Project: Use PSD mockup files to create realistic models of branded products.
Design process: Starting with a base drawing of a penguin, I applied the design to various mockup files—a framed photo, a t-shirt, and a notecard—to practice this skill.
Result: Custom product mockups made to order.
Original sketch
For a graphic design class, we had to sketch out as many associations for a single animal we could think of, as a way to practice different brainstorming techniques. I chose “bird,” which resulted in these! I’m pleased with the range of ideas that came out of this exercise.
One of my favorites ended up being the penguin couple, so I decided to come back to it to keep practicing with vector art.
Converting ink to a vector
I redrew the penguin with the egg in ink, converted it using Image Trace in Illustrator, and then colored in the rest on the program. I can draw directly using Illustrator as well, but I miss the freedom of sketching out on a page sometimes. Finally learning this workaround in another class has been a great way to keep pushing my digital art skills while keeping my pencil-and-paper techniques sharp.
Adding in some color brought me to this, the basis of the mockups!
Final products
Using PSD mockups made by other creators, I added in my art and voilà—a beautiful mockup! Learning how to make these has been life-changing, as you can see elsewhere on my site. Being able to make these for other people would be a lovely way to apply this skill, especially once I learn how to make my own mockup files from scratch.
