How to Make a Free Product Mockup (T-Shirt, Mug, Box)

To make a product mockup, upload your logo or artwork to a mockup generator, choose a product such as a t-shirt, mug or box, position and scale the design, set the product colour, and export an image. ToolMany's Mockup Generator does this in your browser, so you can try a design on about 50 products before spending money on printed samples.

A mockup answers one question cheaply: does this design work on this product? Here's how to get a useful answer.

What a mockup is good for (and what it isn't)

Good for:

• Checking whether a logo is readable at the size it will be printed.
• Comparing product colours: a navy logo on a navy hoodie disappears.
• Showing a client or business partner options before committing.
• Social posts and pitch decks announcing upcoming merchandise.
• Deciding between left-chest and full-front placement on apparel.

Not a replacement for:

• A physical sample. Fabric texture, ink colour and print method (screen print, embroidery, sublimation) all change the real result.
• Photography for product listings. ToolMany's products are drawn templates, not photographs, so for shop listings, photograph the real item or use the print supplier's own mockups.

Step 1: Prepare your artwork

The cleaner the artwork, the more useful the preview.

• Use a transparent PNG. A logo with a white box behind it looks like a sticker on a coloured shirt. If yours has a plain background, remove it first with the Background Remover; see our guide to removing a white background from a logo.
• Use a large file. At least 1000 pixels wide, so it stays sharp when you scale it up on a product.
• Prepare light and dark versions. Many brands need a white version of the logo for dark products.
• Convert WebP or other formats to PNG with the Image Converter if the upload doesn't look right.

Step 2: Create the mockup

1. Open the Mockup Generator.
2. Pick a product. Browse by category or search: drinkware (coffee cup, ceramic mug, tumbler, water and sports bottles, soda can), apparel (t-shirt, V-neck, polo, hoodie, zip jacket, cap, beanie, apron, tote bag) packaging (product box, paper bag, kraft gift box, cosmetic jar), stationery (business card, letterhead, notebook, envelope), signage (poster, roll-up banner, store sign) and tech (phone case, laptop screen, power bank).
3. Add your logo, or type brand text if you don't have a logo file yet.
4. Position it. Drag the design into place, then adjust size and rotation. The editor has undo and redo, so experiment freely.
5. Set colours. Change the product colour and the background (solid or gradient), and adjust the shadow to make the preview look natural.
6. Export. Download a PNG or JPG at 1×, 2× or 3× resolution (about 500, 1000 or 1500 pixels).

Everything runs on your device. Your unreleased logo isn't uploaded anywhere, which matters if a launch is still confidential.

Placement guidelines that look professional

These sizes are common starting points for apparel and drinkware. Always confirm with your print supplier, because print areas vary by product and method.

A frequent mistake is making logos too big. A full-front logo on a polo shirt usually looks less premium than a small chest logo.

Check contrast and readability

Before you approve a design, view the mockup at the size people will actually see it:

• Zoom out to phone-screen size. Is the brand name still readable?
• Try three product colours: white, black and one brand colour.
• Check thin lines and small text. Fine details below about 1 mm may not print well, especially on fabric or with embroidery.
• Watch similar colours. A dark green logo on black can vanish in real light even if it looks fine on screen.

Using your mockups

• Client approval: export a few options and put them on one page, or combine them into a PDF with Image to PDF.
• Social media: export at 2× or 3× and resize to the platform's size with the Image Resizer.
• Packaging inserts: pair the box mockup with a QR code that links to a product page, made with the QR Code Generator.