Do you ever feel like your Canva designs are missing something?
I know I’ve spent time crafting designs only to be left wishing they looked more complete and professional.
This is where Canva’s Smart Mockups come in handy!
Mockups allow you to showcase your designs in realistic contexts, like on a t-shirt, book cover, poster, or other products.
It makes them pop off the screen and look like finished, tangible items.
In this quick guide, I’ll explain how to easily use Smart Mockups in Canva, no design expertise is needed!
Whether you’re a new or advanced Canva user, you’ll be able to create mockups that take your designs to the next level in just minutes.
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How To Use Smart Mockups In Canva (Step By Step!)
Here are the steps that you can follow to use smart mockups in Canva.
1. Add Mockup To Your Design
Click on the ‘Apps’ button from the left sidebar of the Canva homepage to get access to more apps.
Then search for ‘Mockup’ from the top search bar of the new menu. From the search results, click on the ‘Mockups’ app.
After clicking on the ‘Mockups’ app, Canva will give you options to use the mockup on your design:
- Use In Existing Design
- Use In New Design
In this tutorial, we are creating mockups from scratch. So, click on the ‘Use In New Design’ button and then search for your desired design type from the top search bar.
For example, I will search for ‘Instagram Post’ from the top search bar.
From the search results, click on that design type to get redirected to the blank canvas. Then you will notice a mockup menu on the left-hand side of your screen.
Now you have to decide what type of mockup you want to use such as smartphones, computers, tablets & TV etc.
After deciding on the mockup type, click on the ‘See All’ button to get access to all the mockups under that category.
For example, I want to add a tablet mockup to my design. So, I will click on the ‘See All’ button beside the ‘Tablets & TV’ category.
After getting access to all the mockups under your desired category, scroll through the available options and click on the mockup that you like the most to add it to your canvas.
2. Insert An Image In The Mockup
After adding a mockup to your design, it is crucial to insert an image inside it.
For instance, I am creating an ‘Instagram Post’ to advertise my new book. So, I will insert the cover of my book inside the ‘Tablet’ mockup.
To upload a custom image on your design, click on the ‘Uploads’ button from the left sidebar. Then click on the ‘Upload Files’ button to select your desired image for your computer.
Once your image is uploaded, drag and drop it over the mockup. Now the uploaded image will take the shape of your mockup.
Note
You can also add a Canva stock image to your mockup. Click on the ‘Photos’ button from the left sidebar to get access to Canva’s library of stock photos.
3. Customize Your Image
After inserting an image inside the mockup, we can start customizing it according to our needs.
Click on the ‘Edit’ button from the top toolbar to get access to the editing panel.
Click on the ‘Fill’ button under the ‘Image Crop’ subheading to increase the size of the image inside the mockup. It helps to increase the readability of the text on the image.
Note
You can also use other tools inside the editing panel to adjust the alignment and positioning of the image as well.
4. Create The Background For Your Mockup
Once you have your mockup ready in front of you, we can start creating a beautiful background for it.
Click on the ‘Apps’ button from the left sidebar and then scroll down to click on the ‘Background’ button.
A new menu with different background categories will appear in front of you. From the search bar, search for the keyword of your desired background.
Note
This is the most important step in creating a successful mockup. You have to decide what type of background you want to create for your mockup.
For example, I want to visualize how my mockup will look on a table. So, I will search for ‘Table Top’ from the top search bar of the background menu.
Then click on the background of your liking from the search results to add it to your design.
After adding a background to your design. Click on the mockup and then drag the ‘Resizing’ handle to resize the mockup according to the requirement.
After resizing the element, drag and place the mockup in its respective place over the background.
5. Add Text Elements To Your Design
After positioning the mockup, we will proceed with adding the text elements to the leftover space on the design.
Click on the ‘Text’ button from the left sidebar and then click on a default text style or font combination according to your liking.
Once you have the text box on your design, type in your desired text.
For example, I will type ‘Free Guide’ in my text box because I am creating an advertising copy for my book.
If you want to change the existing font style of the text, click on the ‘Font Style’ button from the top toolbar.
Then from the font style menu, click on the ‘Font Style’ of your liking to add it to your text.
Note: In this way, you can keep adding and customizing the text elements from the top toolbar (refer to the screenshot below).
Now a beautiful mockup will be ready in front of you.
Note
If you wish to decorate your design, click on the ‘Elements’ button from the left sidebar. Once you are satisfied with the design in front of you, click on the ‘Share’ button from the top right corner of the screen to download your design to your computer.
FAQ- How To Use Smart Mockups In Canva
Below are a few frequently asked questions:
Is Smart Mockup Free In Canva?
Yes, creating smart mockups is free in Canva. You can open a mockup template from the Canva homepage and then customize it according to your preference. But if you want to create a mockup from scratch, then go through this blog.
How Do You Add A Picture To A Mockup?
Upload your desired image on Canva or search for it from the Canva stock images. Once you have the image of your liking in front of you, drag and drop it over the mockup. The picture will now take the shape of the mockup.
Wrapping Up
And that’s a wrap!
As you can see, Smart Mockups make it super easy to showcase your designs on real stuff.
I can’t tell you how much time and frustration mockups have saved me – I can preview designs instantly without fumbling around in other apps.
The basics are simple once you get the hang of Canva’s easy-to-use interface.
I hope you found these tips helpful. Let me know if you have any other Canva questions! I’m always happy to help fellow designers.
Before you go, please share this guide with friends. The more we learn together, the better our skills get.
Looking forward to seeing all the amazing mockup creations you come up with!
Hey there! I’m Rohit Lohia, a passionate SEO enthusiast and the proud founder of Branded Bucks. I’m all about helping small business owners achieve success online through my blog. Join me on this exciting journey as we explore ways to make money online and build a thriving digital presence.