How to Make a Beer Can Mockup in Photoshop

Final product image — What You'll Be Creating

Do you have a new drink that you want to promote? Mockups are the easiest way to display your beautiful designs. In this beer can mockup tutorial, you will learn how to create a smart object and add layer filters and effects to make your beer can design realistic.

Want an easy fix? Check out the mockup below from Envato Elements, where you will find an extensive collection of beer can mockup templates.

What You Will Learn in This Beer Can Mockup Tutorial

How to create a smart object in Adobe Photoshop
How to apply layer filters and effects

What You Will Need for This Beer Can Label Mockup

1. How to Create a Smart Object in Photoshop

Step 1

Open the hand holding an aluminum can in Photoshop. Grab the Rectangle Tool (U) and make a vertical rectangle with the dimensions 1073 px x 2232 px. Right-Click this layer and select Convert to Smart Object.

Step 2

Double-Click on the 'Label Design' smart object and change the properties so the rectangle shape has rounded corners. Use 10 px for the top corners and 15 px for the bottom corners.

Add rounded corners in the properties panel

Step 3

Change the Opacity to 52% while we adjust the 'Label Design' layer. Use the Transform tool (Command-T) and adjust this layer. Switch to Warp mode and continue adjusting the 'Label Design' layer so that it looks like the image below.

Step 4

Using the Pen Tool (P), select the areas around the fingers. In the next step, we will mask out these areas so the label design won't show over the fingers.

Step 5

With the Pen Tool still selected, Right-Click this pen path and select Make Selection. Make sure Feather Radius is set to 0. Select OK. Your selection should now be active. Select the Layer Mask icon in the Layers panel (outlined in red below). The fingertips should no longer be covered.

Step 6

Use Puppet Warp (Edit > Puppet Warp) to reshape the top of the label design so that it curves just like the aluminum can. Press Return when you're done adjusting.

Step 7

Change the Opacity of this layer back to 100%. Double-Click on the 'Label Design' smart object layer and open the vintage beer label in Adobe Illustrator. Delete the pink outline on the beer label and copy (Command-C) and paste (Command-V) it into our 'Label Design' smart object layer.

Step 8

Open the cereal ears pattern in Illustrator. Select the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a vertical rectangle. Select the cereal ear pattern in the Swatches panel to fill it. Copy (Command-C) and paste (Command-V) this pattern into our Photoshop 'Label Design' smart object.

Step 9

With the pattern layer selected, create a new Black & White adjustment layer located at the bottom of the Layers panel. Change the pattern layer to Overlay with an Opacity of 64%. Select the Pattern, Label, and Black & White layers, and then Right-Click > Create Clipping Mask. Change the color of the 'Label Design' layer to #1e1e1e. File > Save this file.

Apply a black and white adjustment layer

2. How to Apply Layer Filters and Effects to a Beer Can Mockup

Step 1

Go back to our main file with the beer can model. Create a new Gradient Fill layer above the 'Label Design' layer. Use the following settings and colors:

Style: Linear
Angle: 176
Scale: 100%
Reverse: Checked
Align with layer: Checked
Method: Classic
Colors (from left to right): #aeaeae, #f9fcfd, #ced4d7, #a4a5a6, #898989, #232323

Step 2

Make a selection from the 'Label Design' layer by holding down Command and selecting the 'Label Design' thumbnail. Select the Gradient Fill layer and apply a Layer Mask.

Step 3

Change the 'Gradient Fill' layer to Soft Light. Select the 'Gradient Fill' and 'Label Design' layers and place them in a group by Right-Clicking > Group from Layers. Name this layer 'Label & Gradient'. Create a new layer above this group and name it 'Finger Shadows'. Right-Click this layer and select Create Clipping Mask. Grab a soft 300 px, #313130 brush using the Brush Tool (B) and create shadows beneath the fingers. Change this layer to Multiply.

Step 4

Create a new layer above the 'Finger Shadows' layer and name it 'Shine'. Grab the Rectangular Marquee Tool (M) and make a long, narrow, vertical rectangle that has a 255 px Width and is as long as the beer can. Fill this shape with #fefefe using the Paint Bucket Tool (G).

Command-T this layer and Rotate it so that it is parallel with the beer can. Change this layer to Soft Light with an Opacity of 80%. Go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur and set the Radius to 36 pixels. Select OK.

Step 5

Create another layer above the shine layer and name it 'Can shadow'. Use a soft #000000, 400 px brush. Set the Flow to 47%. Create a shadow near the top of the beer can like the image below.

Step 6

Change this layer to Soft Light with an Opacity of 42%. Mask this 'Can shadow' layer with a soft 70 px brush and mask away the bottom part of the shadow like the image below.

Cheers! You're Done!

I hope you enjoyed this beer can mockup tutorial. Use this tutorial to create stand-out mockups featuring your amazing designs.

5 Must-Have Beer Can Label Mockups

As creatives, we spend so much time designing something spectacular for our clients. Why not cut your design time in half with this collection of beer can mockups from Envato Elements?

1. Purple Drink Can Mockup (PSD)

It’s time to showcase your newest beverage creation with a beer can PSD mockup that’ll make you look as good as your drinks taste! Whether you’re looking for a mockup of a beer or soda can, this mockup has it all.⁣

2. Paperboard Beer Can Mockup (PSD)

You’ve got a great idea for a beer can design, but you’re not sure how to present it? Try out this amazing beer can PSD mockup to display your creations on paperboard.

3. Beer Can Mockup Template (PSD)

We’ve got you covered with this spectacular beverage mockup to display your creations.⁣⁣ This is the perfect beer can PSD mockup for your beer can label design!⁣⁣

4. Craft Beer Mockup (PSD)

The best way to share your creations is by using beer can mockups that showcase your work in the best light. And there are no better mockups than this one for beverages!⁣⁣

5. Beer Can Holder Mockup (PSD)

The best way to get noticed is to stand out from the crowd. With this beer can label mockup, you won’t have to worry about being lost in the mix. This beer can PSD mockup is what you’ve been waiting for!⁣⁣

Check Out These Awesome Resources!

Take your mockups to the next level with these amazing resources. Use them to create your own beer can mockup templates and so much more.