Ways to personalise assets for your portfolio: Create your own reusable mockup with Photoshop Smart Objects
Simon demonstrates how to create a personalized portfolio presentation asset using Adobe Photoshop, combining photography with digital skills. The process involves the following key steps:
Start with a simple photograph (in this case, a tote bag taken with an iPhone).
Isolate the main object (tote bag) from the background using the pen tool to create a path.
Desaturate the image and adjust levels to improve the appearance of the fabric.
Add a new background color.
Create a smart object for the area where artwork will be placed on the bag.
Use the smart object to add placeholder text and graphics.
Create a displacement map to make the artwork conform to the bag's folds and texture:
Save a copy of the image
Flatten the image and adjust contrast
Apply Gaussian blur
Use this file as a displacement map
Apply the displacement effect to the smart object containing the artwork.
Import actual logo artwork from Illustrator and replace the placeholder in the smart object.
Adjust the opacity and blend mode of the artwork to better integrate it with the bag texture.
Add a drop shadow to the bag to make it stand out from the background.
Throughout the process, Simon emphasizes that even with a simple photograph taken on a smartphone, you can create a professional-looking, personalized portfolio asset. He highlights the importance of using Photoshop's features like smart objects, displacement maps, and blending modes to achieve a realistic result.
Simon also notes that this method creates reusable assets, allowing for easy updates or changes to the artwork in the future. The final result is a custom mockup of a logo on a tote bag, demonstrating how to combine real-world photography with digital design skills for unique portfolio presentations.
