How to Make Packaging & Stationery Mockups Pop with Gold Foil in Photoshop
Rebecca Silus
Shown here: the Field Office Square Gift Box Mockup featuring gold foil added in Photoshop
Want to make your stationery designs look more premium with minimal effort?
I’ve been adding gold foil to my mockups lately, and I love the effect it gives. Not only does it make my designs feel more real and dimensional, but it's also helped me visualize how they might live in the world—as packaging, stationery, and giftable art.
That kind of visual storytelling is key for surface pattern designers—especially when pitching to art buyers or building a licensing portfolio. This simple Photoshop technique can help your patterns feel premium and ready for market with just a few clicks.
A few examples of how I use gold foil in mockups with my own surface pattern designs:
Step-by-Step: Add Gold Foil to Your Mockups in Photoshop
The workflow I use to get this look is not hard, but it does involve a few steps in Photoshop. Even if you’re newer to mockups, I’ll walk you through it clearly so you can try it out at your own pace.
1. Choose Your Mockup
Start with a high-quality PSD like this one from the Field Office
Start with a high-quality PSD mockup that has clean, realistic textures. For this tutorial, I’ll be using the Field Office Square Gift Box Mockup.
2. Download a Gold Foil Texture
Find a free gold foil texture on sites like Unsplash. Look for textures with both light and dark contrast—that variation helps the foil pop.
3. Import Your Files to the Smart Object
Shown here: my design and the gold foil placed in the smart object within the mockup.
- Open your PSD mockup.
- If you are using a Field Office mockup, double-click on the PLACE ART HERE smart object.
- Import your design in the smart object.
- Now import your gold foil file and place it above your design layer. Turn off the foil layer for now.
4. Select Your Target Color
Use Photoshop’s Color Range tool to isolate the design area you want to convert to foil.
- With your design layer selected, go to Select > Color Range.
-
In the Color Range window:
- Choose Black Matte under the Selection Preview dropdown.
- Click on the color in your design that you want to replace with gold.
- Adjust the Fuzziness slider to refine your selection (generally the mid-range is preferable)
- Check Invert if needed.
- Click OK when satisfied.
5. Create the Gold Foil Mask
Circled here: the Add Layer Mask icon
- You should now see a marching ants selection on your design.
- Click on the gold foil layer.
- Click the Add Layer Mask icon at the bottom of the Layers panel (shown above).
6. Reveal the Gold Foil Effect
- Turn the gold foil layer back on.
- Save and close the Smart Object.
- Check out your updated mockup—the gold foil should be perfectly masked into your design!
Quick Fixes & Alternatives
Need to redo the mask?
- Right-click on the mask thumbnail and select Delete Layer Mask and start over.
Want to invert your mask? This can be especially useful if you're working with a two-color design and want to foil the other color instead.
- Go to Image > Adjustments > Invert or use Cmd + I (Mac) or Ctrl + I (Windows) with the mask selected.
Duplicate the mask to try a variation
This is a great option if you're happy with your selection but want to experiment without losing your original work.
- Select the layer with the mask and press Cmd + J (Mac) or Ctrl + J (Windows) to duplicate it.
- Turn off the original layer.
- On the duplicated layer, right-click the mask thumbnail and select Delete Layer Mask to reset and try a new one.
Tips for Maximum Impact
- Try Multiple Foil Textures: Don’t settle for just one. Test a few foil textures with different lighting and depth to see which gives your design the best dimension.
- Keep It Subtle: Use gold foil sparingly for key accents like logos or borders.
- Pair with Neutrals: Colors like cream, navy, and blush allow gold foil to shine.
- Show Versatility: Use this effect across multiple mockups—stationery, fabric, packaging—to showcase range.
Why This Matters for Surface Pattern Designers
Mockups with gold foil elevate your presentation. They help:
- Attract art buyers and licensing companies
- Visually demonstrate how your designs can transform into a premium, embellished product
- Generate clicks and saves on platforms like Pinterest
Get Started Today
Ready to try it yourself and looking for the perfect mockup for this technique? These are my recommendations for some mockups that work great with a gold foil embellishment:
Don’t forget to share your creations on Instagram and tag @fieldofficesupply!
