CREATSY.
COM
Interactive
User Manual
If this guide doesn’t answer all your questions, if you have any issues while using our files
or just want to share some thoughts or ideas for new mockups, please feel free to contact us
directly: [email protected] - We will be happy to help! If you want to find out more about
Creatsy services, please visit us: www.creatsy.com
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CREATSY.COM
Table Of Content
1. What’s included..................................................................................................................................................................3
2. Layer orders and functions..............................................................................................................................................4
2.1 Light, light shadows & effects...............................................................................................................................................................5
2.2 Hide/show and change opacity of layers and groups..................................................................................................................6
2.3 Editing solid colors and gradients.......................................................................................................................................................6
2.4 Move, transform and duplicate layers and groups.......................................................................................................................7
2.5.2 3D Layers..........................................................................................................................................................................................8
2.6 More shadows...........................................................................................................................................................................................9
2.7 Editing backgrounds............................................................................................................................................................................. 10
3.1 3D issues..........................................................................................................................................................................11
4. Tips and tricks...................................................................................................................................................................12
Contact...................................................................................................................................................................................13
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1. What’s included CREATSY.COM
psd mockups and jpg previews (blanks):
User manual PDF file
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2. Layer orders and functions CREATSY.COM
LIGHT & COLOR BOOST / check: 2.1 Light, light shadows & effects
Move, transform or duplicate this object / check: 2.4 Move, transform and duplicate layers and groups
MORE SHADOWS / check: 2.6 More Shadows
FABRIC
Edit design via 3D layers / check: 2.5.2 3D layers
Edit colors via color layers / check: 2.3 Editing colors and gradients
BACKGROUND
Scene shadows / check: 2.7 Editing backgrounds
Edit colors via color layers / check: 2.3 Editing colors and gradients
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2.1 Light, light shadows & effects < BACK TO LAYERS ORDER
Depending on the product mockup, we are using several light setups and effects that will give your mockup scene 2. Brightness/contrast properties panel
an extra boost. Everything is optional, you can always hide them or change their opacity. These effects are
grouped or occur as a single layers, and are always highlighted in yellow. Have a look at these few samples:
Lighting and contrast (edit/show/hide and change opacity):
You can use these layers to change brightness, light and contrast in the scene. You can not only change opacity but
also edit these layers. To edit, double click on layer icon: it will open the properties panel of adjustment layer:
The Brightness/Contrast adjustment lets you make simple adjustments to the tonal range of an image. Moving the
1. Level properties panel brightness slider to the right increases tonal values and expands image highlights, to the left decreases values and
expands shadows. The contrast slider expands or shrinks the overall range of tonal values in the image.
Other common effects (show/hide and change opacity)
If you want to change opacity to decrease or increase effect, select layer/group and decrease opacity value on the
top of the layer palette. To hide/show please click the small eye icon.
Use selected sliders to increase contrast. By moving left shadow input slider to the right you will make dark areas
more darker and by moving right highlight input slider to the left you will make bright areas brighter. Moving the
middle input slider to the left or right makes the overall image brighter or darker.
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2.2 Hide/show and change opacity of layers and groups 2.3 Editing solid colors and gradients < BACK TO LAYERS ORDER
Hide/show Editing colors
To hide/show layers or groups please double click the small eye icon on the left: To edit color layer please double click the small color square icon:
Use the Color Picker to select a different color fill and click “OK”.
Changing opacity
To change opacity firstly select layer and then increase/decrease percentage value at the top of layer palette:
Editing gradients (if avalaible)
To edit gradient please double click the small color square:
Use the Gradient Fill Palette to select (and/or edit) different gradient.
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2.4 Move, transform and duplicate layers and groups < BACK TO LAYERS ORDER
Moving objects Duplicating objects
To move object please select layer/group you want to move , then choose the move tool in Tool or click “V” on To duplicate object please select proper layer/group then click “CTRL+J” (”Command+J” on Mac).
your keyboard. Note that not every object is movable. Please don’t move objects that are inside “not movable” group:
If you are duplicating group with smart object(s) then the newly created smart object(s) will be linked to original
one, we call them “twins” :) It means that by changing one, the same design will be applied to original smart object.
To unlink smart objects in new created group, please follow steps below:
Otherwise filters that are applied on smart objects will not work properly. If you still need to move object you will
have to follow these steps:
1. Right-click new smart object in newly created group and select New smart object via copy from the drop down list
1. Select all layers inside “Object (NOT MOVABLE)” group, without “drop shadow” group. 2. This will create new smart object.
2. RIght-click on selected layers and select Convert to smart object from drop down list. 3. Please select it and right-click, choose Create clipping mask from drop down list.
3. Select “Object (NOT MOVABLE)” group and move object on the scene. 4. Delete original smart object below.
Note that you will have to double click newly created smart object to edit mocked up product.
If you are duplicating group with many smart object then the newly created smart objects will be linked to another,
Transforming objects
we call them “twins” :) It means that by changing one object the same design will be applied to original one.
Please select layer/group with object you want to transform and click “CTRL+T” (”Command-T” on Mac). Then
To avoid it, go to:
righ-click inside transform controls. Select transform type from drop down list.
Photoshop menu > Image > Duplicate
This will open copy of .psd file in the new window. Drag and drop object (group) from newly created .psd file to original
.psd file. (it’s quicker than creating many new smart objects via copy ;) )
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2.5 Editing design / 2.5.2 3D Layers < BACK TO LAYERS ORDER
In mockups with complicated objects we are using 3D layers instead of smart object layers. These objects are warping Go to Photoshop menu > View > Properties and uncheck UV Overlays:
your design accurately on the image, following the real dieline (mesh). All 3D layers in our mockups are highlighted
in: green blue orange (depending on the object) and contain the word “Design 3D:” in title.
To apply your custom design on object you will have to double click the highlighted text:
Have a look at the layer palette. All you have to do is to place your design inside “Design” group above sample design
layer (after that you can delete “sample design” layer).
Sometimes Photoshop change this text to path, but no matter what will be written there, you will find it always
between “Diffuse” and “Image Based Light”.
By clicking selected area you will open new window (.psb file). You will notice black dense lines, it’s 3D mesh. Let’s switch
it off to make working process more comfortable. Note that you will make it only once - Photoshop will remember
your 3D settings for all other 3D layers :)
Fit your artwork to the canvas with transform tool (explained in 2.4. - transforming objects). If your design includes
transparency please use “Color” layer to set custom color as 3D layers do not support transparency. Then please
click: “CTRL+S” (”Command+S” on Mac) and “CTRL+W” (”Command+W” on Mac) to save and close .psb file.
Now mockup will be updated with your custom design.
Sometimes you will notice 3D environment lines like below, click CTRL+H (Command + H on Mac) to hide it:
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2.6 More shadows < BACK TO LAYERS ORDER
Most of our mockups include special group called “MORE SHADOWS”. It’s always highlighted in red.
You can use it to increase shadows and highlights of object.
“MORE SHADOWS” works great for very strong, dense patterns, dark colors and contrasting designs by giving extra
3D depth to the image. Note that you can always adjust the opacity.
We always recommend to use this option even a little :) Sample effect achieved with “MORE SHADOWS”:
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2.7 Editing backgrounds < BACK TO LAYERS ORDER
Most of our mockups include special group called “Background”. It’s always highlighted in violet. We often include premade textures in our .psd files. In top views you will find them under “Scene shadows” group
Inside this group you will most often find 3 elements: Scene shadows (group), “Design: background” (smart object (you will have to click the small eye icon to make them visible):
prepared to insert textures - for angled views) and “Color: background” layer:
In angled views you will find them inside “Design: background” smart object. In interior mockups they are inserted
inside “Design: floor” or “Design: wall” smart objects. Please double click smart object, you will find them above
sample design layer:
If you want to use solid color only - hide “Design: background” layer. Change color of background via “Color” layer
(check: 2.2 Editing solid colors and gradients).
If you want to add texture in top view, just drag and drop it below “Scene shadows” group.
If you want to add texture in angled views, use “Design: background” smart object that will align it accurately to
perspective (how to edit smart objects please check: 2.5.1 Smart objects).
Feel free to adjust opacity of “Scene shadows” or hide it if necessary (check: 2.2 Hide/show and change opacity of
layers and groups).
In interior mockups layers highlighed in violet are intended for editing walls, wall decors, tiles & grouts, windows,
window sills, doors, ceilings, floors and baseboards:
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3.1 3D issues < BACK TO LAYERS ORDER
If you are not able to edit 3D layers or Photoshop crashes during editing, there may be few things to check:
1. Do you use recommended Photoshop version?
Minimal version for using 3D layers is Photoshop CS6 Extended. Please always read the product description
carefully as there are a lot of changes between Photoshop versions when it comes to 3D.
If colors are not displayed correctly or are overburned you are probably using Photoshop version that is not
recommended for the purchased mockup file.
2. Do you work in proper color mode?
To use 3D layers you will have to work in RGB/8 bit mode.
To check it go to Photoshop menu > Image > Mode and make sure you have selected: RGB Color, 8 Bits/Channel.
3. Do you have GPU enabled?
Enabled GPU is required to work with 3D layers.
To check it go to Photoshop menu > Edit > Preferences > Performance and make sure this checkbox is selected:
4. Do you use proper graphic card drivers?
Both GPU and proper drivers are important in other Photoshop functions so it’s good to check it anyway. ;)
You can also try to update your Photoshop to the newest version (as over time, errors may occur in the old
Photoshop software).
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4. Tips and tricks < BACK TO LAYERS ORDER
1. Fast hide/show palettes while working with smaller display resolutions. 4. Hide non useful palettes.
Hover your mouse over layer palette edge and double-left-click to reduce the size, make the same to expand it: Most of our mockup files have a lot of function and layers. If you have a lot of palettes visible they will take to
much space and you will have to scroll all the layers in the layer palette which is very uncomfortable.
To close palettes, please click small icon: and choose Close from the drop down list:
2. Widen layer palette to see all the layers names.
Hover your mouse over layer palette edge, left-click and drag to make the palette wider:
5. Hide smart objects and (auto) layers when you don’t want to apply design on specific element.
Quick sample below. In this case you will apply just a solid color on edge:
3. Toggle layers to fast check the content, clicking on and off the small eyeball icons ( it’s useful to quickly check
which layer you woud like to edit, for e.g if a file includes many smart objects, you can just toggle them on or off.
Whenever “grid pattern” disappear, you know that this is the layer.
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Contact
Please feel free to write to us if you have any problems with our files.
Please remember that in every Photoshop update, Adobe introduces changes that we cannot
predict. If mockups do not work correctly, or colors are displayed wrong - let us know!
We will adapt the files to the next version. If this guide doesn’t answer all your questions, if you
have any issues while using our files or you just want to share some thoughts or ideas for new
mockups please feel free to contact us directly: [email protected] - We will be happy to help!
If you want to find out more about Creatsy services please visit us: www.creatsy.com
Thank you for supporting us!
Creatsy Team