Creator Terminology such as "mockups", "plug ins" ect. What are they?

[CheeseHead05]

Hi, 

I am fairly new to PS and I frequently visit sites that sale fonts, icons, illustrations ect. But I would like to know what is exactly and how does a brush work as well as a mockups and plug ins?

Also how are fonts created, is there like a general template?

Thx!

[c.pfaffenbichler]

• Fonts: Fonts (in general) need to be vector data and Font creation needs special software (but as far as I know free options are available). 

It is not simple – a proper font consists of many, many letters, numbers, accents etc.

• Mock-ups: In Photoshop this would usually refer to images in which one can insert custom designs to visualize how they would look on covers, t-shirts etc. 

Practically this needs to be done with Smart Objects in Photoshop.

Proper 3D applications naturally offer superior options but also more complexity. 

• »how does a brush work«: What do you mean exactly?

Assuming you have already used a Brush what was unclear about its workings? 

Have you looked up the difference of plain Brushees, Erodible Brushes, Bristle Brushes, Sampled Brushe on helpx yet? 

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/creating-modifying-brushes.html

[jane-e]

A mockup is a full scale design

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mockup

In Photoshop it may include dummy text, effects attached to layers, etc., so you can replace the psd with your images and text

A brush works as it does in real life, except in real life you need to purchase many brushes. In Photoshop, you choose one and start painting.

A plug-in is an add-on program written by others that can do something that Photoshop cannot do out of the box.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photoshop_plugin

Most typefaces are created by type designers, but you can try this from an Adobe blog page:

https://makeitcenter.adobe.com/en/blog/how-to-make-your-own-font.html

Jane

EDIT: C.P. was faster!

[c.pfaffenbichler]

EDIT: C.P. was faster!

Yeah, but I may have used a very limited interpretation of »mock-up«. 

[CheeseHead05]

As fas as mock ups - I am looking to design a shirt with realistic images. For example, I want to put a picture of a real briefcase on a business shirt. Can I use a mockup and an employee's name and subsequently screen print onto a shirt?

[jane-e]

@CheeseHead05 

It depends on the mockup, which is really just a starter document. 

Jane

[CheeseHead05]

what are the dependant variables?

[jane-e]

what are the dependant variables?

By @CheeseHead05

If it does want you are trying to do — or if it doesn't. You are looking for a picture and text. A mockup is a starter document.

How well do you know Photoshop? If you have basic skills then you don't need a mockup. If you don't, you need to spend some time learning the application. 

Jane

[Leslie Moak Murray]

Here is my art placed on a product mockup to send to a manufacturer. I get mockups from a free website, and sometimes I make my own. You do need a modicum of Photoshop ability to do this but it isn't that hard. It's helpful to have knowledge of shadows etc:

[jane-e]

I love this, Leslie!

Jane

[Conrad_C]

This seems like a good article on font creation. I have no connection with the website, I found it just now in a Google search. But it covers the basics.

The Ultimate Guide on How to Create a Font

It is a lot of work, with a lot of hand tuning involved to make the hundreds of character designs flow together as a single consistent system.