What is a Mockup?
A mockup is a digital representation or visualization of how your design will look when applied to a t-shirt, hoodie, or any piece of apparel. It’s essentially a visual prototype—an image that shows the design on a mock garment, allowing you and your manufacturer to see how the final product will look before production starts. In this article, we delve in to the process of how to send mockups to manufacturer.
Why Use Mockups?
- Helps with Visualization: You can get a good idea of how your design fits and looks on the product.
- Avoids Misunderstanding: A clear mockup ensures that both you and your t-shirt manufacturer are on the same page about how the design will be printed or embroidered.
- Improves Communication: Makes it easier to explain specific details like placement, size, or colors.
How to send Mockups to T-Shirt & Hoodie Clothing Manufacturer
- Create Your Mockup:
- Design First: Before creating a mockup, make sure your design is finalized. You should have a high-quality digital file of your artwork (e.g., vector files like AI, EPS, or high-resolution images like PNG, JPEG).
- Use Mockup Tools:
- Online Mockup Generators: Websites like Placeit, Canva, and others let you upload your design to pre-made templates for t-shirts and hoodies, giving you a realistic image of what the final product will look like.
- Design Software: If you’re proficient in software like Photoshop or Illustrator, you can create mockups manually by using smart objects to apply your design onto garment templates.
- Check Resolution: Ensure your mockup is high quality (at least 300 DPI) for clear, detailed images.
- Check Manufacturer’s Requirements:
- File Format: Ask the manufacturer for their preferred file formats. Some might want vector files (AI, EPS), while others accept raster images (PNG, JPEG).
- Resolution & Size: Make sure the resolution is high enough to avoid pixelation (300 DPI is standard). Confirm the file size limits with the manufacturer.
- Color Mode: Ensure your files are in the right color mode, like RGB (for digital mockups) or CMYK (for print), depending on what the manufacturer requires.
- Send Your Mockups:
- Attach Mockups: Attach your high-resolution mockup files to an email or upload them to the manufacturer’s design portal.
- Include Important Details: Along with the mockup, provide a description of the design, specifying details like design placement, size, and color codes. Also, clarify which product (t-shirt, hoodie, etc.) you want your design applied to, and mention the fabric/material if needed.
- Specify Quantities & Sizes: Mention how many items you want to order, including the sizes and quantities for each.
- Confirm and Follow Up:
- Once you send your mockups, follow up to confirm that they’ve received everything and that the designs are clear. This step is important to make sure there’s no confusion about the product specifications before production begins.
By following these steps, you ensure that both you and your hoodie manufacturer are on the same page regarding the design, product, and production details. The mockups serve as a clear visual reference to bring your custom clothing vision to life.
