with your mockup, it’s time to download it. To do this, click on the Download button in the top-right corner of the mockup editor.

You can then save your mockup to your computer and use it however you like. For example, you might use it on your website or include it in a pitch deck when pitching investors.

Tips & Tricks for Creating Better Mockups

Once you’ve mastered the basics, you can start experimenting with more advanced techniques. This will help you take your mockups to the next level and make them even more realistic.

Here are some advanced techniques to try:

1. Use placeholder images. Placeholder images are temporary images that you can use in your mockup. This can be helpful if you don’t have the real images or want to test out different options.

2. Incorporate animation. Animation can make your mockup more interactive and engaging. This is especially effective for web designs, but it can also be used in other types of mockups.

3. Add interactivity. Interactivity takes things one step further by allowing people to actually interact with your mockup. For example, they may be able to click on buttons or fill out forms.

4. Use real data. If you have access to real data, you can use it in your mockup. This will make your design more accurate and realistic.

5. Create multiple versions. It’s often helpful to create multiple versions of your mockup. This allows you to try out different ideas and see what works best.

Best Placeit Mockup Templates to Try

Here are a few mockup templates to test out for your next project:

1. iPad Mockup with Coffee Cup

This mockup features an iPad lying on a colorful table, surrounded by a stylus, several notebooks, a ruler, pencil, and a coffee cup on a saucer. This one’s a great choice for promoting a new app, website, or sale.

2. Boy with MacBook Mockup

Another option is this mockup, which features a young boy holding a MacBook laptop facing the viewer so that the screen is visible. We could easily see this mockup being used to promote a new website or even a short-term sale.

3. Woman Holding an iPhone Mockup

In this mockup, you can add your on-screen design to an iPhone being held in a woman’s hand. She’s holding a small cup in her other hand and a laptop on a lavender picnic table is visible in the background.

4. Samsung Galaxy Mockup

If you want to promote to Android users, this Samsung Galaxy mockup is a good choice. The device is set against a colorful background that features sharp geometric shapes.

5. Smartwatch and Phones Mockup

Lastly, you could use this mockup, which offers spots to showcase a mockup design on a smartwatch, iPhone and Android-operating device.

Create Your First Mockup Now

Mockups can be valuable for any business owner, web designer, or marketer. They allow you to visualize a project before investing time and money. And they can even be used for promotional materials.

With the tips in this post and an eye-catching template from Placeit, you should be able to create beautiful mockups that will help your business succeed. So what are you waiting for? Get started today!