How to make mockups in Photoshop — whether creating them from scratch, or using an existing template. To make your own mockups, the core thing you need is a Smart Object layer which maps onto the main item in the scene. You can create a Smart Object by right-clicking the desired layer, then clicking “Convert to Smart Object.” This effectively transforms it into a container whose contents can be easily swapped out with your desired images. You can then apply custom edits to the mockup scene and Smart Object layer without needing to modify the images placed inside of it.
If you’re using an existing mockup template, or one that you made yourself, the process is the same: Simply replace the Smart Object contents with your desired image to update the mockup. You can do this manually, one at a time, or you can automate this process to generate all your mockups in bulk. To do this manually, double-click the Smart Object layer which will open it in a new tab. Then, add your image to the top of the layer stack, then save this tab to update the Smart Object in the mockup. Your other manual option is to right click the Smart Object, click Replace Contents, then select your desired image.
To save time by automating this process, you can use the Batch-Replace Smart Objects plugin for Photoshop. Simply select the Photoshop Document To Use, the Input Folder (which contains your images), and the Output Folder to save to. Then, just click run, and it will automate the process of creating all your mockups for you. You can also save operations to run later, and you can even chain together multiple operations — allowing you to generate all your required mockups with one single button click.
