If you’re a photographer, one part of your workflow probably involves creating mockup images to showcase your work. Maybe you sell your photography as art prints—canvas art, framed wall pieces, or posters—or maybe you just want to show potential clients how your work looks in real-world environments. Either way, generating mockups one at a time in Photoshop is painfully slow and repetitive.

The typical process goes something like this: open the PSD mockup file, right-click to replace contents, locate your photo, drop it in, go to File > Export > Quick Export as PNG, choose a folder, type a filename. That’s one image done. Now do it again. And again. And again.

If you’re just creating a few mockups, that might be fine. But if you’re managing a larger portfolio—say dozens or even hundreds of photos—and generating multiple mockups for each one (showing different scenes, different frame colors, etc.), this manual process becomes a huge time sink. It could take an entire day or more just to get through your batch.

How to Fully Automate the Process

Fortunately, there’s a better way. In this guide, we’ll show you how to fully automate this workflow using a Photoshop plugin called Batch-Replace Smart Objects. It’s a powerful plugin that adds automation features directly into Photoshop, allowing you to generate entire folders of mockups with just a few clicks.

How It Works

If your mockup PSD is a simple scene with just one smart object layer, the plugin will automatically detect and use it. If your mockup is more complex and includes multiple smart objects, all you need to do is select the target smart object layer manually before running the operation.

The first step is selecting a Photoshop document to use. For this demo, we’re keeping things simple and just using a single PSD file from a folder of templates. Once that’s selected, we choose our input folder—this is the folder that contains all your photography images.

Handling Different Aspect Ratios

There’s an optional setting called “Stretch images to fit smart objects.” This is important if your photos have varying aspect ratios. For example, in our folder, most images are 2×3, but we also have some 3×4 and 4×5 images. If we drop a 4×5 photo into a 2×3 template without resizing, it looks wrong. The image doesn’t fit the mockup correctly, and the result looks sloppy.

That’s where the “Stretch to fit” option comes in. When enabled, the plugin will automatically resize each image so it fits the smart object perfectly, even if the original aspect ratio is off. In our case, we’re leaving this checked since there’s a mix of sizes. If you’re sure all your photos are the same size, you can leave it unchecked for slightly faster performance.

Selecting Output and File Format

Next, we select the output folder—the destination where all the final mockup images will be saved.

You also get to choose the file format: JPEG or PNG. If your mockup design includes transparency (say a floating canvas or a transparent background), go with PNG to preserve the alpha channel. Otherwise, JPEG is a solid choice, especially for lighter file sizes.

You can even adjust the save quality:

• High setting: Better-looking images, larger file sizes
• Low setting: Smaller, faster-loading files, but slightly reduced quality

Our recommendation? Just test a few different quality levels and find what works best for your specific workflow. For this demo, we’re going with a mid-range setting (level six), which balances quality and performance.

Ready to Run

With everything configured—PSD selected, input and output folders set, format and quality dialed in—we’re ready to run the operation and let the plugin take over.

From Setup to Automated Mockup Image Creation

Once everything was configured, we clicked “Run This Now” and the plugin went to work—cranking out mockup images in the background automatically. For each image in the input folder, it opened the image, resized it to fit the mockup’s smart object, and exported the result to our output folder. Completely hands-free.

We popped over to the output folder and sure enough, all the mockups had been created and saved, just like that. The entire operation finished without us having to do anything manually. It even handled the images with non-standard dimensions—like the 3x4s and 4x5s. Those were resized on the fly to fit the smart object cleanly, and they came out looking great.

Of course, you don’t want to go too extreme with the resizing. If you tried to drop in an image with an aspect ratio like 1×2 or something wildly different, it would likely look squashed or distorted. But for most standard photography dimensions, it works extremely well. Even the resized examples in our test looked good and natural.

Running Folder-Based Mockup Operations

Next, we switched modes to try out one of the plugin’s most powerful features: folder-based operations. Instead of selecting just one PSD file to work with, you can point the plugin to an entire folder of mockup templates. So if you’re creating multiple room mockups, frame variants, or alternate product scenes, this is a massive time saver.

We selected a folder that contained nine mockup templates, and then picked our input folder of photography images. For this run, we knew all the images were already perfectly sized, so we left the “Stretch to fit” option unchecked. That way, the plugin could run as fast as possible.

From there, we hit “Run This Now”, and the plugin absolutely tore through the mockups. It started with the first PSD file, applied each photograph from the input folder, exported the results, and then moved on to the next PSD template. It repeated this cycle for each template in the folder—room mockups, framed canvases, everything.

Performance-Optimized Automation

As the Batch-Replace Smart Objects plugin worked, Photoshop automatically closed each PSD once the batch was complete. That’s a small but powerful feature—especially useful if you’re working with dozens of PSDs or particularly large files. Instead of loading all of them at once and eating up memory, it closes them out one by one, keeping Photoshop running smoothly and preventing crashes.

After a minute or so, the operation finished and we opened up the results. In total, it created 90 mockup images across all the templates. And it grouped them by filename—each one starting with the name of the artwork, followed by the name of the mockup scene. That structure makes it super easy to organize your assets. You can drag and drop images directly into an online store, attach them in an email, or move them to the next step in your client workflow with zero confusion.

The Bottom Line

In the time it would take you to manually create just one mockup, this plugin can generate 30, 40, even 50 mockups in the background. It’s an absolutely massive time saver, especially for photographers managing large collections or selling artwork in multiple formats. The speed and convenience of automating this process truly can’t be overstated.

Save Time with Presets and Workflows

Another great feature of this plugin is the ability to save operations to run later. You don’t have to go through the full setup each time—if you have a standardized workflow where you always use the same PSD mockup templates, input folder for your photography, and output destination, you can just save that configuration.

For example, you can name your operation “Create Canvas Art Mockups” and click save. The plugin stores all of your current settings—PSD path, input folder, output folder, export format, save quality, and more. The next time you want to run the same setup, you just load that saved operation and click “Run.” No need to reselect anything.

Multi-Step Workflows

Even better, you can take it a step further by setting up multi-step workflows. A workflow chains together multiple saved operations and runs them in order. This is especially useful if you’re creating mockups for different clients or product categories, and each has its own templates, artwork, and output needs.

Let’s say you’re a freelance photographer working with several clients. You could build a workflow called “Make All Client Mockups.”

• Step one uses a specific folder of PSD templates for client #1, along with their input folder and a designated export folder.
• Step two is for client #2, using different templates, a new batch of photographs, and an alternate export location. Maybe this client prefers PNG format and higher quality settings—no problem.

Once all the steps are added, you can run the entire workflow with one click. The plugin handles it start to finish—completing each step and moving automatically to the next. Whether it’s two steps or ten, the process is fully hands-free.

All your saved workflows live under the Workflows tab. Each one displays the list of steps and settings it will execute. Just click the button to kick off the full chain of mockup generation.

Smart Handling of Transparency

Before we wrap up, here’s one more common question: How does this plugin handle transparency?

If you’re working with mockups that require transparent backgrounds—for example, mockups with floating canvas shadows or isolated objects—just be sure to export in PNG format. The plugin will automatically preserve the alpha channel. No solid backgrounds will be added, and your exported mockups will retain full transparency just as intended.

Final Thoughts

All in all, this plugin is a serious productivity boost for anyone creating mockups in Photoshop. It eliminates hours of tedious, repetitive work and gives you a simple, repeatable system you can run again and again. Whether you’re generating ten mockups or a thousand, the time savings are substantial—and the results stay consistently high-quality.

You can find the plugin—Batch-Replace Smart Objects—on the official Adobe Exchange. If you’re tired of doing the same Photoshop work over and over, give it a try. A few simple clicks and you’re done.

Hope this guide was helpful! If it saved you time or helped improve your workflow, feel free to post a comment to let the world know. Thanks for reading!

The post How To Automate Photo Placement In Photoshop (Bulk Photography Mockup Creation) appeared first on You Should Automate That.

If you work with smart objects in Photoshop—whether you’re creating mockup images or anything else—you’ve probably noticed how incredibly boring and repetitive the process is when you do it manually, one at a time. You find the smart object, replace the image, export the file, and repeat. One image at a time.

Maybe you double-click the smart object to step into it, paste in your image, resize it to fit the canvas, flatten it, save the changes, export the final mockup… and then do it all over again for the next image. Two mockups in, and you’re already wasting a ton of time.

Can This Be Automated?

Yes—and that’s exactly what we’re covering in this walkthrough.

We’re using a Photoshop plugin called Batch-Replace Smart Objects, which automates exactly this process. You select your input folder full of artwork images, choose your mockup PSD file, and the plugin will automatically rotate each image into the smart object layer and export the final mockups to a folder of your choosing. No more wasting hours on robotic tasks—just configure your settings and let it run.

Step 1: Install the Plugin

Start by installing the plugin from the official Adobe Exchange listing. Once installed, you can dock it anywhere in Photoshop. I personally keep it off to the side for easy access.

Step 2: Set Up Your Operation

At the top of the plugin panel, you’ll see the operation setup section. You have two modes:

• Single PSD Mode: Use one specific Photoshop document
• Folder Mode: Use an entire directory of PSD mockup templates

For this example, we used a single PSD file—a simple room mockup selected from our PSD folder.

Step 3: Select the Smart Object

If your PSD only contains one smart object, the plugin will use it automatically. If the file includes multiple smart objects, make sure to manually select the correct one in the Layers panel before running the operation.

Step 4: Choose Your Input Folder

Select the folder containing your artwork images. For this demo, we used a folder with 15 images—including a few with different aspect ratios (like 4×5 and 3×4) to demonstrate how the resizing works.

Step 5: Enable Smart Resize (If Needed)

The plugin includes a checkbox labeled “Stretch images to fit smart objects”. When enabled, it automatically resizes your artwork to perfectly fit the mockup canvas. This prevents issues like misaligned or cropped images when your artwork isn’t already sized to match the PSD.

If you know for certain that all your images match the smart object dimensions, you can uncheck this box to speed things up. But in most cases, it’s best to leave it on to ensure clean, consistent mockups.

Step 6: Choose Output Folder & Format

Next, choose where you want the final mockup images to be saved. You can export to:

• JPEG: Ideal for standard mockups or product listings
• PNG: Best for mockups with transparency or alpha channels

You can also set the image quality level. Higher quality = larger file size, while lower quality = faster load speeds with some visual tradeoff.

Step 7: Click and Automate

Once your folders and settings are configured, just click “Run This Now”. The plugin will automatically:

• Replace the smart object contents with each artwork file
• Resize the image (if the checkbox is enabled)
• Export the final mockup to your output folder

In our test run, we generated 75 mockups in just a few seconds. It’s fast, reliable, and eliminates hours of mind-numbing busywork.

Whether you’re handling product images for your e-commerce store or bulk replacing smart objects in Photoshop for client work, this plugin can save you an enormous amount of time.

Automating Smart Object Replacement in Bulk

That’s really all it takes. We clicked “Run This Now” and the plugin took care of everything automatically.

As the operation ran, it opened each image, resized it to fit the mockup’s smart object layer, and exported the final result—completely on autopilot. When it was done, we opened the output folder, and sure enough: all of our mockups were there, neatly organized and ready to use.

What About Different Image Sizes?

Some of the images in this test run had different aspect ratios—like 3×4 and 4×5—even though our smart object was designed for a 20×30 canvas. The Batch-Replace Smart Objects plugin automatically resized everything to fit the scene correctly. Even though the input images didn’t match the PSD perfectly, the final mockups still looked great.

That’s why enabling the “Stretch images to fit smart objects” option is so useful. If your images vary in size, aspect ratio, or resolution, this option ensures that all mockups come out clean and well-aligned—without any manual resizing.

Scaling Up: From Dozens to Hundreds of Mockups

In this test, we generated 22 mockups. But for anyone running an online store or managing product listings with multiple variants—different frame colors, room scenes, or lighting styles—you might need to create hundreds of mockups at once.

Without automation, this kind of task could take hours. With this plugin, it’s just a matter of clicking a button and letting the system do the heavy lifting.

Using a Full Folder of PSD Mockup Templates

So far, we’ve only used a single PSD file at a time. But one of the most powerful features of the plugin is its ability to process an entire folder of PSD mockup templates in one go.

We ran a quick demo to show just how much time this can save.

I selected a folder containing nine mockup templates—including:

• Framed and unframed canvas product variants
• Multiple room scenes to show the artwork in different environments

This is perfect if you’re looking to automate mockup creation in Photoshop for e-commerce, client work, or portfolio presentation.

Simple Setup, Massive Time Savings

The setup was the same as before: I selected the input folder containing the artwork, then chose an output folder for the finished images. This time, I left the “stretch to fit” box unchecked since all the input images were already properly sized. That made the operation run a bit faster.

Once again, I clicked “Run This Now”—and the plugin got to work. It started with the first PSD file, ran through every artwork image, exported the mockups, and moved on to the next PSD in the folder.

Within seconds, it was working through the room scenes, creating mockups in the background. While Photoshop doesn’t always visually update every step in real time (likely to conserve resources), the plugin keeps working behind the scenes without interruption.

135 Mockups, Fully Automated

When we checked the output folder at the end, the result was clear: 135 mockup images created in minutes. That’s nine different templates, each one used to generate mockups for all the artwork files—no manual effort required.

Instead of wasting hours manually replacing smart objects, resizing layers, and exporting files, we let the plugin handle everything. With just a few clicks, we generated over a hundred polished mockups completely on autopilot.

This is the true power of automating your Photoshop mockup workflow.

Smart File Naming, Saved Operations, and Full Workflow Automation

Another useful detail: the plugin automatically groups the exported images by filename. The naming convention follows the format of artwork name + mockup name. This is great for staying organized and especially valuable for SEO—particularly if you’re naming mockups with keyword-rich descriptors like “framed canvas brown” or “gallery wall mockup”.

It’s also practical. If you’re uploading to an e-commerce product page or sending mockups to a client, everything is already grouped and sorted. Just drag, drop, and move on—no need to manually rename or rearrange files.

Save Your Favorite Setups as Reusable Operations

You don’t always have to run everything in real time. If you use the same folders, templates, and export settings regularly, you can save that setup as a named operation.

Let’s say you always use the same input folder, mockup template, and export destination. Just save it as something like “Create My Canvas Art Mockups”. The Batch-Replace Smart Objects plugin will remember everything—input paths, export settings, image format, save quality, and more.

The next time you need to generate mockups, simply go to the Batches tab, click “Run Batch”, and everything runs exactly as configured—no setup, no mistakes, no wasted time.

Power Users: Automate Everything with Multi-Step Workflows

You can take it even further with multi-step workflows. A workflow is just a sequence of saved operations run back-to-back. Each step has its own PSD file (or folder), input images, output destination, and export settings.

For example:

• Step 1: Create framed canvas mockups for Client #3 using PNG format
• Step 2: Create gallery wall mockups for Client #4 using JPEG format

Each step is completely independent, and the plugin will execute them in order—automatically.

To build a workflow, just click “Create New Workflow”, give it a name (like “Create All Client Mockups”), and add each step. The plugin remembers whether you’re using individual PSDs or entire folders and stores each configuration exactly as you set it.

Perfect for Agencies, Freelancers, and High-Volume Creators

Whether you’re a solo freelancer, part of a design agency, or running an online store with dozens of product variants, these saved operations and workflows are a game-changer.

No more double-checking export settings. No more forgetting to select the right PSD. No more rushing through a repetitive setup. Just load your saved operation or workflow, click a button, and let automation handle the rest.

So if you’re tired of the same boring routine—opening files, replacing smart objects, resizing artwork, exporting manually—do yourself a favor and try this plugin.

Batch-Replace Smart Objects is built to fully automate mockup creation in Photoshop and save you hours of tedious, repetitive work.

Add it to your workflow and reclaim your time.

Thanks for reading! If you found this guide helpful, feel free to drop a comment to help others discover it too.

The post How To Bulk-Replace Smart Objects In Photoshop appeared first on You Should Automate That.

If you’re creating custom mockup images using PSD templates with smart objects, you already know how painfully repetitive the process can be. Typically, it goes something like this: open the PSD, step into the smart object, locate your artwork image, paste it in, position it, save the changes, flatten the file, export it as a JPEG, and type in a filename. And that’s just for one image.

Now imagine doing that for five images. Or ten. Or hundreds. Manually exporting mockups one by one quickly turns into a soul-crushing workflow that eats up your entire day. Sure, if you only need a mockup or two, you might just power through. But if you’re working with multiple artwork files, product variants, or mockup scenes, it becomes a tedious and error-prone mess.

Speed Up Your Workflow with Automation

This is where automation comes in. In this guide, we’ll show you how to export a batch of mockup images in Photoshop using the Batch-Replace Smart Objects plugin. It’s a powerful add-on available through the official Adobe Exchange, and it lets you automate the entire mockup generation process—from artwork placement to final export.

Step-by-Step Setup (Single PSD Mode)

The plugin gives you two options: you can either use a single PSD file or select an entire folder of mockup templates. For this walkthrough, we’re starting with a single PSD file to demonstrate the basics.

We selected a room mockup PSD, then chose an input folder containing 75 artwork images. The plugin has a handy setting called “Stretch images to fit smart objects.”

If your artwork images vary in dimensions, aspect ratios, or DPI, it’s recommended that you leave this box checked. This ensures that every image is automatically resized to perfectly fit the smart object—avoiding issues like misalignment or images spilling over the mockup edges.

Since our demo artwork files were all the exact same size and aspect ratio, we unchecked this option to speed up processing.

Custom Export Settings

Next, we chose an output folder for the exported mockups. You can export in either JPEG or PNG format and control the quality settings as well. High-quality exports give you better image fidelity (with larger file sizes), while lower quality reduces the size for faster loading—great for web use. It’s worth experimenting to find the right balance for your workflow.

Running the Operation

Once everything was set, we clicked “Run This Now.” Behind the scenes, the plugin processed each image in the input folder, inserted it into the smart object, and exported the updated PSD as a final mockup—mockup after mockup, in rapid succession.

This batch included 75 images, and before we even finished explaining what was happening, the process was already complete. That’s how fast this plugin can go.

Why It Ran So Fast

A couple quick notes:

• We used a fast computer, which helps.
• We also used a simplified PSD mockup file—just 3MB in size, compared to many online mockup templates that are bloated with effects and can hit hundreds of megabytes.
• Our PSD was also resized to the exact target export size, avoiding unnecessary processing on oversized 8000x8000px files.

So yes, your performance may vary depending on your setup. But even with heavier PSDs, the Batch-Replace Smart Objects plugin still gets the job done efficiently.

The Bottom Line

Instead of slogging through mockup creation one image at a time, you can now fully automate mockup image creation in Photoshop. It’s faster, more consistent, and eliminates hours of boring, manual Photoshop work.

Automate Entire Folders of Mockup Templates

Now let’s switch over to the other mode—the one that really takes your time savings to the next level. Instead of just using a single PSD mockup file, this mode allows you to select an entire folder of PSD files and run them all in one go.

This is where the real power of automation kicks in. Think about it: if you’ve got a bunch of room mockups or multiple product variants—like different frame colors, product styles, or room environments—doing them one by one manually would take forever. Instead of spending six hours clicking around in Photoshop, why not just click a couple buttons and let the plugin handle everything?

Folder Mode: Batch All Variants in One Click

For this example, we selected a folder containing:

• Four product mockup variants (one plain canvas and three framed styles)
• Five different room mockups to showcase the artwork in various environments

Once that folder of PSDs is selected, the Batch-Replace Smart Objects plugin is ready to go.

How It Works

The plugin works its way through each PSD file in the folder. For each mockup:

1. It cycles through every artwork image in your input folder
2. Generates mockups using the current PSD template
3. Exports all results to your chosen output folder

Once it finishes one PSD, it moves to the next—and repeats the process until everything is complete.

Resize Flexibility for Varying Image Dimensions

To demonstrate the resizing functionality, we purposely added some incorrectly sized artwork images to the input folder—some 4x5s and 3x4s, even though the mockups were designed for 2×3 dimensions.

With the “stretch images to fit smart objects” box checked, the plugin automatically resized each artwork to fit perfectly. This feature is especially handy when your source images don’t match your mockup dimensions—ensuring polished, aligned mockups every time.

Slight Delay, Big Benefit

Yes, enabling the stretch-to-fit option slows the operation slightly due to an intermediate step where the plugin opens each image, calculates dimensions, and resizes the artwork to match. But it’s a small tradeoff for mockups that actually look clean and professional.

Organized Results, Ready for Use

Once the operation completed, we opened the output folder—and everything was done. All mockups were:

• Neatly organized
• Grouped by artwork filename
• Ready to send to clients or upload to your storefront

Photoshop Performance Optimization

Another thoughtful feature of the plugin: it closes each PSD file after it’s finished processing. That may sound minor, but it’s a huge deal when you’re dealing with dozens or hundreds of files. Without this, Photoshop could slow to a crawl—or crash entirely—from having too many mockups open at once.

The plugin handles this gracefully by closing files as it finishes them, leaving only the last PSD open so you can continue from where you left off if needed.

The Bottom Line

This mode lets you automate bulk mockup generation in Photoshop using an entire folder of PSD templates—completely hands-free. No dragging, no exporting, no busywork. Just select your folders, click a button, and let the automation do the rest.

Save Operations and Automate Multi-Step Workflows

In addition to running operations in real time, the plugin also lets you save individual operations and set up multi-step workflows. This is a major win if you’re working with a consistent setup—same PSD mockup files, same artwork input folder, and same output destination. It saves time and helps eliminate user error by removing the need to reconfigure settings each time.

Once your operation is configured, just give it a name—something like “Make My Canvas Mockups”—click Save, and the plugin will remember:

• Which PSD or folder of PSDs to use
• Your input and output folder paths
• Export format and save quality
• Whether or not resizing is enabled

Later on, you can just go to the Batches tab, click Run Batch, and let it execute the full operation automatically.

Chain Together Multi-Step Workflows

If your workflow is more complex—say you manage automated mockup creation in Photoshop across different product types or clients—you can create a multi-step workflow. Think of it as a checklist of saved operations where each one runs in sequence. For example:

1. Step 1: Export mockups from a folder of framed canvas templates
2. Step 2: Run a different mockup template for a specific client
3. Step 3: Process mockups for an alternate scene or product format

You can mix and match modes in each step. One step might use a single PSD, another might use an entire folder. Each step can have its own input/output folders and settings. Once saved, just hit Run Workflow and the plugin will run the full sequence from start to finish—completely on autopilot.

Working with Multi-Smart-Object PSD Files

When setting up your mockup templates, there’s one thing to remember: if your PSD contains multiple smart object layers, you need to manually select the target smart object layer in the Layers panel before running the operation.

If no layer is selected and the plugin detects multiple smart objects, it won’t know which one to use and will display an error.

In simpler templates with just one smart object, you don’t need to worry—the plugin will detect and use it automatically. But in more advanced scenes, make sure to highlight the correct layer first.

Need to update multiple smart objects at once? Just select all the target smart object layers before launching the operation. The plugin will use the same input image to replace each one—perfect for business card mockups, multi-angle product views, and more.

Bonus Tip: Preserve Layer Selection for Saved Operations

If you’re saving operations or workflows for future use, Photoshop won’t always preserve layer selection unless it detects a meaningful file change. To make sure the right smart object stays selected after saving:

• Make a small superficial change, like renaming a layer
• Then hit Save—Photoshop will now preserve your layer selection

The Bottom Line

The Batch-Replace Smart Objects plugin is a game-changer for anyone looking to fully automate mockup image creation in Photoshop. Whether you’re generating 12 mockups or 1,200, this plugin replaces hours of tedious, repetitive work with just a few clicks.

You can find it on the official Adobe Exchange. Once installed and paired with properly optimized PSD files, you’ll wonder how you ever created mockups without it.

Hope this guide helped! If it saved you time or taught you something useful, feel free to drop a comment to help more designers and creators discover it. Thanks for reading!

The post How To Export A Batch Of Mockup Images In Photoshop appeared first on You Should Automate That.

That’s exactly what this guide is about. The process is fully automated, and it’s all handled by a Photoshop plugin called the Batch-Replace Smart Objects plugin.

To start, here’s the basic setup: I have a folder with 100 artwork images, and I have 10 different PSD mockup templates I want to use. Using this setup, I can generate 1000 mockup images—one for each combination of artwork and template—by clicking two buttons inside Photoshop. Once the operation finishes, the entire set of mockup images is organized in the output folder, ready to go.

This whole process is fully automated mockup image creation. I didn’t sit there opening files, pasting in artwork, resizing layers, exporting, and renaming each file. If I had done this manually, it could have easily taken eight hours—or an entire day—of tedious, repetitive work. Even at one mockup every 30 seconds, you’d still be spending over 8 hours just clicking around in Photoshop.

Instead, with automation, the job is done in minutes.

How Does It Work?

The plugin that powers this is the Batch-Replace Smart Objects plugin for Photoshop. It’s available on the official Adobe Exchange, and once installed, it adds a control panel to Photoshop that allows you to automate mockup creation in Photoshop.

The concept is simple: the plugin works with PSD mockup templates that contain at least one smart object layer. It detects the smart object, replaces it with an artwork image from your folder, and exports the result as a new mockup file. You can run this with either a single PSD file or a full folder of mockup templates.

Once your setup is ready, just click “Run” and the plugin takes over. No manual steps required.

Setting Up a Mockup Operation

1. Select your PSD mockup file
2. Choose your input folder (where all your artwork files are stored)
3. Select your output folder (where the mockups will be exported)

The plugin even has an option to automatically stretch images to fit smart objects. This is useful when your input images are different sizes or aspect ratios. With this setting enabled, every artwork image will be perfectly resized to match the smart object dimensions—no weird stretching or off-center placements.

You can also choose whether to export in PNG or JPEG format and control the save quality or compression level depending on whether you want high-quality images or smaller file sizes.

That’s really all it takes. Configure your settings, click “Run This Now,” and Photoshop does the rest.

Save Time with Saved Operations and Workflows

Beyond real-time use, the Batch-Replace Smart Objects plugin allows you to save operations for reuse. You can name an operation (like “Room Mockup Images One”), and it’ll show up in the Batches tab. Later, just click “Run Batch” to recreate your mockups with the exact same settings—without needing to reconfigure everything.

This is especially useful if you have repeating projects or clients that need mockups on a regular basis.

When you run the operation, the plugin opens each artwork file, resizes it if needed, inserts it into the smart object, and exports the final result. All of this happens while you’re free to do other work—it’s entirely hands-free.

Folder Mode: Process an Entire Folder of PSD Templates

If you’re working with multiple PSD mockup templates, the plugin has a folder mode. You just toggle the option and point it to a folder containing all your mockup PSDs. The plugin will go through each one in sequence—processing all your artwork images with the first PSD, then the second, and so on.

It automates the creation of mockups for every combination of artwork and template, eliminating the need to configure each PSD as its own separate step.

You still set your input and output folders the same way, choose your file type and quality settings, and then either run it immediately or save the operation for later.

Use Multi-Step Workflows to Automate Everything

You can take it a step further with multi-step workflows. A workflow is a sequence of saved operations. Give your workflow a name (like “Make All My Mockup Images”), and then add steps like:

• Step 1: Use PSD Folder One
• Step 2: Use PSD Folder Two

One step might use a full folder of PSDs, another might use a single PSD template. The plugin is flexible and stores each step’s settings—smart object stretching, file format, save location, and all.

Once your workflow is ready, you’ll see it under the “Workflows” tab. Just click “Run,” and the plugin will execute the full sequence—step by step—automatically.

Everything runs on autopilot.

One Final Setup Tip: Multiple Smart Objects

When setting up your mockup templates, there’s one final important detail to get right—especially if your PSD file contains multiple smart object layers. In those cases, before running the operation, you need to make sure the correct smart object layer is selected in the Layers panel.

If no layer is selected and the plugin detects more than one smart object, it will display an error message letting you know that it doesn’t know which layer to use. It’ll prompt you to manually select the smart object layer you want to use for the operation.

So before you hit run, simply click to highlight the smart object layer you want the plugin to act on. Once selected, the automation will proceed with no issues.

If your PSD file only contains a single smart object layer, you can skip this step entirely. The Batch-Replace Smart Objects plugin is smart enough to detect that and will automatically use it without needing any manual input.

Advanced Use Case: Using Multiple Smart Objects at Once

The plugin also supports more complex mockup scenes. For example, let’s say you’re a logo designer and your template includes two smart object layers—maybe you want to show the same design in two positions or on two surfaces. In that case, you can select both smart object layers before running the operation.

Once selected, the plugin will apply the current image to both smart objects in the file, export the result, and move on to the next image in your folder. We tested this in our demo and it worked exactly as expected—each smart object was updated and exported cleanly.

This is a useful feature if you want to display multiple views of a design (e.g., front and back of a business card, or logo on two mockup angles) using the same input artwork.

Final Thoughts

The Batch-Replace Smart Objects plugin for Photoshop is an incredibly powerful tool for automating mockup creation in Photoshop. It transforms what used to be a painfully repetitive, manual process into something you can do with just a couple of clicks.

Instead of opening files one by one, placing your artwork, resizing, exporting, and repeating that hundreds of times, the plugin handles the entire flow for you. Whether you’re generating ten mockups or a thousand, the process is the same—select your files, click your two buttons, and let the plugin do the heavy lifting.

Hope you found this guide helpful. If you did, leave a comment to let us know! Nothing beats some sweet, sweet validation from some anonymous internet strangers. Thanks for reading, and we’ll see you next time!

The post How To Make 1000 Mockups With 2 Clicks In Photoshop appeared first on You Should Automate That.

Sounds like some clickbait nonsense, right? The kind of thing you’d see in a YouTube title just to get a few extra clicks. But in this case, it’s not clickbait—it’s real. In this post, we’re going to show you exactly how to automate mockup creation in Photoshop so you can crank out mockups insanely fast.

We’ll walk through how to optimize your Photoshop setup and mockup files, and how to use a powerful plugin called Batch-Replace Smart Objects to save a massive amount of time. Instead of manually opening PSDs, placing images, resizing layers, and exporting mockups one by one, you’ll be able to hit a button and let it rip—automating the entire process.

Real-Time Test: 120 Mockups in 30 Seconds

Still skeptical? Let’s test it live. We ran a real operation to see how long it takes to create 120 mockup images. Stopwatch ready. And… go.

We hit “run,” and the plugin takes over. The input folder contains 120 artwork images, and it immediately begins generating mockups—fast. In the time it takes to say a few words, it’s already halfway done. Up to 70… 90… 100… and done. 120 mockups generated in 30 seconds. That’s pretty damn fast.

Manual Comparison

To compare, we created one mockup manually: open the PSD, double-click the smart object, paste in the artwork, save it, flatten it, export it… and boom—26 seconds. So, 30 seconds for one image by hand versus 120 images automatically in the same amount of time. It’s not even close.

And that’s just using one template. If you’ve got multiple variants or ten mockup scenes per artwork image, doing this manually becomes an all-day job. But with automation, you save hours.

Optimization Tip #1: Use The Batch-Replace Smart Objects Plugin

The tool we’re using is the Batch-Replace Smart Objects plugin for Photoshop. It’s available on the official Adobe Exchange, and once installed, it’s extremely easy to use.

The setup panel at the top lets you configure your operation. You can use a single PSD mockup or an entire folder of PSDs. For this example, we used just one PSD file for simplicity.

1. Select your PSD file (your mockup template)
2. Choose your input folder (where your artwork files are stored)
3. Pick your output folder (where final mockups will be saved)

Click “Run This Now” to immediately generate your images. Or, save the setup as a named operation for quick reuse. You can even create multi-step workflows to automate a full sequence of operations.

Pro Tip: “Stretch Images to Fit Smart Objects”

This setting helps resize your artwork automatically to fit the smart object dimensions inside the PSD. If your input images vary in size or aspect ratio, leave this checked to avoid layout issues.

But if you’re confident all your images are already the perfect size and ratio, you can uncheck this option to speed things up even further. Skipping the resize step can significantly reduce processing time.

Optimization Tip #2: Use Lightweight Mockup Files

Another key to blazing-fast mockup creation is to optimize your mockup PSD files themselves.

In our demo, we used a minimal mockup: just a smart object layer for the design, a texture overlay for realism, and a static background. The final PSD is only 3MB and 1000×1000 pixels—perfect for high-speed automation.

How to Simplify a Heavy PSD File

Many downloaded mockups are bloated—full of unnecessary layers and massive dimensions. Here’s how to streamline them:

1. Flatten the image to reduce layers into one static background
2. Crop to the desired aspect ratio (e.g., square for marketplaces)
3. Resize the canvas to your target export size (e.g., 1000x1000px)

In our case, we dropped in a complex 100MB artwork file with multiple smart objects. After flattening, resizing, and reconfiguring the layout, we ended up with a version that looked just as good but was much smaller and faster to process.

Keep What You Need, Remove What You Don’t

We kept overlay layers because they add depth and realism. But we removed or merged frame layers, color variants, and other decorative extras that weren’t necessary. In one example, we changed the frame color to brown and merged everything into a single layer. The result? A fast, lightweight PSD perfect for automation.

The takeaway: remove the fluff, resize for your needs, and keep it simple. The leaner your mockup file, the faster your automation workflow runs.

Once you’ve combined lightweight mockups with the Batch-Replace Smart Objects plugin, you’re ready to create hundreds (or even thousands) of mockup images in a fraction of the time it would take manually.

Combining Lightweight Mockups with Full Automation

Now that we’ve got a lightweight mockup file ready to go, let’s jump back into the Batch-Replace Smart Objects plugin and see how it all comes together. The goal is simple: combine a fast, optimized mockup template with automation to generate high-quality product images as quickly and effortlessly as possible.

The plugin makes this incredibly easy. You can set up operations and save them—either as single-step presets or as multi-step workflows. Once configured, you can automate everything with just one click inside Photoshop.

In this example, we select our optimized PSD template (named “Art Deco Scene”) and pair it with a folder containing 75 artwork images, all correctly sized. Since the artwork dimensions are uniform, we uncheck “Stretch images to fit smart objects” for better performance. Even if you leave it checked, it’s still automated—just click run and let it go while you work on something else.

We then set the output folder, choose the export format (JPEG or PNG), and save the operation as something like “Arts Deco Mockup Room One.” Next time you need mockups, just load the saved operation and hit “Run Batch.”

Fully Automated Mockup Generation

As soon as you click run, the plugin powers through all 75 images—mockups are created, saved, and neatly organized in seconds. It’s fast and completely hands-off.

Want to go even further? Use the plugin’s workflows feature to string together multiple operations. Perfect if you’ve got different templates for various product styles, colors, or environments. Each step in the workflow can have its own PSD, input folder, output destination, and image settings.

Or, switch to folder mode, where you select a full folder of PSD templates. The plugin will cycle through each PSD and apply every artwork image to each one, generating all mockup combinations automatically.

In this example, we used folder mode with 75 artwork images and 9 mockup templates, resulting in 675 total images generated—all in a single operation.

The plugin also helps organize your files by grouping images by filename, making it easy to upload them to product pages, attach to emails, or pass them to a teammate.

Real Time Savings: 5+ Hours Recovered

If you created those 675 mockups manually, and each one took 27.6 seconds, that would total 18,630 seconds, or about 310 minutes—over 5 hours of repetitive work.

Or… you could open Photoshop, click a button, and let the Batch-Replace Smart Objects plugin do it all for you.

Using Workflows for Multi-Client Automation

The workflows feature gives you fine-grained control over the full automation process. Say you’re a freelancer managing mockup images for multiple clients. You create a workflow like “Make All Clients Mockups” and configure separate operations for each client.

Maybe Mr. Jenkins uses mockup template #1 with his own input/output folders. You set up a saved operation just for him. Then you configure another one for Mr. Henderson, who needs high-res PNGs, different templates, and separate folders. Each step is tailored to its client, and the workflow executes them in order—completely automatically.

Each workflow step stores all relevant settings: PSD paths, artwork folders, export quality, and smart object stretching preferences. Once one step is done, the plugin instantly moves to the next.

Handling Multi-Smart-Object PSDs

If your PSD file contains multiple smart objects, the plugin needs to know which one(s) to target. If you don’t select a layer, it’ll show a helpful error message prompting you to choose one.

If you select multiple smart object layers, the plugin will replace all of them with the current artwork image. This can be useful for mockups like dual business cards or product sets where the same design needs to appear in multiple places within the scene.

Final Thoughts

And that’s it. That’s the full power of the Batch-Replace Smart Objects plugin.

You can get it on the official Adobe Exchange. Once installed, it helps you streamline your files, automate your mockup generation, and save countless hours by replacing tedious Photoshop work with smart automation.

If you found this guide helpful, leave a comment to let us know. Thanks for reading—and happy automating!

The post How To Make Mockup Images 100x Faster In Photoshop appeared first on You Should Automate That.

If you’re trying to generate mockup images in bulk, the easiest and fastest way to do it is by using the Batch-Replace Smart Objects plugin for Photoshop. This plugin automates the entire mockup generation process, and in this walkthrough, we’re going to show you exactly how it works.

Step-by-Step: Creating Bulk Mockups with a Single PSD File

We begin in the main section of the plugin interface where you set up your automated operation. You have the option to either select a single Photoshop file or an entire folder of PSDs. To keep things simple for this example, we’ll just use a single PSD file.

Once that’s selected, the next step is to choose your input folder—this is the folder that contains all your artwork images. We already have a folder full of artwork prepped and ready to go, so we’ll select that.

Next, you’ll choose your output folder, which is where the final mockup images will be exported. We’ve got a folder ready for that too. The plugin gives you the option to export the images as either JPEG or PNG files. For this example, we’re going with JPEG.

You can also control the save quality of the images. Higher quality means larger file sizes, and lower quality means smaller files. We’ll keep it in the middle at a level 6, which is a good balance between quality and file size. You can always tweak this depending on your specific workflow.

There’s also an important checkbox: “Stretch images to fit smart objects.” Unless you know for sure that your input images match the mockup dimensions exactly, it’s best to leave this checked.

Once everything’s set up, click “Run” and let the plugin take over. What it does first is open each artwork image and resize it to fit the smart object in the PSD. Then it saves the resulting mockup image to the output folder automatically.

At this point, you can just sit back and relax. Instead of manually opening each file, dragging in your artwork, resizing it, aligning it, and repeating that process over and over again, the plugin handles everything for you. It’s a huge time saver—what used to take hours now takes just minutes.

In our example, we had 75 artwork files to process. Watching the folder populate with finished mockups as the plugin works is oddly satisfying. Once it’s finished, all of your mockups are ready to go—no manual work required.

Using a Folder of PSDs for Variant-Based Mockups

Let’s look at another powerful feature of the Batch-Replace Smart Objects plugin: support for an entire folder of PSD mockup templates.

This is super useful if you’re creating mockup images that come in different colors, sizes, or scene variants. Instead of running each PSD one at a time, you can just drop all your mockup templates into a single folder, and the plugin will automatically run the operation on each PSD in that folder—completely hands-free.

How It Works

First, we select the folder of PSD files we want to use. In this example, we’ve got about ten different mockup templates. Then we choose the input folder that contains our artwork images. In this case, there are around fifteen different pieces of artwork. Because we already know these images are correctly sized, we’re going to uncheck the “stretch images to fit smart objects” box—this helps the operation run even faster.

Next, we pick the output folder where we want all the final mockup images saved. Once everything’s set, we run the operation, and the plugin goes to work.

The plugin opens up each PSD file, swaps in each artwork image, and exports the final mockup. You’ll see it crank through scenes like the plain canvas mockups, black-framed versions, white-framed variants, room mockups, and more—all automatically.

This is incredibly helpful if you’re selling artwork and want to show it in different environments or with different frame options. Whether it’s rooms, frames, canvas textures, or styles, the plugin cycles through all your mockup templates and inserts each artwork image accordingly.

Organizing the Output

Once it’s finished, head to your output folder and you’ll see everything organized neatly by file name. Want to batch all the “bear” mockups together? Easy. Drag and drop. Same for the armadillo, the classy beaver, or anything else you’ve got.

It saves an enormous amount of time—especially if you’re working with a large set of PSD mockups. You don’t need to manually select and run each one. Just dump them all into a folder and let the plugin do its thing.

Save Operations and Automate Multi-Step Mockup Workflows

Another great time-saving feature of the Batch-Replace Smart Objects plugin is the ability to save individual operations and multi-step workflows.

Let’s say you’ve set everything up—your PSDs, input and output folders, file type, quality, and other settings. Instead of having to reconfigure everything each time, you can just name and save the operation. For example, call it “Canvas Art Mockups,” and that preset will be stored for future use. Next time, just select it from your saved list and hit run—one click, done.

But it gets even better.

You can also save multi-step workflows, which allow you to string together several different mockup generation tasks. Maybe step one is for black-framed canvases, step two is for brown frames, and step three is for white. Each step can have its own PSD, artwork folder, output destination, and export settings. Once saved, you can run the full sequence with a single click. The plugin will complete one step, then automatically move on to the next.

This is incredibly useful if you’re creating mockups at scale. For instance, freelancers working with multiple clients can set up a workflow for Client 1 with their mockups and settings, and another for Client 2 with different files. When it’s time to generate mockups, just launch the saved workflow and walk away—the plugin handles the rest.

You can even switch operation modes per workflow. Maybe one workflow uses a single PSD file, while another runs through a full folder of PSDs. The plugin supports both and will process files accordingly, keeping everything smooth and organized.

As it runs, you’ll see file names update as images are processed. While Photoshop may not reflect updates in real time, rest assured the plugin is replacing artwork and exporting mockups behind the scenes.

One smart optimization: when running folder-based or multi-step workflows, the plugin will automatically close each PSD after it’s processed. This prevents Photoshop from getting bogged down by having dozens or hundreds of files open at once. Only the final PSD remains open—just a small UX touch that keeps things clean and performant.

All of this combines into a powerful automation system that can save you hours—or even days—of manual mockup work.

Working with PSD Files That Have Multiple Smart Objects

Now, you might be wondering—what if your PSD file has multiple smart objects? How does the Batch-Replace Smart Objects plugin handle that?

Great question. The plugin gives you full control by allowing you to manually select the smart objects you want to use. If the file has just one smart object, it’ll auto-detect and use it. But if there are multiple, you need to manually select which ones should be replaced.

To do this, simply open the Layers panel in Photoshop. Click to select a single smart object, or hold Ctrl (Cmd on Mac) and click to select multiple. The plugin will then only act on the selected layers during the operation.

For example, say your mockup shows two business cards—front and back. You can select both smart object layers and run the operation. The plugin will replace both with the same input image and export the result.

One limitation: the plugin currently doesn’t support assigning different input images to different smart objects within the same PSD. All selected smart objects will use the same image for that operation.

That said, you don’t have to update every smart object in the file. If you only want to replace one, just select that specific layer and run the process. You’ve got full control over which layers are affected.

Important Tip: Save With Smart Objects Selected

Here’s something to keep in mind—Photoshop doesn’t always treat layer selection as a “real” change, so simply selecting smart objects and hitting save might not actually retain the selection state.

The fix? Make a small change to the file before saving. For example, rename a layer (“Frame” to “Frame 2”)—then hit save. That ensures Photoshop registers the updated state and saves the file with the correct smart objects selected.

This might seem minor, but if you’re working with dozens or hundreds of PSD files, it can save you from unexpected issues later when only one smart object gets updated instead of two.

Bottom line: for multi-smart-object PSDs, make sure your files are saved with the correct layers selected, and you’ll be good to go.

Helpful Features and Bonus Tips for Better Results

Even after watching the full walkthrough, you might still be unclear on how some features work. No worries—the plugin includes built-in info icons next to each setting. Just click the icon, and it’ll pop up with a short explanation of what that setting does, including usage tips and best practices. Whether you’re wondering about supported file types, allowed settings, or how a specific checkbox behaves, those quick tooltips help clarify things.

Does the Plugin Support Transparency?

Yes, it does.

If your input artwork includes transparent sections—like a text-only t-shirt design with no background—the plugin will preserve that transparency. Just make sure:

• You’re using PNG images for your input files
• You’re exporting your final mockups as PNG (to retain the alpha channel)
• You’ve selected at least one smart object layer before running the operation

Once the operation runs, your artwork will be correctly layered over the mockup with transparency intact—perfect for floating logos, icons, or product overlays.

If you forget to select a smart object, the plugin will notify you with a helpful error message. Just select the appropriate layer(s) and try again.

Performance Tips: How to Make Operations Run Faster

Here are a couple of quick tips to help the plugin run more efficiently:

1. Simplify Your Mockup Files

Many mockups you download online are packed with unnecessary complexity—tons of layers, massive image sizes, or bloated group structures. These files can reach 500MB or more and seriously slow down automated operations.

Instead, trim the fat. Reduce the canvas size to match your export needs. For example, if the original mockup is 4000x4000px but you only need 1000x1000px for your store or website, resize it. Just make sure to save a backup before modifying your files.

2. Merge Unnecessary Layers

If your mockup has static elements that don’t change (like lamps, plants, or tables), merge them into a single background layer. Select the layers, right-click, and choose Merge Layers. This helps reduce the file size and processing load during automation.

By simplifying your PSDs—resizing canvas dimensions and merging background elements—you’ll reduce file bloat and get much faster results during bulk processing.

Bottom line: Smaller, cleaner mockups mean faster, more reliable automation when generating product images in bulk.

Final Notes and Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a limit to the number of saved workflows or operations?

Nope. You can save as many operations and workflows as you like. Whether you’re managing one product line or dozens of client mockup sets, the plugin can store them all.

What file types are supported?

• Photoshop documents: Must be PSD files (either individual PSD or a folder of PSDs).
• Input images: JPEG and PNG are supported. PNG is ideal for designs with transparency.
• Output images: Choose JPEG for smaller file size, or PNG to preserve transparency.

How do you install the plugin?

The plugin is available through the official Adobe Exchange, so there’s no need to download anything from third-party sources.

• Install it via the Creative Cloud desktop app—it’ll be added directly to Photoshop once installed.
• Important: You’ll need an active Adobe Creative Cloud subscription. The plugin won’t work with older or pirated versions of Photoshop.

Once installed, you’ll be ready to fully automate your mockup-image creation workflow and start saving hours of manual labor.

If you found this guide helpful, please consider leaving a comment to help spread the word. Thanks for reading!

The post How To Make Mockup Images In Bulk In Photoshop appeared first on You Should Automate That.

If you’re a print-on-demand seller, chances are you’ve had to create custom mockup images for your store. Whether you’re selling artwork, apparel, or home decor, mockups are a crucial part of showcasing your products online. But creating them manually—opening a PSD file, inserting an image, resizing it, exporting—can quickly become a time-consuming chore, especially when you have dozens or even hundreds of products.

Fortunately, there’s an easier way. In this guide, we’ll walk through how to automate your print-on-demand mockup creation using the Batch-Replace Smart Objects plugin for Photoshop. This plugin simplifies the entire process, letting you create bulk mockups with just a few clicks.

Step 1: Set Up Your Operation

To get started, you’ll configure your operation in the plugin interface. First, choose the Photoshop document you want to use. You can work with a single PSD file for a simple operation, or switch to using a folder of PSD files if you have multiple mockup templates—like different room scenes or product variants.

Step 2: Select Your Artwork

Next, select your input folder. This is the folder that contains all of your artwork images—these are the designs that will be inserted into your mockup templates.

Step 3: Enable Smart Resizing

One important option is “stretch images to fit smart objects.” If you’re unsure whether all your artwork files are perfectly sized, it’s best to leave this enabled. With this setting turned on, the plugin will automatically resize and align your images to fit the smart object layer inside the mockup, ensuring a clean and professional result even if dimensions vary.

Step 4: Choose Your Output Settings

Then, choose your output folder—where your finished mockup images will be saved. You can also select your desired export file format (JPEG or PNG) and customize the image quality level.

Higher quality settings provide more detail but result in larger file sizes. Lower quality means faster load times—especially important if your store is hosted on a platform like Shopify. Test a few configurations to see what works best for your store’s needs.

Step 5: Run the Automation

Once everything is set, click the “Run” button. The plugin will open each image, resize it if necessary, insert it into the smart object, and export the final mockup—all automatically. Within minutes, you’ll have a complete set of high-quality mockup images, ready to upload to your store.

Save Time and Eliminate Repetitive Work

Using the Batch-Replace Smart Objects plugin is a game changer for print-on-demand sellers. Instead of wasting hours manually creating mockups, you can now produce them in bulk with just a few clicks. The plugin handles all the heavy lifting in the background, freeing up your time so you can focus on growing your business.

Automate Bulk Mockups Across Multiple PSD Templates

Another powerful feature of the Batch-Replace Smart Objects plugin is the ability to automate bulk mockup creation across multiple Photoshop documents, not just a single file. By switching into folder mode using the toggle at the top of the plugin, you can select an entire folder of PSD mockup templates to use for your operation.

This is ideal for print-on-demand sellers offering product variants—such as black frames, white frames, or plain canvases—or for those displaying artwork in multiple lifestyle scenes like kitchens, living rooms, and bedrooms. Instead of managing each file individually, the plugin allows you to automate the entire batch in one go.

How Folder Mode Works

Rather than selecting each PSD file one at a time, you can simply drop all of your mockup templates into a single folder. Then, in the plugin, select that folder, and it will process each file sequentially—one after the other. This is especially useful when you’re using different mockup scenes to give customers a realistic preview of how your products will look in various environments.

Same Setup, Expanded Power

The rest of the setup remains the same. You select your input folder of artwork images and your output folder for the final mockups. In this example, the “stretch to fit smart objects” setting was disabled, since the images were already perfectly sized. Disabling this can slightly improve processing speed if you know your assets are a perfect match for your mockup templates.

Fully Automated Mockup Generation

Once you’re ready, click “Run” and the plugin gets to work. It opens the first PSD file (e.g., a plain canvas), applies all artwork, exports the mockups, and moves on to the next template. This continues until every file in the folder has been processed. It handles everything—automatically generating mockups for all product variants and room scenes without further input.

Organized Output, Streamlined Uploads

At the end of the operation, you’ll have a complete set of organized mockup images, grouped by filename. This makes it incredibly easy to upload them to your store. Just drag and drop the matching images into your product listings, and you’re done.

This workflow saves an enormous amount of time compared to manually opening and editing PSD files one by one. No more repetitive work. No more file-by-file mockup creation. Whether you’re managing five product variants or fifty, the Batch-Replace Smart Objects plugin makes bulk Photoshop automation fast, efficient, and stress-free.

Save Time with Reusable Operations and Workflows

If you follow a standardized workflow—using the same mockup templates, dropping artwork into the same folder, and exporting mockups to a consistent destination—you can save even more time by saving your operations in the Batch-Replace Smart Objects plugin. Instead of setting it up from scratch each time, you can pre-save your full configuration. Name the operation (e.g., “Create All Mockups”), click save, and it will appear in your list of reusable operations. The next time, it’s just one click to run it—no reconfiguration needed.

Support for Transparent Artwork

Saved operations also support images with transparency. If your input files include elements like logos or PNGs with transparent backgrounds, the plugin will detect and preserve those alpha channels during export. This is especially useful for advanced mockups where transparency is part of the product design.

Create Full Workflows, Not Just One-Off Operations

Beyond saving individual operations, you can also chain multiple steps together into a workflow. For example, run a black-framed canvas mockup as step one, then process a brown frame as step two, and finish with a white-framed version for step three. Each step can use a different PSD file but share the same artwork and output folders.

Mix and Match Modes in a Single Workflow

The plugin also allows you to mix operation types within the same workflow. You can start with a single PSD file, then transition to an entire folder of mockup templates. You can change image formats, enable or disable stretch-to-fit, or adjust export quality—everything is saved per step. The plugin intelligently detects what mode to use and executes each step automatically.

Run Workflows in One Click

Once your workflow is saved, all it takes is a single click on “Run Workflow”. The plugin will execute each step in sequence—step one, step two, step three—automatically generating and exporting all your mockups in minutes.

Say Goodbye to Manual Mockup Creation

If you’re a print-on-demand seller who regularly creates high volumes of mockups, this plugin is an absolute game changer. It transforms a slow, repetitive task into a fast, automated workflow. Set it up once, save your settings, and let the plugin do the rest—completely hands-off.

The Batch-Replace Smart Objects plugin is available on the official Adobe Exchange. You’ll need an active Photoshop subscription to use it, but the time savings and productivity gains make it well worth it for any serious eCommerce seller.

Once you experience the speed and efficiency of automated mockup generation, going back to manual editing will feel completely unthinkable.

The post How To Make Print-on-Demand Product Mockup Images In Bulk appeared first on You Should Automate That.

Creating mockup images in Photoshop can be one of the most repetitive and time-consuming parts of a designer’s workflow. If you’ve ever had to batch-create mockups for a large number of artwork files, you’re probably familiar with the mind-numbing process: open the PSD, replace the smart object with a new image, export the file, and repeat—again and again.

Fortunately, there’s a much better way to do it. With just a few clicks, you can fully automate this entire mockup-image-creation process using a plugin called the Batch-Replace Smart Objects plugin for Photoshop. It’s available through the official Adobe Exchange, and once installed, it dramatically simplifies how you generate mockup images at scale.

How the Batch-Replace Smart Objects Plugin Works

The plugin is straightforward to use. After installing it, you can quickly set up your first operation—select your mockup file, choose your input folder of images, pick an output folder, and hit Run. Even better, you can save these operations for reuse later, or even chain multiple operations together to run back-to-back automatically.

Batch-Replace Smart Objects with Ease

As the name implies, the Batch-Replace Smart Objects plugin specializes in one thing: batch-replacing smart objects inside your Photoshop files. Here’s how it works:

• It detects the smart object layer in your selected PSD file.
• If there’s only one smart object, the plugin automatically uses it for the operation.
• It cycles through every image in your input folder, inserting each one into the smart object.
• The plugin updates the mockup scene and exports the final image to your output folder.

Support for Multi-Layered Smart Object Files

If your mockup template includes multiple smart object layers, the plugin gives you full control. You can select the smart object you want it to operate on, and it’ll target that specific layer. Want to update multiple smart objects simultaneously? Just select all relevant layers, and the plugin will batch-process them based on your active selection.

This flexibility allows the plugin to support a wide range of workflows—whether you’re working with simple mockup scenes or complex, multi-layered templates. It’s one of the fastest and most efficient ways to streamline high-volume mockup production in Photoshop.

Batch Mockup Creation with Entire Folders of PSD Templates

Another standout feature of the Batch-Replace Smart Objects plugin is the ability to work with entire folders of PSD mockup templates—not just one document at a time. By toggling a different mode within the plugin, you can point it to a folder filled with multiple PSD files. The plugin will then process each file one by one, generating mockups for every artwork image in your input folder before moving on to the next PSD in the sequence.

How Folder Mode Works

Here’s how the workflow looks:

1. Select the folder containing your PSD mockup templates.
2. Choose the input folder with your artwork images.
3. Select your output folder where the final mockups will be saved.

With everything configured, you’re ready to go.

Auto-Fit Artwork with “Stretch to Fit”

A particularly helpful feature in this process is the “stretch images to fit smart objects” option. If your artwork files aren’t perfectly sized to match the smart object layer—like inserting a 4×5 image into a square mockup—this feature ensures your artwork is automatically resized and stretched to fit the scene. Without it, you’d have to resize each image manually, a tedious and error-prone task. With it enabled, the plugin dynamically resizes your images during processing, so every mockup looks clean and professional.

Choose Your Export Format

You can also select your desired export format—JPEG or PNG. If your mockups involve transparency, PNG is ideal. The plugin will automatically detect transparency in your input images and preserve that alpha channel during export. This is especially useful for mockups with transparent backgrounds or layered compositions.

Fully Automated Workflow, Zero Hassle

Once your folders and options are set, just click “Run”. The plugin takes care of the rest: opening each artwork image, resizing it to match the smart object, updating the mockup scene, and exporting the final result to your output folder. In just minutes, you’ll have a full set of polished, production-ready mockups.

By automatically resizing your images in real time, the Batch-Replace Smart Objects plugin eliminates the need for manual pre-processing. Whether you’re working with a variety of image dimensions or files with transparency, this plugin handles everything—making bulk mockup generation faster, easier, and 100% automated.

Save and Automate Entire Mockup Workflows

If your workflow uses the same mockup templates and folder structure every time, the Batch-Replace Smart Objects plugin lets you save your operations so you can run them again later with a single click. It’s simple: just name your setup (for example, “Canvas Art Mockups – Room 5”), hit save, and it’ll appear in your “batches” section for quick reuse.

Chaining Operations with Workflows

But it doesn’t stop there. Instead of saving one-off operations, you can chain multiple operations into a single workflow. For example, Room 5 could be step one, Room 6 step two, Room 8 step three, and so on. Each step stores its own unique settings—file paths, export format, PSD file, etc.—and the plugin will run each step automatically in sequence:

• Step one: complete
• Step two: complete
• Step three: complete

This is especially useful if you’re producing multiple mockup variants of the same artwork, such as different room scenes or frame colors. As long as your PSD mockup templates share the same aspect ratio, you can select the folder of PSDs, a folder of artwork images, and a destination folder—and let the plugin handle the rest.

One Click for Dozens—or Thousands—of Mockups

Click “Run”, and the plugin gets to work. While it doesn’t always update Photoshop in real time (to conserve system resources), it quietly powers through the operation—replacing smart objects, resizing artwork, and exporting polished mockups in the background.

In one recent test, it generated 270 images in a single run. Manually creating that many would’ve taken hours. You’d need to open each file, drop in the artwork, resize it, export it, name it—again and again. With this plugin? Just a few clicks and you’re done.

Say you’ve got 100 artwork images and 10 mockup templates—that’s 1,000 mockup images. You could spend your entire weekend grinding through those by hand… or automate the whole thing in minutes with this plugin.

Mockup Automation That Feels Like Magic

Once you’ve used the Batch-Replace Smart Objects plugin, it’s hard to go back. Automating this part of your workflow doesn’t just save time—it removes the repetitive grunt work entirely. Whether you’re creating mockups for canvas art, apparel, mugs, posters, or any other print-on-demand product, this plugin makes the entire process fast, powerful, and ridiculously easy.

The post Photoshop Mockup Automation Made Ridiculously Easy appeared first on You Should Automate That.

If you regularly create custom mockup images in Photoshop, you know how repetitive and time-consuming it can be. The standard workflow usually involves opening up your mockup template, manually replacing the contents of a smart object, exporting the image, naming the file, and repeating this same process over and over. Even if you try to speed it up by copying your artwork into the smart object and flattening it, it’s still a grind when you have to do this for dozens or hundreds of images.

This kind of manual process might be fine if you’re only doing a few mockups. But when you’re dealing with different room setups, product variants, or large batches of artwork, it quickly becomes a huge time sink. That’s where the Batch-Replace Smart Objects plugin comes in. This Photoshop plugin automates the entire mockup creation process, saving you hours of tedious work.

How the Plugin Works

Using the plugin is straightforward. At the top of the interface, you set up your operation. You can choose to work with either a single Photoshop document or a whole folder of PSD templates. To keep things simple, let’s start with a single mockup template. After selecting your PSD file, you choose your input folder, which contains the artwork images you want to insert into the mockup.

Stretch to Fit Option

There’s also an option to stretch images to fit the smart object. This is especially useful if your input images have varying dimensions or aspect ratios. Leaving this option enabled ensures your mockups always look clean and properly aligned, regardless of image inconsistencies.

Exporting Your Final Mockups

Next, you choose your output folder—where the final mockup images will be saved. You can pick between JPEG or PNG as your export format. If you’re going with JPEG, you also have control over the compression level. Higher quality means larger file sizes, while lower quality saves space at the cost of visual fidelity. For the first run, setting it somewhere in the middle is usually a safe bet, and you can tweak it based on what works best for your needs.

Click Run and Let It Work

Once everything’s configured, you just click the “Run” button. The plugin takes over from there—opening, resizing, and inserting each image into the smart object, exporting the result, and repeating the process for every image in your folder. It’s fast, hands-off, and incredibly efficient.

Massive Time Savings

In one test run, the plugin generated 75 mockup images in a single go. Comparing that to the old manual process, the time savings are massive. If mockup generation is a regular part of your workflow, this plugin is an absolute game changer.

Automating Multiple Mockup Templates with Folder Mode

In some cases, your mockup workflow might involve more than just one Photoshop template. Maybe you have multiple variants—different frame colors, multiple room settings, or alternate angles of the same product. If that sounds like your setup, the Batch-Replace Smart Objects plugin can handle that too—easily.

To switch from a single-template workflow to a multi-template one, just toggle the plugin into “folder mode.” Instead of selecting just one PSD file, you point it to a folder containing all your mockup templates. The plugin will then iterate through each PSD file in the folder, applying your artwork images to every single one, automatically generating mockups along the way.

How Folder Mode Works

You start by selecting your folder of PSD mockup files, then your folder of input images—just like before. In this example, we’re going to uncheck the “stretch to fit” option because we already know the artwork images are sized correctly. Disabling that can speed things up a bit. Finally, select your output folder, and you’re ready to go.

Click “Run this now” and the plugin gets to work. It starts with the first PSD file, generates all the mockups for that one, exports them, then closes the file to free up memory. It then moves on to the next PSD, and repeats the process for each file in the folder.

Smart Resource Management

That’s a key performance feature. Mockup PSDs can be hefty—loaded with high-res textures, adjustment layers, and complex smart object stacks. Trying to open and keep 20 or 30 of those files open at once? That’ll choke your RAM, slow down Photoshop, and could even crash your system. This plugin avoids that completely by opening and closing each PSD one at a time, preserving system resources and keeping the process smooth and stable.

675 Mockups, Zero Hassle

In a recent test run, the plugin generated 675 mockup images. That’s 675 images named, exported, and organized—all on autopilot. It even names the files in a smart way, grouping them by artwork name. That makes the upload process way faster later on, especially if you’re listing products in an online store. You can just grab the grouped sets and go, instead of wasting time hunting for the right files.

Manually doing that many mockups would’ve taken the better part of a full day—opening each file, replacing the image, making sure it’s sized right, exporting, naming, and repeating that process hundreds of times. With this plugin, you just set up the inputs, click a few buttons, and let it run. It’s a massive time-saver and one of the easiest ways to speed up your print-on-demand or eCommerce image creation workflow.

Save Time with Reusable Operations and Workflows

Another powerful feature of the Batch-Replace Smart Objects plugin is the ability to save your operations—either as single-step automations or as full, multi-step workflows. This can be a huge time-saver if you have a consistent setup you use regularly.

Let’s say you always use the same mockup file, drop your artwork into the same folder, and export mockups to the same destination. Rather than manually selecting everything each time, you can save this setup as a named operation. You define your template, input folder, output folder, and quality settings, then click “Save.” The next time you need to run that operation, it’s just one click away—no need to reconfigure anything. This is perfect for standardized workflows where the files and folders don’t change.

To illustrate how the plugin handles different image sizes, a few incorrectly-sized images were included in one run. As expected, the plugin resized them to fit the mockup smart object layer, although the visuals were stretched. This highlights the benefit of enabling the “stretch to fit” option, which ensures that all artwork is scaled correctly to avoid distortions—especially when working with images of varying dimensions.

Create Multi-Step Workflows

Beyond single-step operations, the plugin also lets you create entire workflows with multiple steps. For example, let’s say you want to generate mockups using three different templates—black frame, brown frame, and white frame. You can define each one as a step in the workflow. Set the input folder, output location, image format, and other settings, then add each step one by one. When you click “Run,” the plugin will execute all steps in sequence—generating every mockup variation without any manual input in between.

Support for Multiple Clients and Projects

The plugin doesn’t stop there. You can build workflows that use entire folders of PSD mockup files instead of just individual templates. This is incredibly useful for professionals handling multiple clients or large-scale product lines. Imagine you’re a designer creating mockups for multiple clients. Each client might have different mockup styles, artwork themes, and file preferences.

With this setup, you can create a workflow like “Make All Client Mockups.” Step one might involve Client One’s PSD folder, artwork folder, and export destination. Step two might use Client Two’s completely separate PSDs, artwork, and export settings. You can even change the output format and quality per step—using JPEGs for one client and high-res PNGs for another.

One Click to Automate Everything

Once the workflow is built, you just click a single button—and the plugin will automatically run through every step, handling all the file processing, image replacements, and exports with zero manual effort.

This kind of automation is a game changer for anyone dealing with mockup generation at scale. Whether you’re an eCommerce seller, print-on-demand designer, or creative agency juggling multiple brands, this plugin turns a tedious manual grind into a fast, efficient, one-click process.

The post This Bulk Mockup Generator Will Save You TONS of Time… appeared first on You Should Automate That.

How to make a Smart Object editable in Photoshop: Option 1 is to right-click the Smart Object layer and click “Rasterize Layer”. This converts it into a layer of pixels that can now be edited. This technically solves the problem, but it may create a new problem for you — because this removes the Smart Object functionality from that layer, meaning you can no longer replace its contents to create mockups.

If your ultimate goal here is to change the appearance of the mockup scene while still being able to use the Smart Object to make mockups, one solution is to add a layer on top of the Smart Object, and apply your desired changes to that new layer. Also note that you can apply Effects to Smart Object layers without rasterizing them, and you can also create Adjustment Layers whose changes will only apply to the Smart Object layer if you link them via a Clipping Mask. If you’re trying to modify the item inside of the Smart Object, you can double-click the Smart Object layer to open it in a new tab. Make your changes, then save this tab, to update the main document.

Once everything looks good, if you’re using this document to create a large number of mockup images, consider automating that process using the Batch-Replace Smart Objects plugin. This Photoshop plugin will save you tons of time by generating all your mockups in bulk.

The post How to Make a Smart Object Editable in Photoshop appeared first on You Should Automate That.