How to make a 3D T-shirt mockup on iPhone or Android

1. Start with a clean artwork file

Use your original logo or illustration rather than a screenshot of it. Screenshots can include interface elements, extra margins, and a background you did not intend to print. For a standalone graphic, a PNG with a genuinely transparent background is a useful starting point.

Check the graphic on both a light and a dark background. A white logo can disappear on a white shirt, while a dark outline may get lost on black. Also inspect the edges: a faint white fringe becomes much easier to see once the garment color changes.

2. Choose the garment before placing the design

Open a T-shirt in 3D Mockup and choose a garment color that helps you judge the artwork. Start with a neutral color if you are still exploring the design. The garment silhouette is part of the composition, so do not judge the graphic in isolation.

A mockup is a visual concept, not a sizing or fit simulation for a particular supplier's blank. If you plan to manufacture the design, compare it against your actual garment and the printer's template later.

3. Import, position, and scale your artwork

Add an image layer in the editor. Move, resize, and rotate the graphic until the balance feels right. Start with a centered front design; once that reads well, explore a smaller chest placement or a second text layer.

Look at the visible artwork rather than just its selection bounds. A file with large transparent margins can appear centered even when the actual logo is off to one side. Trim unnecessary empty space in your artwork tool if placement feels confusing.

• Leave breathing room between the graphic and the neckline.
• Keep small text large enough to read in the exported image.
• Check the front and back separately if your design uses both.

4. Check the design in 3D

Rotate the garment and inspect the composition from the front and an angled view. Check whether folds or the side of the garment hide an important letter or part of your logo. Then adjust the fabric appearance, lighting, and background without changing everything at once.

Use consistent lighting while comparing versions. A change in light can make the same artwork feel stronger or weaker, even when the placement has not changed. For your first image, a simple background usually makes the design easier to evaluate.

Making a black T-shirt mockup? Check the outline

A dark garment can make a colorful illustration feel stronger, but it can also hide the dark outline that gives the artwork its shape. Inspect the graphic at normal viewing size, not just while zoomed in. If necessary, prepare a version with a lighter outline or simpler detail in your artwork editor.

Keep the lighting and background the same when comparing black and white T-shirt mockups. This makes it easier to see whether the artwork itself works on both colors. Do not use a brighter light to disguise a contrast problem you would still need to resolve in the original design.

5. Save the project and export a PNG

Save the project if you want to revisit the design. Export a PNG, then use the device's share options to put the completed file somewhere you can find it again. Open that file outside the editor and check its framing and readability at the size you intend to share.

The exported mockup shows the garment and your design together. It is not the original artwork file, a sewing pattern, or a production-ready print template. Send your printer the original graphic and its requested specifications, not just the presentation image.