Tutorial: Create a Simple 3D Product Mockup in Blender (T-shirt or Mug)

Objective:

To create a clean, realistic 3D product render of a T-shirt or mug. This render is useful for promotional graphics, online shops, or client presentations.

Step 1:

Install Blender
Go to https://www.blender.org/download/

Download and install the latest version.

Open Blender and select “General” for a new project.

Step 2:

Set Up Your Scene
Delete the default cube by selecting it and pressing X, then Enter.

Press Shift + A, then Mesh, and choose:

– UV Sphere for a mug base
– Plane for starting a T-shirt mockup

Press 1 for front view, then 5 to switch to orthographic view.

Step 3:

Import or Create the Product Model
You have two options:

A. Use Pre-Made Models
Go to https://sketchfab.com or https://polyhaven.com

Download a free .glb, .obj, or .fbx model of a mug or T-shirt.

In Blender, go to File, then Import, and select your format.

B. Model a Simple Mug (Optional)
Press Shift + A, then Mesh, then Cylinder.

Scale it on the Z-axis by pressing S, then Z to make it tall.

Add a torus by pressing Shift + A, then Mesh, then Torus for the handle.

Rotate and position it as the mug handle by pressing R, then Y, and then move it.

Step 4:

Apply Materials & Logo
Go to the Shading tab.

Select your object, then click New to create a material.

Use Base Color to choose a product color.

To apply a logo:

Add an Image Texture node.

Load your logo.

Add a UV Map modifier and adjust it in the UV Editing tab.

Step 5:

Add Lighting
Delete the default light.

Add area lights by pressing Shift + A, then Light, then Area.

Position three lights: key, fill, and back for a studio look.

Turn on the Cycles Renderer for realism by going to the top-right corner, then Render, and select Cycles.

Step 6:

Set Up Camera & Render
Press Shift + A, then Camera.

Position it using the N panel, or use the shortcut Ctrl + Alt + 0 to lock the view.

Go to Render Properties:

– Resolution: 1080×1080 or 1920×1080
– Samples: 128 or higher

Hit F12 to render.

Save the image by going to Image, then Save As.

BONUS: Export for Web or Clients
To export a 3D viewer file:

Go to File, then Export, and select glTF 2.0 (.glb).

You can upload this file to your website with a WebGL viewer like model-viewer.

Result:
You now have a professional 3D product mockup ready for social media, websites, or client presentations!