How to create mockups for designs using Canva's Smartmockups

Have you ever wondered where businesses get their product images from? Or how could a small t-shirt company have time to take so many photos, since each shirt has a different print? Sometimes they are real, one-of-a-kind images, but many times, creators are using mockups to save time and resources.

Designing a mockup on Canva is super easy, and using one of Smartmockups' thousands of mockup options makes impromptu image creation fun and fast. The best part is that it's completely free!

Read on to learn how to use Smartmockups on Canva.

How to use Smartmockups on Canva

The instructions below work exactly the same whether you're using the desktop version or Canva's user-friendly mobile app.

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Start on Canva's main page, click Apps on the left toolbar and select Smartmockups under Recommended. From there, you can browse the mockup selection categorized by type, or you can search for something specific that comes to mind. This example will search for posters.

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Once you find the mockup you want to use, click on it and tap Select on the next page. If you have uploaded or designed a design on Canva that you want to use, you can find it in the loaded pop-up window. If you want to upload images from your computer, click Upload.

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Click the image you want to add to the mockup, then click Select. Canva will add it to the available space. To edit the image click Adjust Image on the right. Make any necessary adjustments. Click Save to save. When you're done, select Save Mockup.

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From here, you will have two options. You can download the image if you're happy with it ( Download ), or you can select Use in a Design to edit the mockup further.

If you click Use in a Design , the two images will become one when it opens in Canva's editor. From there, you can crop, add text, or include other graphics to help your design stand out.

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When you're done, go to Share in the top right corner and choose how you want to share your Smartmockup with everyone.

What if you're working on a design?

Unfortunately, you can't find Smartmockups in the Canva editor, but you have options. You can start on Canva's main page, follow the instructions above, download your mockup and then upload it to the design you're currently working on.

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Or, you can just use one of Canva's many design apps, one of which is a mockup app. In the Canva editor, select the App tab on the left toolbar, type Mockups in the search bar, then click the Mockup app icon.

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From there, you can browse through all the mockup templates Canva has to offer. Click on the one you like and it will appear on the canvas. Go to the Uploads tab and find the image you want to add to the mockup image. Move the image across the space of the mockup and Canva will add it to the image seamlessly.

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If you need to edit the image, click Edit on the canvas toolbar and modify the mockup to your liking. When you're done, select the Share button and save your mockup.

Isabella Humphrey

Update 24 October 2023