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Photoshop Mockups Requirements GUidelines For Adobe Stock Contributors

Photoshop mockups are a great way for users to show their designs and artwork in context. This page will go in detail about the specific requirements and best practices for creating mockups for Adobe Stock templates.

On this page:

General: Mockup Requirements | Mockup Types

Optimizing Mockups: Organization & File Size | Layer Structure | Masking | Legal Compliance

General

Mockup Requirements

  • File Type: .psdt
  • Filesize: must be under 500 MB
  • Minimum Format Size: 1080 x 1080 px
  • Maximum Format Size: 7200 x 7200 px (must consider file loading performance)
  • Resolution: 300 ppi
  • Colorspace: RGB

For more information, see Standard Paper and Screen Sizes.

Mockup Types

Select the appropriate category in your metadata form when submitting mockups:

  • Photo (photo/gallery frames or photo albums mockups): meant for users to insert a photo/image
  • Print (product, apparel, advertising, or stationery mockups): meant for users to insert a design/layout that is meant to be shown as a printed item
  • Mobile (mobile, tablet, or smart watch mockups): meant for users to insert a design/layout that is meant to be show on a screen
  • Web (desktop or laptop mockups): meant for users to insert a design/layout that is meant to be show on a screen
  • Art & Illustration (notebook, chalkboard, or other mockups): meant for users to insert any hand-drawn and artistic designs that are meant to show be shown in non-print/screen formats
  • Film & Video (tv or video mockups): meant for users to insert a video frame/design that is meant to be shown on a tv/video screen

Optimizing Mockups

There are a number of ways to optimize your mockups to minimize filesize, reduce performance issues - such as file loading or editing lag, and make them easy to use.

Organization & File Size

In the above example, the original mockup file was optimized by:

  • Removing any nested Smart Objects
  • Grouping file elements by type/category
  • Rasterizing any Smart Objects that have no editable elements

Layer Structure

The structure of a mockup should be as simple and streamlined as possible. Any style or design options need to be easy for users to locate and use.

In this example, the foil, emboss, and deboss effects for this mockup have been re-structured and simplified by:

  • Improving the folder structure
  • Reducing the number of "steps" of each effect
  • Renaming layers for clarity

These changes streamline the file so that users can navigate it more easily.

Masking

Well-masked layers are important to the usability of a mockup. Masks should be applied correctly to Smart Objects:

For more information, see Photoshop Masking Tips & Techniques.

Legal Compliance

Mockup templates must comply with existing Adobe Stock legal requirements:

  • Do not submit content that does not belong to you, or incorporate photos, images, or other graphic elements that are not yours - this includes content found on websites, through online search results, content licensed from other stock sites, and logos/references to brands (including Adobe and Adobe products).
  • In place of actual images, template files must have placeholder areas and be clearly labeled as "[YOUR IMAGE HERE]" in the layer names. Placeholder areas should be appropriately nonspecific and set up as a Frame Tool/Smart Object.

For more information, see Images in Templates.

Last Published: March 25th, 2019

Top image credit: Dennis