Technical Requirements

Everything you need to use our mockup templates successfully. Check these requirements before purchasing to ensure compatibility with your system.

Software Requirements

Adobe Photoshop (Required for PSD Templates)

Minimum Version: Adobe Photoshop CC 2019 or newer
License Type: Creative Cloud subscription (monthly or annual)
Why required: Our PSD templates use Smart Object technology, which requires Photoshop CC

Don't have Photoshop?

Free trial: Adobe offers a 7-day free trial of Photoshop
Student discount: Up to 60% off Creative Cloud for students and teachers
Photography plan: pay per month includes Photoshop + Lightroom
Alternative: Use the included JPG files as reference images (no editing capability)

Get Adobe Photoshop

System Requirements

For Windows Users

Operating System: Windows 10 (64-bit) or newer
Processor: Intel or AMD processor with 64-bit support; 2 GHz or faster
RAM: 8 GB minimum (16 GB recommended)
Hard Disk Space: 4 GB available space for installation
Monitor Resolution: 1280 x 800 display minimum
Graphics Card: GPU with DirectX 12 support and 2 GB of GPU memory

For Mac Users

Operating System: macOS 10.15 (Catalina) or newer
Processor: Intel processor or Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3)
RAM: 8 GB minimum (16 GB recommended)
Hard Disk Space: 4 GB available space for installation
Monitor Resolution: 1280 x 800 display minimum
Graphics Card: GPU with Metal support and 2 GB of GPU memory

File Storage Requirements

Per Mockup Template

PSD file size: 10-60 MB (varies by product and styling complexity)
JPG file size: 2-5 MB
Product info sheet: <1 MB (PDF)
Quick start guide: <1 MB (PDF)
Total per mockup: Approximately 35-70 MB

For Your Mockup Library

10 mockups: ~500 MB
50 mockups: ~2.5 GB
100 mockups: ~5 GB

Recommendation: Keep at least 10-20 GB free space on your hard drive for smooth Photoshop performance and file storage.

Design File Requirements

Your Design Files (What You'll Add to Mockups)

Supported formats:

PNG (recommended - supports transparency)
JPG/JPEG
PSD
TIFF
SVG (vector)
AI (Adobe Illustrator - requires conversion)
PDF

Recommended specifications:

Resolution: 2000 x 2000 pixels minimum at 300 DPI
Color mode: RGB (for digital/web use)
File size: Under 10 MB for optimal performance
Background: Transparent PNG works best for most applications

Not sure about your design files? Contact us at creativehelp@bulkmade.com for guidance.

Internet Connection

Required for:

Downloading purchased mockup files
Adobe Creative Cloud authentication (first-time setup)
Accessing video tutorials and support resources

Not required for:

Using Photoshop once installed and authenticated
Creating mockups (all processing is local on your computer)
Exporting finished mockup images

Download speeds:

Minimum: 5 Mbps for reasonable download times
Recommended: 25+ Mbps for fast downloads

Skills & Knowledge

Beginner Level (Sufficient for Basic Use)

You should know how to:

Download and save files to your computer
Open applications (Photoshop)
Navigate folders and organize files
Copy and paste
Save and export files

You don't need to know:

Advanced Photoshop techniques
Photo editing or retouching
Layer masking or complex selections
Color correction or adjustment layers

We provide: Step-by-step tutorials, video guides, and email support to help you learn.

Recommended Skills (For Advanced Use)

Helpful but not required:

Basic Photoshop familiarity (layers, tools, menus)
File organization and batch renaming
Keyboard shortcuts for faster workflow
Understanding of image resolution and file formats

Browser Requirements (For Downloading & Support)

Supported browsers:

Google Chrome (recommended)
Mozilla Firefox
Safari (Mac)
Microsoft Edge

Required for:

Accessing your Shopify download page
Viewing video tutorials on YouTube
Accessing support documentation
Contacting support via email

Optional But Helpful

Additional Software

File organization:

Windows File Explorer (built-in)
macOS Finder (built-in)
Adobe Bridge (included with Creative Cloud - great for previewing PSDs)

Batch renaming:

Bulk Rename Utility (Windows - free)
Renamer (Mac - free/paid versions)

Cloud backup:

Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive (for backing up your mockup library)

Hardware Upgrades That Help

If you're processing many mockups:

More RAM: 16 GB or 32 GB speeds up Photoshop significantly
SSD drive: Faster file loading and saving (vs. traditional hard drive)
Larger monitor: 1920 x 1080 or higher makes editing easier
Graphics tablet: Not necessary, but some users prefer it for precision

Compatibility Notes

What Works

✅ Windows 10 & 11 - Fully supported

✅ macOS Catalina through Sonoma - Fully supported

✅ Apple Silicon Macs (M1/M2/M3) - Photoshop runs natively, excellent performance

✅ Intel Macs - Fully supported

✅ Multiple monitors - Works great for workflow efficiency

What Doesn't Work

❌ Photoshop Elements - Does not support Smart Objects properly

❌ Photoshop CS6 or older - Too old, Smart Objects may not work correctly

❌ GIMP, Affinity Photo, Canva - Cannot edit PSD Smart Objects (JPG files work as reference)

❌ Mobile apps - Photoshop Express/Mobile cannot edit Smart Objects

❌ Chromebooks - Cannot run desktop Photoshop (web version has limitations)

❌ Tablets/iPads - Photoshop for iPad has limited Smart Object support

Performance Expectations

File Opening Time

With recommended specs:

Small mockups (30 MB): 5-10 seconds
Large mockups (60 MB): 15-30 seconds

With minimum specs:

Small mockups: 15-30 seconds
Large mockups: 30-60 seconds

Mockup Creation Time

Per mockup (after you're familiar with the process):

Open PSD: 10-20 seconds
Add design to Smart Object: 30-60 seconds
Export JPG: 10-20 seconds
Total: 1-2 minutes per mockup

First time users: 3-5 minutes per mockup while learning

Batch Processing

Processing 50 designs on one mockup template:

Setup: 5 minutes (organize files, open template)
Per design: 1-2 minutes (replace design, export)
Total: 60-110 minutes for 50 mockups

Troubleshooting Common Issues

"Photoshop won't open the PSD file"

Possible causes:

Photoshop version too old (need CC 2019+)
File download incomplete or corrupted
Insufficient RAM or disk space

Solutions:

Update Photoshop to latest version
Re-download the file
Close other applications to free up RAM
Check available disk space (need 5+ GB free)

"Photoshop is running very slowly"

Possible causes:

Insufficient RAM
Too many applications running
Hard drive nearly full
Old computer hardware

Solutions:

Close unnecessary applications
Increase Photoshop's RAM allocation (Edit → Preferences → Performance)
Free up disk space (delete temp files, empty trash)
Consider hardware upgrade (RAM or SSD)

"Smart Object won't open when I double-click"

Possible causes:

Clicking layer name instead of thumbnail
Photoshop version compatibility issue
File corruption

Solutions:

Double-click the thumbnail image, not the layer name
Right-click layer → Edit Contents
Update Photoshop to latest version
Re-download the file if problem persists

"Exported mockup looks blurry or low quality"

Possible causes:

Design file resolution too low
Export quality settings too low
Over-scaling the design

Solutions:

Use design files at least 2000 x 2000 pixels at 300 DPI
Export at 80-90% JPG quality
Don't enlarge designs beyond 100-120% of original size
Check Image → Image Size to verify PSD is at 300 DPI

Still Have Questions?

Check Your System

Windows users:

Press Windows key + Pause/Break to see system info
Check RAM, processor, and Windows version

Mac users:

Click Apple menu → About This Mac
Check macOS version, processor, and memory

Before You Purchase

Not sure if your system meets requirements?

📧 Email us: support@bulkmade.com

Include: Your operating system, Photoshop version (if you have it), RAM amount, and any concerns

We'll help you determine if our mockups will work on your system and suggest alternatives if needed.

After Purchase Support

Having technical difficulties?

📧 Technical support: support@bulkmade.com

Response time: 24-48 hours

We help with: Installation issues, file problems, Photoshop errors, performance optimization

🎨 Creative support: creativehelp@bulkmade.com

Response time: 24-48 hours

We help with: Design sizing, file format questions, workflow advice

📺 Video tutorials: YouTube Channel

Self-help: Step-by-step guides for common issues

More Resources

📖 How to Use Our Mockups - Complete tutorial with step-by-step instructions

❓ FAQ - Answers to 30+ common questions

⚖️ License & Terms - Usage rights and restrictions

🎨 About Our Mockups - Quality standards and our process

Ready to get started? Browse our mockup library and create professional product images today!

Happy mockup creating! The Bulk Made Studio Team