Why 3D beats 2D mockup templates
Traditional mockups layer your design onto a flat photograph using a Photoshop displacement map. The result looks convincing from one angle but falls apart the moment you change perspective, and you need a new template for every color, pose, and garment. A 3D mockup renders the shirt live in WebGL, so rotation, lighting, and color respond instantly, producing a consistent look across your entire product catalogue without buying hundreds of PSD files.
Preparing your artwork
Export your design at 2000×2000 px or larger with a transparent background. Flatten multi-layer source files first. Dark artwork on a dark shirt and light artwork on a light shirt both read poorly; add a subtle shadow or stroke in your vector tool to improve contrast. Keep fine detail above 1 mm equivalent — the fabric texture of a printed tee swallows anything thinner.
Color management basics
The 3D renderer works in sRGB color space. If your artwork uses a wider gamut (DCI-P3, Adobe RGB) the export will be clipped. For print-ready mockups, work in sRGB throughout and proof on a calibrated monitor. Remember that fabric absorbs light differently from a screen, so on-model previews tend to look slightly more vibrant than the final printed garment.
When to use photorealistic mockups vs flat lays
Use 3D mockups for ecommerce product pages, pitch decks, and launch landing pages where the buyer needs to imagine the product on a body. Use flat lays (a 2D overhead photo) for technical specification sheets and tech-pack documents where print placement and dimensions matter more than vibe. Combining both types on a single product detail page often outperforms either alone.
