Table of Contents
- Primer: What mockups do—and when to use them
- Prep: Accounts, files, and a simple capture workflow
- Setup: Build a clean, readable Canva canvas
- Operation: Hoodie, hat, and t-shirt—end-to-end mockups
- Quality checks: What “good” looks like
- Results & handoff: Exporting and emailing clients
- Troubleshooting & recovery
- From the comments: Quick answers that help
Video reference: “How I create mockups for my customers using Canva & Alphabroder” by Kayla Kretz Crafts
If custom orders stall when clients “can’t picture it,” a crisp digital mockup closes the gap. Below is an efficient, repeatable system to source blank product images from Alphabroder, lay out clean mockups in Canva, place logos, and present simple, defensible pricing clients understand at a glance.
What you’ll learn
- A minimal screenshot workflow to capture front/back views and just-enough specs
- A clean Canva layout that reads well and leaves room for price and notes
- Logo placement for left chest, center back, and hats—with a smart disclaimer
- A simple pricing approach that covers blank cost, decoration, and labor
- Ways to present options, stock realities, and next steps confidently
Primer: What mockups do—and when to use them Digital mockups let clients see their design on real products—fast—before you commit to blanks or production time. They work especially well for straightforward workwear and team orders (t-shirts, hoodies, hats) and for both embroidery and screen-print transfer projects.
Your goal is clarity: front/back visuals, essential specs, and a clean, rounded price per item that helps clients self-calculate quantity totals. If a client is undecided on color, you can include a color swatch grid from the product page to steer the conversation with real inventory data.
Watch out
- Don’t overload the client: too many views/colors clutter the page. Prioritize front/back and one or two best colors to start.
- Capture only the specs they need (fabric, weight, notable features). Skip vendor-centric labels that don’t affect wear or care.
Quick check If a client could forward your mockup email to their decision-maker and get an immediate “yes,” you’ve included the right mix of visuals, specs, price, and clarity.
Prep: Accounts, files, and a simple capture workflow
- Alphabroder account: Source blank product pages for screenshots (t-shirt, hoodie, hat).
- Canva account: Create and arrange mockups; background remover helps but isn’t required.
- Files on hand: customer’s logo (transparent if possible), front/back product images, and the specs block.
From the comments Alphabroder ordering typically requires a tax ID. A viewer also mentioned a retail-friendly alternative with higher prices. Build this into your client conversation if they ask.
Pro tip Work on a computer whenever possible. Community feedback confirms it’s easier than iPad/phone for precision layout and text edits.
Decision point
- If the client is unsure about color: include the color swatch grid (with stock cues) and note that color availability can change.
- If the client knows the exact color: capture just front/back views and specs for the chosen color.
Prep checklist
- Customer logo file available
- Alphabroder product pages open per item
- Screenshots ready: front, back, specs (+ optional color swatches)
- Files grouped per product on your desktop
Setup: Build a clean, readable Canva canvas Create a new custom design at 11 x 8.5 inches in landscape. This orientation comfortably fits front/back images, specs, a product title, a clear price, and a small disclaimer without crowding.
Drag and drop your grouped screenshots into Canva. For clothing images, lightly crop away excess margins so front and back can sit near each other with a narrow gap; it leaves more room for the specs and title to the side.
Pro tip Use one consistent title for each product (e.g., “Gildan Heavy Blend Sweatshirt”). Consistency helps clients compare options quickly.
Setup checklist
- Canvas set to 11 x 8.5 in, landscape
- All front/back/specs images uploaded
- Title text style chosen and saved for reuse
- Space allocated for price and a brief disclaimer
Operation: Hoodie, hat, and t-shirt—end-to-end mockups Below is a repeatable flow. Swap products and prices as needed, but keep the page structure consistent so clients can compare easily.
1) Hoodie mockup (Gildan Heavy Blend Sweatshirt)
- Arrange visuals: Place front and back views side by side; crop outer margins for a tighter fit. Add the specs block to the right or below, depending on space.
- Title and price: Add a clear title (“Gildan Heavy Blend Sweatshirt”) and a rounded price. A practical pricing approach used here: double the cost of the blank, double the cost of the transfer, then add labor/time. In this example, that lands at about $35 per sweater.
- Logo placement: Put the logo at front left chest and enlarge it for center back to give a clear visual. Include a disclaimer: “Note: This is simply a digital mockup. Size/location of logo is not to scale.”
- Outcome: A clean, readable page with front/back views, specs, price, and an obvious note that actual decoration can vary.
Quick check If you zoom to 100%, can the client read the price and specs easily—and identify logo placement without guessing? If yes, proceed.
From the comments If you’re new to Canva and it feels clunky, brief help from someone experienced can quickly boost your speed and confidence.
2) Hat mockup (Flexfit Adult Wooly Cap)
- Arrange visuals: Use the front view and optionally the back if you may embroider it. Add the specs block nearby. Title it clearly (e.g., “Flexfit Hat”).
- Pricing: A simple approach used here yields $25 per hat for small orders (about 10 or fewer). It accounts for doubling the blank cost, adding embroidery cost, plus time/labor.
- Logo placement: Center on the front panel. If back embroidery is planned, place a smaller version there in the mockup to preview spacing.
- Outcome: A straightforward hat page that previews front (and optional back) decoration and lists a rounded per-hat price.
Watch out Hats are curved surfaces—mockups are flat images. Retain the disclaimer; it’s your friend.
3) T-shirt mockup (Gildan Heavy Cotton)
- Arrange visuals: Place front/back views side by side; keep consistent spacing. Add the specs block and a clear title (e.g., “Gildan Heavy Blend T-Shirt”).
- Pricing: A practical example comes to about $24 per shirt, covering doubled blank cost, print transfer cost, and labor.
- Logo placement: Left chest on front, larger center back on the rear image. Keep the disclaimer visible at the bottom of the page.
- Outcome: An easy, client-scannable t-shirt page showing both placements, key specs, and price.
Operation checklist
- Each product page includes: front/back views, title, specs, price, and disclaimer
- Logos placed at front left chest and center back (or front/back for hats)
- Pricing uses a consistent method across products
- Layout reads clearly at 100% zoom on a laptop screen
Quality checks: What “good” looks like
- Visual balance: Front and back images align horizontally, with equal margins. Specs sit close—but not cramped.
- Legibility: Titles and prices are large enough to read at 100% zoom. Specs are readable without squinting.
- Placement logic: Logo positions match common client expectations (left chest/front; large back).
- Inventory reality: If color options are included, note stock realities briefly on the email or in a caption.
Quick check If the client asked, “What does this cost, and what is the fabric?”—could they answer both by just glancing at the page? If not, enlarge price/spec text slightly or simplify.
Results & handoff: Exporting and emailing clients Export your Canva page(s) as PDF or PNG, then attach or embed in your email. Keep the note brief and clear: pricing is per piece, decoration may look different in person, and you’re happy to discuss quantity price breaks.
Pro tip Clients love mental math. Round your per-item prices so they can estimate totals quickly.
Decision point
- If the client wants multiple brands: duplicate the page, swap title/specs, and update the price per the new blank cost.
- If the client asks for quantity breaks: reply with a simple tier (e.g., small order vs. larger order) using the same pricing logic.
Troubleshooting & recovery
- Problem: Crooked or mismatched front/back alignment
Likely cause: Uncropped margins or inconsistent image sizing Fix: Crop each image to the garment edge and use Canva’s alignment tools.
- Problem: Price looks too small or gets lost
Likely cause: Competing with specs or logo Fix: Reserve a clean corner and use a heavier weight font. Keep it short: “$35 per sweater.”
- Problem: Client nitpicks scale (“Logo looks small/big”)
Likely cause: Flat mockup vs. real garment Fix: Keep the disclaimer visible. Invite them to confirm approximate dimensions in inches during approval to align expectations.
- Problem: Canva friction for new users
Likely cause: Learning curve Fix: A quick walkthrough from someone who uses Canva daily can save hours (a viewer tip from the community).
From the comments: Quick answers that help
- Do I need a tax ID to order Alphabroder? Yes, per the creator’s reply. Retail-friendly alternatives exist, but expect higher blank prices.
- Is Canva easier on computer vs. iPad/phone? The creator agreed: computer is easier for this workflow.
- I charge more but feel guilty. Don’t. A fair method—doubling the blank, doubling decoration, plus labor—keeps jobs profitable and consistent.
- Where do I get embroidery digitizing? The creator mentioned using a third-party digitizing service; choose a reputable provider that fits your workflow.
Context add-ons you may consider later If you do eventually stitch a sample to photograph for a client, your production setup—whether it involves a brother hat hoop for caps or embroidery magnetic hoops for faster clamping—won’t change the mockup steps above. This article’s system gets you to “visual approval” fast and clean.
Similarly, if you specialize in left-chest work, you can standardize visual proofing notes (e.g., “approx. 3.5 in wide”) while your shop might use aids like mighty hoop left chest placement during production; the client-facing mockup still benefits from the same title/specs/price structure.
If you serve multi-needle users in your network, they may reference machine ecosystems (for example brother pr 680w or brother pr1055x owners) when discussing throughput. That can influence labor pricing, but it doesn’t change the clean Canva layout clients need to say yes.
For shops balancing embroidery and transfers, you might compare per-piece times on real jobs. Some teams who use clamp-style frames like dime snap hoop or magnetic hoops for flat goods find they save seconds at scale—useful for labor estimates—yet your mockup page remains the same: front/back, specs, price, disclaimer.
Finally, if you coach beginners, a term like best embroidery machine for beginners often comes up in emails. Keep that conversation separate from the approval proof: the client needs a clear visual and price today; your equipment advice can follow after the order is booked.
Image references - Alphabroder homepage and categories
- Color and stock view for decision support
- Front view capture and specs block
- Grouped files for smooth import
- Hoodie and hat product pages
- Canva setup and asset upload
- Finished hoodie, hat, and t-shirt mockups
- T-shirt prep and layout
- Export panel for client handoff