--- title: "Mockup with transforms | Customer's Canvas Hub" canonical: "https://customerscanvas.com/docs/hub/designers-manual/mockups/pim-mockups/preview-thumbnail/mockup-with-transforms/" --- # Mockup with transforms > PIM products support a single file as a preview and thumbnail mockup. You can apply transformations to display a design on the images of real products. In this article, you will learn how to create a preview or a thumbnail mockup with a transformed smart object. Such a smart object may be helpful when you need to display your design in perspective. As an example, you will consider how to create a mockup for a [yard sign](https://customerscanvas.com/demos/product/yard-sign) from our [online demos](https://customerscanvas.com/demos/product). ![A mockup displayed a yard sign.](images/mockups-with-distortions-yard-sign.png) ## Video tutorial The following video summarizes this article. Feel free to watch it in addition to reading the text below. ## Creating a new file To create a mockup in Photoshop, select **File** > **New**. When a new dialog box opens, fill the following fields: * **Width** and **Height**. In the following example, the size of this mockup is `1134 x 745` pixels. To learn more about recommended sizes, read the [dimensions](https://customerscanvas.com/docs/hub/designers-manual/mockups/pim-mockups/preview-thumbnail.md#dimensions) article. The measurement units are pixels. * **Resolution**. Set to `72` DPI. * **Color mode**. Select `RGB Color`. * **Background Contents**. Select **White**. ## Rasterizing the layer Photoshop creates a file with only a background layer. To convert this layer to a regular one, double-click this layer and select **Layer from Background**. When a new dialog box opens, type in a new name, for example, `Background`. Now the layer is rasterized, and you can add new layers and place some artworks. ![Rasterizing the default background.](images/03-background.gif) ## Adding substrates and overlays Let's add substrate and overlay layers. To embed them, click **File** > **Embedding** or just drag and drop them. As a result, there will be a background image, a wooden stand, a sign surface, clips, and shadows. Afterward, you can delete the `Background` layer. ![Overlays and substrates.](images/mockups-with-distortions-sudstrates-overlays.png) ## Smart Object In this mockup, a smart object is a transformed rectangle. :::tip Before creating a smart object, you can see how the design on your mockup will look on such a surface in perspective. For this, embed your design image in this mockup file and apply a Distort transform to this image with **Edit** > **Transform** > **Distort**. Then, change the blending mode to **Multiply**. If the result is correct, you may delete this image and create a smart object. ::: ![Test how your design will look on your mockup with transforms.](images/mockups-with-distortions-text-design.png) ### Creating a smart object To create a smart object, you need to create a new rectangle with the **Rectangle** tool. The fill is white. For example, the size is `500px x 376px`. :::note Make sure that the aspect ratio of this rectangle is the same as the aspect ratio of your supposed design. The exact size of a smart object doesn't matter. ::: Next, rename this layer to `Image`, right-click this layer, and select **Convert to Smart Object**. ![Creating a smart object.](images/mockups-with-distortions-creating-smart-onbject.png) Now you can transform this rectangle. To do so, select **Edit** > **Transform** > **Distort**. Drag rectangle edges to adjust and place it to the sign surface. Rename this layer to `Design`. Now, place this layer between your overlay and substrate layers. In this example, the smart object is under the `Clips` and `Highlight` layers. ![The yard sign mockup with the transformed smart object.](images/mockups-with-distortions-creating-smart-object-result.png) :::warning The smart object must have the name `Design` and contain an `Image` layer. These names allow Customer's Canvas to recognize your mockup. ::: ## Saving the mockup To save the product, click Ctrl + S or click **File** > **Save** and select the PSD format. ## Uploading a mockup To upload a mockup to the Customer's Canvas cloud, read the [Adding new assets](https://customerscanvas.com/docs/hub/admin-guide/manage-assets/file-manager.md#add-new-assets) topic. ## Connecting a mockup to a product To read how to connect this mockup to a product, read the [Connecting assets to products](https://customerscanvas.com/docs/hub/admin-guide/pim/connecting-assets-to-products.md) article.