:? New Game-Changing Free Mockup Tool for Print-On-Demand Designers! ? Next Level Mockups for FREE!
Howto & Style
Introduction
As far back as I can remember, Recraft has been my go-to platform for generating mockups to promote my designs on social media. While the platform boasts an extensive library and is incredibly easy to use, there are times when I struggle to find a particular type of mockup or image, especially when I'm under pressure and need something quickly. In such cases, the thought of requesting a custom photo can feel like too long of a wait.
Introduction to Recraft
In this article, I’ll share how Recraft has significantly empowered designers like us to create stunning mockups quickly and efficiently. We’ll dig into the features that can elevate your print-on-demand business and allow you to showcase your designs in eye-catching ways. If that sounds intriguing, let’s dive right in!
Getting Started with Recraft
Upon opening Recraft on your computer, you can easily start a new project by clicking on the black Recraft icon at the top and selecting "Create New Project." This will lead you to a familiar canvas area. A recent update from Recraft has introduced the ability to create mockups while importing your own images, which can be used across various social media platforms and websites.
Setting Up Your Canvas
To begin, setting the size of your canvas correctly is crucial. You can adjust the canvas dimensions easily by using the handle tool, moving it left for a landscape orientation or right for a portrait orientation. For optimal results, I recommend targeting a 9:6 ratio, which is excellent for Pinterest pins and adaptable for Instagram posts as well.
Generating Your First Mockup
Once you've set your canvas size, you can type in prompts for your image. For example, let's transform the basic prompt for a white T-shirt into something more specific: "A young male in his early 20s standing in a park wearing a basic white T-shirt." After hitting enter for Recraft to generate the image, you will see it appear in your project.
Importing Your Designs
After generating an image, you can import your designs directly into the mockup. It’s worth noting that I faced frustration uploading designs in dimensions intended for print-on-demand platforms (e.g., 4500x5400 pixels). Instead, I found success by resizing my designs to 1000 pixels high by 780 pixels wide at 72 DPI, which made the upload process much smoother.
Simply drag and drop your design onto the generated mockup, and Recraft will auto-adjust the dimensions of your graphic, fitting them into the contours of the model’s garment. This intuitive feature negates the need for additional resizing once you see how it smartly adapts to the mockup's shape.
Creating Different Styles
Recently, I realized that I could recreate popular T-shirt styles found on platforms like Printify and Printful. By using specific prompts mimicking the product descriptions from these platforms, I was able to generate high-quality mockups for my designs.
For example, I created a mockup of a Gildan 5000 T-shirt featuring a built young man in a studio, echoing actual print-on-demand products. This functionality empowers you to accurately represent your designs on various platforms and easily adapt them based on current fashion trends.
Final Touches and Exporting
Once you’re satisfied with the placement of your designs, click “Export” and download your mockup as a PNG. Recraft even offers an upscaling feature to enhance the quality further, perfect for ensuring your designs look top-notch on your print-on-demand listings.
Conclusion
Recraft has taken the breadth and quality of mockup creation for print-on-demand businesses to the next level—especially considering that it's entirely free to use. I encourage all designers to experiment with this platform and unleash their creativity, showcasing their designs in ways that engage and impress potential customers.
Now, get started, have fun, and may your print-on-demand business flourish!
Keyword
- Recraft
- Mockup tool
- Print-on-demand
- Graphic design
- Visual marketing
- Custom T-shirt
- Import images
- Design resizing
- Canvas settings
- Marketing mockups
FAQ
1. What is Recraft?
Recraft is a free online mockup tool designed for graphic designers to create high-quality mockups for their print-on-demand products quickly.
2. How do I set up my canvas in Recraft?
You can adjust the canvas size by moving a handle for landscape or portrait orientation. It is recommended to use a 9:6 ratio for optimal results.
3. What are the best dimensions to upload designs?
The ideal design size for uploading to Recraft is 1000 pixels high by 780 pixels wide, with a DPI set to 72.
4. Can I create mockups of specific T-shirt brands?
Yes! By using prompts that reference T-shirt brands like Gildan or Bella Canvas, you can create accurate mockup representations.
5. How do I export my mockups?
Once you're satisfied with your design placement, click “Export” to download your mockup as a PNG file.