Fast Access to Essential Information

This section provides quick-reference tables and checklists for fast problem-solving and workflow optimisation. Everything here is covered in more depth in the sections referenced alongside each table.

11.1 Resize Modes

Full detail: Section 5

Mode	Aspect ratio	Empty space?	Cropping?	Distortion?	Best for
Stretch ⭐	Ignored	No	No	Possible	Designs made to match the template, or exported with a transparent footprint
Fill	Maintained	No	Possible	No	Patterns, full-bleed artwork, designs with safe zones
Fit	Maintained	Possible	No	No	Logos and designs with important borders
No Resize	Maintained	Possible	Possible	No	Designs already at the exact pixel size of the smart object

Quick Decision Guide

If this is you...	Use
You've exported designs from your production files with a transparent footprint	Stretch ⭐
Your design and template aspect ratios already match	Stretch
Your design must stay proportional, and empty space is fine	Fit
You need edge-to-edge coverage and can afford to lose the edges	Fill
Your PNG is already the exact pixel size of the smart object	No Resize
You're not sure	Stretch — then test a small batch and compare

11.2 Processing Types

Full detail: Section 7

The Processing Type menu is your first choice. What appears beneath it depends on what you pick:

Processing Type	Next choice	Plan required
No Effects (Design Placement Only)	None — straight placement	Standard
Engraving Effects	Substrate Type → Effect Setting	Professional
Print UV / Sublimation	Print Type	Print & Sublimation and above

Print Types (6 settings)

Setting	Name	Best for	White in your design
1	Sublimation	Ceramic, white glass, stainless steel	From white substrate
2	UV Print on White	White products	From white substrate
3	UV Print on Wood 1	Wood, bolder coverage	Shows as bare wood
4	UV Print on Wood 2	Wood, more grain showing	Shows as bare wood
5	UV Print on Wood 3	Wood designs with white detail	Printed and preserved
6	UV Print on Wood 4	White detail with bolder colour	Printed and preserved

💡 The wood decision: does your design contain white you need to keep? Yes → Wood 3 or 4. No → Wood 1 (bolder) or Wood 2 (more grain).

Engraving Substrates

Substrate	Settings available	Simulates
Wood	10	Laser engraving on maple, oak, walnut, bamboo, acacia
Slate	4	Laser engraving on slate — four levels of grey
Glass	3	Laser engraving or sandblasting on glass — light to heavy frost
Leather	2	Laser engraving on leather — coloured (1) and dark (2)

Settings Selection Guide

All effects use numbered settings (not named).

How to Choose Your Setting:

1. Run a test batch with ONE design through ALL settings
2. Print/engrave actual products using your equipment
3. Compare mockups to real products side-by-side
4. Note which setting best matches your production
5. Document your findings (e.g., "Wood Coasters = Setting 3")
6. Use that setting consistently for future batches

Why Numbered?

• Every laser/printer has different power, speed, and material settings
• Your equipment produces unique results
• No universal "correct" setting exists — you must test to find YOUR best match

11.3 Output Formats

Full detail: Section 8

Format	File size	Quality	Editable?	Available with effects?	Best for
JPG ⭐	2–5 MB	Adjustable (1–12)	No	Yes	Web, online stores, everyday use
PNG	5–15 MB	Always lossless	No	Yes	Print, archiving, transparency
PSD	50–200 MB	Lossless, layered	Yes	No — No Effects only	Further editing in Photoshop

Tick the formats you need in the plugin — one, or several. Ticking several creates a separate file per format for every mockup.

JPG Quality

Quality	Typical file size	Best for
1–4	Under 1 MB	Not recommended for professional use
5–7	1–2 MB	Web thumbnails, quick proofs, email
8	2–3 MB	Online stores, product listings (default) ⭐
9–10	3–5 MB	Customer presentations, larger displays
11–12	5–8 MB	Print materials only (consider PNG instead)

File Naming

• Automatic naming based on PNG name, PSD name, and processing setting
• You choose the order of those three elements (6 options)
• ⚠️ Files with the same name are overwritten without warning — use separate output folders per batch

11.4 File Requirements Checklist

Design Files (PNG)

Required:

✅ PNG file format

✅ Transparent background

✅ 300 DPI resolution minimum

✅ RGB colour mode

✅ High-quality source files (no pixelation)

Recommended:

✅ Exported from your production files, so the transparent footprint matches your product's print area

Not Supported:

❌ JPG files (no transparency)

❌ TIFF files

❌ SVG files (vector format)

❌ AI files (Adobe Illustrator)

❌ PSD files (designs must be PNG; templates are PSD)

Best Practices:

• Use descriptive file names (e.g., Square-Wood.png, Rectangle-Print.png)
• Organise by shape and substrate
• Keep originals in a separate folder
• Use a consistent naming convention

Template Files (PSD)

Required:

✅ PSD file format

✅ Compatible with Photoshop CC 2019+

✅ Contains at least one smart object

✅ Smart object properly lined up with the product's print area

✅ 300 DPI resolution recommended

Best Practices:

• Include a reference JPG for each template (e.g., WoodenCoaster.psd + WoodenCoaster.jpg)
• Organise by substrate type (Wood, Slate, Glass, Leather, Print)
• Use descriptive file names
• Test templates before large batches
• Only put templates you want in the folder — every design is processed against every PSD in it

System Requirements

Software:

✅ Adobe Photoshop CC 2019 or later (subscription version)

✅ Active Mockup Factory subscription (Standard, Print & Sublimation, or Professional)

✅ Internet connection (required each time you log in and to load the panel)

Hardware:

✅ Windows 10/11 or macOS 10.14 (Mojave) or later

✅ 2 GB free disk space minimum — 10 GB+ recommended for batch processing

✅ 8 GB RAM minimum (16 GB+ recommended)

✅ SSD recommended for faster processing

11.5 Batch Maths

You have	And	You'll get
5 designs	4 templates	20 mockups
10 designs	3 templates	30 mockups
20 designs	10 templates	200 mockups

Every PNG is processed against every PSD in the folder, using the same settings. Keep batches under 100 mockups for a comfortable workflow.

11.6 When to Contact Support

Contact support@themockupfactory.com if:

• Quick fixes don't resolve the issue
• You see persistent error messages
• Plugin won't install or load
• Processing consistently fails
• You suspect a bug or technical issue

Contact creativehelp@themockupfactory.com if:

• You're not sure which processing type or setting to use
• You want advice on mockups or design placement

Include in your support email:

• Operating system (Windows/Mac version)
• Photoshop version (Help > About Photoshop)
• Exact error message (screenshot if possible)
• Steps you've already tried
• Example files (if applicable)

Response time: typically within 24 hours (business days)

11.7 Quick Fixes

Symptom	First thing to try
Plugin missing from Window > Extensions	Restart Photoshop twice — the cache needs two restarts
Panel blank or won't load	Restart twice, then check your internet connection
Panel looks wrong after an update	Restart twice
Effect is locked	Check your plan — print needs Print & Sublimation, engraving needs Professional
Can't export a PSD	Switch Processing Type to No Effects
Design squashed or cropped	Wrong resize mode — see 11.1
White disappearing on wood	Switch to UV Print on Wood 3 or 4
Mockups you didn't want	Remove unneeded PSDs from the template folder

Full detail: Section 9: Troubleshooting Guide

Quick Tips for Success

✅ Always test with small batches first (5–10 mockups)

✅ Organise files before processing (Templates, Designs, Output folders)

✅ Use descriptive file names (shape + substrate)

✅ Create reference libraries for effect settings

✅ Keep 10+ GB disk space free

✅ Close other programs during processing

✅ Back up your mockups regularly

✅ Document your settings for future batches