How to Use eCover Go Action Script Package for Stunning Product MockupsCreating professional-looking product mockups quickly can transform your marketing, boost conversions, and make your digital products look polished and trustworthy. The eCover Go Action Script Package is built to streamline that process in Adobe Photoshop using action scripts and pre-made templates. This guide walks you through everything from installation and setup to advanced tips for producing consistent, high-quality eCovers, boxes, and device mockups.
What is the eCover Go Action Script Package?
The eCover Go Action Script Package is a collection of Photoshop Actions, smart object templates, and layered PSD files designed to automate the creation of 3D-style eCovers, boxes, CDs, software boxes, and device mockups (tablets, phones, laptops). Instead of painstakingly constructing each element, you apply an action to a prepared PSD, update the smart object with your artwork, and let the script generate realistic shadows, reflections, and perspective adjustments.
Key benefits:
- Speed: Produce polished mockups in minutes.
- Consistency: Use the same templates across products for consistent branding.
- Non-destructive: Smart objects let you swap artwork without ruining the base layout.
- Variety: Multiple angles, styles, and formats included.
System requirements and preparation
Before starting, ensure you have:
- Adobe Photoshop CC (recommended CC 2015 or later for full smart object/action compatibility).
- eCover Go package files (PSD templates, ATN action files, brushes, fonts if included).
- Your product artwork (cover front, spine, back, screenshots) sized appropriately (high-resolution, ideally 300–600 DPI for print-quality outputs; 72–150 DPI for web).
- A basic familiarity with Photoshop layers, smart objects, and the Actions panel.
Recommended settings:
- Work on a machine with enough RAM (8GB+ recommended); complex actions with many layers can be memory-intensive.
- Use RGB color mode for web images and CMYK if you’ll print the mockups (convert carefully).
Installing the package and loading actions
- Unzip the eCover Go package to a folder you can access.
- Open Photoshop and go to Window > Actions to open the Actions panel.
- Click the menu icon in the Actions panel (top-right) and choose “Load Actions…” Navigate to the .ATN file included with eCover Go and load it.
- If the package includes brushes, go to Edit > Presets > Preset Manager (or Brushes in newer versions) and load the .ABR files.
- If fonts are included, install them on your system so the mockup layers render correctly.
After loading, you should see a new action set (folder) containing one-click actions for different mockup types (e.g., softcover, hardcover, box, device).
Basic workflow — creating a simple eCover
This step-by-step assumes the package provides a template PSD with an embedded smart object (common structure).
- Open the template PSD for the mockup you want (e.g., “eCover_Front_Soft.psd”).
- In the Layers panel, locate the Smart Object layer named something like “Place Your Cover Here” or “COVER_SMARTOBJ.”
- Double-click the smart object thumbnail. A new PSD window opens — this is where you paste your cover artwork.
- Paste or place (File > Place Embedded) your front cover design into the smart object document. Resize to fit, keep edges aligned as guided by the template’s guides.
- Save (Ctrl/Cmd+S) and close the smart object window. Photoshop automatically updates the mockup with your art.
- Return to the main PSD and review. If the action requires it, select the correct layer(s) and run the corresponding action (select the action in the Actions panel and click Play).
- Once the action completes, check for any needed manual tweaks — lighting, shadow intensity, reflection opacity, or layer blending modes.
Tip: Always save a copy of the original template before running actions so you have a clean master to reuse.
Creating more complex composites (boxes, multi-angle sets)
The package usually includes actions for multi-piece items like boxed sets, stacked products, and angled shots. For these:
- Use separate smart objects for each visible face (front, spine, back). Open each smart object and paste the corresponding face artwork.
- For boxed sets or stacking, follow the naming/order conventions the action expects; some actions look for specific layer names to apply transforms correctly.
- If the action generates multiple output layers (shadow, reflection, highlight), group them and create adjustment layers (Levels, Curves) to match your product’s lighting and color.
Example: To create a three-angle product pack (front, spine, perspective):
- Open the “Box_3_Angles.psd” template.
- Update COVER_FRONT.psb, COVER_SPINE.psb, and COVER_BACK.psb smart objects.
- Run the “Generate_3_Angle” action.
- Use Hue/Saturation or Curves adjustment layers at the top of the layer stack to unify color and contrast across angles.
Device mockups (phones, tablets, laptops)
Device templates often use smart objects for screen artwork and overlay layers for reflections or glass effects.
- Open the device PSD (e.g., “Tablet_Mockup.psd”).
- Double-click the screen smart object and place your screenshot or UI art.
- Save the smart object. The template will apply perspective and blend modes automatically.
- If the action includes interactive placement steps, follow its prompts; some actions allow exact pixel alignment or automated perspective warp.
For responsive shots, create separate smart objects for portrait and landscape versions and save both versions inside the main PSD; hide the unused layer.
Fine-tuning: shadows, reflections, and lighting
Actions do a lot, but manual adjustments make the mockup realistic:
- Shadows: Use the Layer Styles > Drop Shadow and create separate shadow layers with Gaussian Blur for soft shadow edges. Lower opacity for subtlety.
- Reflections: Often created with flipped smart objects and a mask with a soft gradient. Reduce opacity and add a slight Motion Blur for realism.
- Highlights: Add a white-to-transparent gradient layer in Soft Light or Overlay blending mode. Lower opacity to avoid overpowering the art.
- Textures: Subtle paper or fabric textures set to Overlay/Soft Light at low opacity can add tactile realism for physical products.
Keep a calibrated monitor and zoom to 100% when judging shadow strength and small details.
Batch outputs and exporting
To produce multiple mockups or sizes quickly:
- Use File > Export > Export As or File > Save for Web (Legacy) to create web-optimized JPEGs or PNGs.
- For multiple templates, create an Action that opens a template, updates smart objects, runs the eCover Go action, exports the final, and closes the file. Use File > Automate > Batch to process a folder of templates.
- For multi-resolution needs (banner, thumbnail, full-size), create Export Presets or use Image Processor (File > Scripts > Image Processor) after the action finishes.
Naming: Include product name, mockup type, and size in filenames to keep outputs organized (e.g., productX_eCoverFront_1200x800.jpg).
Common problems & fixes
- Action fails or stops: Check that all expected layers/smart objects are present and correctly named. Some actions stop at prompts — press Play again or follow the dialog.
- Blurry smart object results: Ensure your embedded artwork is high resolution and scaled correctly inside the smart object. Avoid upscaling small images.
- Missing fonts: If typography looks wrong, install the package fonts or replace with system fonts and tweak size/spacing.
- Color mismatch: Confirm the document color mode and profile (Edit > Convert to Profile) match your intended output (sRGB for web, appropriate CMYK profile for print).
Advanced tips
- Create your own presets: Save frequently used shadow, reflection, and highlight groups as layer comps or action steps for consistent reuse.
- Non-destructive color grading: Use adjustment layers and layer masks rather than direct edits.
- Combine multiple mockups in one scene: Place several finished mockups into a single PSD to create hero images; use consistent lighting adjustment layers to unify them.
- Use smart filters for global effects (Noise, Lens Blur) applied as filters on a smart object to keep edits reversible.
Workflow checklist
- Install actions, brushes, fonts.
- Open template and duplicate to keep an untouched master.
- Replace smart object content (front/spine/back/screens).
- Run the correct action.
- Tweak shadows/highlights/reflections.
- Export in required sizes/formats.
- Archive template copy and final exported files with clear names.
Example mini-tutorial: From blank cover image to final mockup (5 minutes)
- Open “Softcover_Angle.psd.”
- Double-click COVER_FRONT smart object.
- File > Place Embedded your cover image, fit to template, Save and Close.
- Select the top layer group and run “Softcover_Angle_Action” in the Actions panel.
- After the action finishes, reduce the reflection layer opacity to 45%, add a slight Curves adjustment for contrast, then File > Export > Export As > JPEG, quality 80%, width 1600 px.
Final note: Practice on a few templates to learn how each action names and expects layers — after a few runs the whole process becomes fast and repeatable.
If you want, I can:
- Provide a checklist PDF-ready export layout.
- Create three sample output descriptions (social thumbnail, product page hero, print-ready mockup) with exact export settings.
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