If you’re tired of manually updating every layer in your Photoshop mockups, this batch replace smart object in Photoshop guide will show you how to automate the process—even for templates with multiple smart object layers.
I have explained eight use cases to demonstrate how to efficiently handle various scenarios, from simple replacements to complex animated templates.
Let’s break it down using simple, actionable steps!
For all use cases, you’ll need to follow this basic folder structure:
Create three subfolders:
Let’s begin with the first use case – Rug Mockups
This use case will explain the fastest way to replace the smart object layer with rug mockups.
Open the Bulk Mockup plugin in Photoshop.
You already have created three main fields: PSD template folder, Design file folder, and Export folder.
Click each field and select the corresponding folders you created.
Click on the Settings option in the plugin. Go to the export format section.
Choose your preferred format from: JPG, PNG, TIFF, PSD, GIF, WebP, or MP4. For this example, select JPG format
Return to the main plugin window and click the “Start Generating” button.
The plugin will automatically replace the rug smart object with each design. Wait for the process to complete.
Check your export folder for the final files.
This use case will explain how to handle different aspect ratio designs in wall art mockups.
First, understand the challenge in this use case. The aspect ratios of the wall art may not match the PSD template frame.
Worry not, as Bulk Mockup offers seven different resize methods. Each method fits your wall art design on the PSD template as per the description.
You can choose between seven resize methods according to your wall art designs. For example, you can choose:
Create three folders as before, placing your wall art frame mockup templates in the template folder. Add all your artwork files to the design folder, and keep the export folder empty.
Choose your template, design files, and export folders in the plugin’s respective locations.
Go to Settings > Export folder. You will find three different options for exported files.
Choose how you want your files organized:
Return to the main plugin window and click “Start Generating”.
The plugin will create subfolders based on your selection. Each design will be properly fitted to the wall art PSD templates.
This use case explains custom design alignment and positioning with t-shirt mockups.
You may encounter t-shirt designs of the following conventional shapes.
Our goal is to place each design correctly on the t-shirt’s print area. For instance, landscape designs should align to the top rather than the center.
To explain this, we will use a landscape design.
Create the three standard folders in the same way you have done before.
This step makes sure our design goes in the right place in the t-shirt PSD templates.
Navigate to Settings > Design Layer and locate the “Align to Canvas” option. Select from nine anchor points.
For this case, choose the top alignment point to ensure designs start from the top of the print area.
Select “Fit to Canvas without cropping” as your resize method. This ensures that designs maintain their proper proportions.
Go to Settings > Export. Use the naming parameters to set up your preferred file naming convention.
This helps organize your final files systematically.
Return to the main window and click “Start Generating”.
The plugin will automatically place each design as per the settings made.
This use case will explain how to place an embroidery design in the confined space of a t-shirt template.
Open your t-shirt template with the embroidery region. Double-click on the smart object icon to open it in a new Photoshop window.
Add four guides to define your confined region:
These guides will create the intersection where designs will be placed.
Open the Bulk Mockup plugin and go to Settings.
Enable two crucial options:
Create the standard three folders by following the same process.
Input all three folder locations in the plugin. Double-check that both guide options are still enabled. Ensure your window settings are properly configured
Click “Start Generating” and watch as each design is done automatically.
This use case is a bit complex than the previous ones. I will explain it using a tumbler mockup template.
Open your tumbler mockup template on Photoshop. Go to Window > Timeline.
Verify the animation by clicking play.
Note that this template has nested smart objects:
Double-click the first smart object layer and rename it to “@design”. Next, open this layer and find the nested smart object and rename it “@nested”. Save the changes for both layers.
Create your three standard folders. Place the animated tumbler template in the template folder. Add all design files to the design folder. Keep the export folder empty.
Input all three folder locations by following the same process.
Open the Bulk Mockup plugin. Go to Settings > Export. Select MP4 as your export format.
This ensures your animations are preserved in the MP4 format.
Return to the main plugin window and click “Start Generating”.
The plugin will:
I will use a nursery kid’s room template to explain the pattern fill effect.
Open your nursery template and locate the smart object layer with the current pattern. Follow the same nested template concept here.
Rename this layer to “@design”.
Delete the existing pattern fill layer.
Select one pattern design from your collection.
Place your selected pattern on the left. Press Ctrl+J to duplicate the pattern and move the duplicate to the right.
Continue the same to fill the artwork layer.
Next, select the smart object layer and rename it to “@nested“. Once done, save and close all layers.
Follow the same process. Organize your PSD template, artwork or design, and export folders. Connect these file locations with the Bulk Mockup interface.
Open the Bulk Mockup plugin and click “Start Generating”. Watch as patterns are automatically applied across the wallpaper.
We will use a t-shirt mockup template with multiple smart object layers to explain how to batch-replace.
This time, we will create three folders differently.
In the template folder, place both front and back t-shirt templates and make sure both templates have the same settings.
In the design folder, create a subfolder named “back design” and keep the back designs in this subfolder. Place front designs in the main “design” folder.
The “export” folder will remain empty.
Open Bulk Mockup plugin. Input all three folder locations.
Important: Check “Process multiple smart objects“.
This setting allows handling both front and back designs simultaneously. Even if your template has more than two smart objects, Bulk Mockup can easily automate the batch-replace process.
Click “Start Generating” and the plugin will automatically:
In this use case, I will explain how to replace smart objects in video templates of table cards.
Open your table card video template and check the smart object structure and:
Locate the first “artwork here” layer.
Double-click and open the “artwork here” layer to find the “nested artwork here” layer.
Double-click the first smart object layer and rename it to “@design“.
Next, open and locate the nested layer and rename it to “@nested“. Save all changes.
Create three standard folders and place the video template in the template folder. Add all design files to the design folder and keep the export folder empty.
Open the Bulk Mockup plugin and input all three folder locations. Ensure the video export settings are correct and click “Start Generating“. Your table card video mockups will be ready in no time.
Bulk Mockup counts your subfolders to determine how many smart object layers to replace. For example,
This plugin works for all mockup types: business cards, posters, packaging, apparel, stationeries, art, etc.
That’s all. You are ready to batch-replace smart object layers to create multiple mockups at a time.
As you can see, this batch replacement process of smart objects on PSD templates with our plugin has a nominal learning curve. Omit hours of tedious work by following this batch-replace smart objects Photoshop guide to uplift your mockup shop or print-on-demand business to a new level.
Feel free to contact us for further assistance.
