Composite Decal Design on Surface from Photo

Upload a surface photo + your decal design. AI composites the decal onto the surface with realistic contour and lighting.

Plain silver MacBook laptop lid on white desk — Before

→

Same MacBook with custom vinyl decal design naturally composited on the lid — After

Drop your photo here

or click to browse

Release to upload

Free • No signup

Popular use cases:

decal on surface composite
vinyl decal mockup tool
sticker design preview on surface
sign shop decal proofing
vehicle wrap mockup from photo
storefront window lettering preview
branding decal placement tool
promotional sticker mockup

Cost: Free No signup required
Time: Instant results in 15-30 seconds
Works on: Any device - browser, phone, tablet, desktop
Powered by: AI-powered photo editing

Scenario	Prompt	Time
	`place this decal from reference onto the laptop lid with correct surface angle and lighting`	30s
	`composite this sticker from reference onto the car rear window, matching glass curvature`	30s
	`place this lettering from reference onto storefront glass with vinyl-on-glass appearance`	30-45s
	`composite this label from reference onto product box, matching matte surface texture`	30s

How it works

Upload the surface photo

Drop your surface photo into EditThisPic. This is the main image -- the laptop lid, vehicle panel, storefront window, wall, or product where the decal will appear. Use a well-lit photo showing the target area clearly. JPG, PNG, WebP up to 7MB.

Expect: Simple flat surface placement: 30 seconds. Curved or complex surfaces with perspective: may need 2-3 refinements.
Add your decal design as reference

Click '+ Add reference image' below the prompt and upload your decal, sticker, or vinyl design file. PNG files with transparent backgrounds composite most cleanly. The AI extracts the design and maps it onto the surface, matching perspective and contour. Then describe the placement: 'place the decal from the reference on the laptop lid, matching the surface angle and lighting.'

Tip: Decal designs on transparent or white backgrounds composite most cleanly. If your design has a busy background, remove it first.

Copy one of these to get started:

Custom decal on laptop lid for client proof place the decal design from the reference onto the laptop lid, matching the flat surface angle, with realistic vinyl-on-metal appearance and lighting consistent with the scene
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Vehicle window sticker preview for customer composite this sticker design from the reference onto the car rear window, matching the glass curvature and showing the decal with correct scale relative to the window size
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Storefront window lettering for sign shop proposal place this window lettering design from the reference onto the storefront glass, matching the window dimensions, with realistic vinyl-on-glass appearance and daylight reflections
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Wall decal in office or home for interior preview composite this wall decal from the reference onto the wall above the desk, at correct scale relative to the furniture, with the design conforming to the flat wall surface and matching indoor lighting
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4 more prompts

Vehicle wrap on truck for fleet branding place this vehicle wrap design from the reference onto the side panel of the truck, wrapping naturally around body curves and panel lines, with outdoor lighting and correct perspective
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Product label sticker on packaging composite this label sticker from the reference onto the front of the product box, centered and at correct scale, matching the matte cardboard surface texture and ambient lighting
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Floor decal in retail space for safety or branding place this floor decal from the reference onto the retail floor surface, with correct perspective foreshortening as seen from standing height, and natural floor lighting
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Bumper sticker on car for promotional preview composite this bumper sticker design from the reference onto the car bumper, at correct scale relative to the bumper width, conforming to the slight curve with realistic outdoor lighting
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Generate and review

The AI composites the decal onto the surface, matching scale, perspective, and lighting. Check that the design wraps naturally around any curves, shadows look correct, and edges appear realistic. Zoom in where the decal meets the surface boundary.
Refine with markers if needed

If the decal lands in the wrong spot or at the wrong scale, tap a marker on the exact area where it should appear and regenerate. Markers help when the surface has multiple flat areas and the AI picks the wrong one.

Tip: Tap the center of where you want the decal placed. This anchors the positioning precisely on complex surfaces.

Try it free ↓

Composite Decal Design on Surface from Photo

Drop your photo here

or click to browse

Release to upload

Free • No signup

"We run a vinyl decal shop and used to spend 30 minutes per mockup in Photoshop. Now we upload the surface photo and our decal file and have a client-ready proof in under a minute." @PrecisionVinylCo

See it in action

Custom vinyl decal composited onto laptop lid

A decal shop previewed a customer's custom die-cut design on their MacBook lid before printing, saving a reprint from incorrect sizing.

Prompt:

place this decal design from the reference onto the laptop lid, matching the flat surface angle and metallic finish, with the design at correct scale centered on the lid

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Clean glass storefront with no signage — Before

Same storefront with white vinyl window lettering naturally composited on the glass — After

Storefront window lettering composited onto glass

A sign company composited their client's window lettering design onto a photo of the actual storefront for proposal approval before installation.

Prompt:

composite this window lettering design from the reference onto the storefront glass door, matching the glass dimensions and showing realistic white vinyl-on-glass appearance with slight daylight reflection

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Plain kraft cardboard box with blank front face — Before

After

Brand decal placed on product packaging

A branding agency composited their client's logo sticker onto actual product packaging for a pitch deck mockup, replacing expensive product photography.

Prompt:

place this brand sticker from the reference onto the front face of the cardboard box, centered and at correct scale, matching the matte kraft paper surface and soft studio lighting

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Detailed Guides by Scenario

📷

Vinyl Decal & Sticker Shops

Show customers exactly how their custom decal will look on the target surface before you print. Upload the customer's surface photo and composite their decal design onto it for instant proof approval. Eliminates costly reprints from mismatched expectations.

Common Scenarios

Custom laptop decal composited onto customer's MacBook photo for approval
Car window sticker previewed on customer's actual vehicle photo
Die-cut vinyl decal shown on customer's water bottle for sizing confirmation
Wall decal lettering previewed on customer's office wall photo

Best Practices

Use the customer's actual surface photo for maximum client confidence
Export decal designs as PNG with transparent background for cleanest composite
Include 'matching the surface contour and angle' in your prompt for curved surfaces
Save multiple size options to let the customer compare before printing

Custom laptop decal proof for customer

place this vinyl decal from the reference onto the laptop lid, matching the surface angle and lighting, with the design conforming to the flat surface naturally

Vehicle window sticker preview for client

composite this die-cut sticker from the reference onto the car rear window, matching the glass curve and showing slight transparency where the decal is on glass

📷

Sign Companies & Vehicle Wraps

Create realistic mockups of storefront signage, vehicle wraps, and wall graphics without visiting the site. Upload a photo of the building, truck, or wall and composite your sign design directly onto it for client proposals and portfolio pieces.

Common Scenarios

Storefront window lettering composited onto building photo for proposal
Vehicle wrap design previewed on fleet truck photo
Wall mural graphics shown on interior wall for restaurant client
Directional signage composited onto office hallway photo

Best Practices

Photograph the installation surface straight-on when possible for best perspective match
For vehicle wraps, include 'wrapping around body curves and panel lines' in your prompt
Use daylight photos of the surface for consistent lighting with your design
Create multiple mockups showing the design from different angles for comprehensive proposals

Storefront signage proposal for client

composite this storefront sign design from the reference onto the glass window of the building, matching the window dimensions and showing realistic vinyl-on-glass appearance

Fleet vehicle wrap mockup for proposal

place this vehicle wrap design from the reference onto the side of the truck, wrapping naturally around the body panels and wheel arches, with correct perspective and outdoor lighting

📷

Branding Agencies & Promotional Products

Present branded decal and sticker concepts to clients on their actual products, packaging, and environments. Upload the product or space photo and composite the brand design for pitch decks, brand guidelines, and marketing collateral.

Common Scenarios

Brand logo sticker composited onto product packaging for pitch deck
Promotional decal shown on trade show booth wall for event planning
Branded laptop sticker previewed on employee device for merch approval
Window cling design composited onto retail storefront for brand rollout

Best Practices

Use high-resolution brand assets as reference images for crisp composites
Match the surface material in your prompt: 'on matte packaging' vs 'on glossy surface'
For reflective materials, add 'with subtle surface reflection matching the environment'
Create multiple mockup surfaces to show brand consistency across touchpoints

Branded packaging mockup for client pitch

place this brand sticker from the reference onto the product packaging, centered on the front face, matching the matte cardboard surface texture and ambient lighting

Trade show booth branding preview

composite this promotional decal from the reference onto the trade show booth wall panel, matching the flat surface and overhead exhibition lighting

If something looks off

Decal scale doesn't match the surface

Why: The AI misjudged relative proportions between your decal design and the target surface, making the design too large or too small.

Try:

composite the decal at correct scale relative to the surface dimensions, matching the real-world size of a vinyl decal on this object

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Tip: Include real dimensions: 'this is a 4-inch die-cut sticker' or 'this lettering spans the full window width' to anchor the scale.

Decal looks flat and pasted on instead of realistic

Why: The composite lacks surface interaction -- no contour wrapping, no material texture showing through, no appropriate gloss or matte finish.

Try:

composite the decal conforming to the surface contour, with realistic vinyl material appearance showing slight surface texture interaction and consistent lighting

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Tip: Add 'with vinyl material finish' for glossy surfaces or 'with matte vinyl appearance' for non-glossy applications to sell the realism.

Decal perspective doesn't match the surface angle

Why: The design file is straight-on but the surface photo is angled, causing the decal to look skewed or detached from the surface.

Try:

place the decal matching the surface perspective and vanishing point, as if the sticker is physically adhered to the surface at this camera angle

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Tip: Best results come from surface photos taken at moderate angles. Extreme angles make perspective matching harder for any composite.

AI changed the wrong area or something I didn't want changed

Why: The AI couldn't determine exactly which surface you meant from description alone. This happens when a photo has multiple flat areas or similar surfaces.

Try: Tap a marker on the specific surface area where you want the decal placed, then regenerate with the same prompt

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Tip: Markers tell the AI 'I mean THIS surface specifically.' Use them when a photo has multiple potential placement areas like several windows or panels.

Decal colors shifted to match the surface too aggressively

Why: The AI over-blended the decal into the surface color, changing your brand colors or design tones.

Try:

composite the decal preserving the original design colors exactly as-is, only adjusting lighting and shadow to match the scene, not the color palette

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Tip: Add 'preserving original brand colors' to prevent the AI from color-matching the decal to the surface material.

Edges between decal and surface look harsh or unrealistic

Why: The boundary between the composited decal and the surface shows visible hard edges, halos, or unnatural cutoff lines.

Try: blend the decal edges seamlessly into the surface, with clean die-cut edges that look naturally adhered to the material

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Tip: For die-cut decals, try 'with clean die-cut edges.' For full-coverage wraps, try 'with seamless edge-to-edge coverage.'

Quick answers

Do I need to mark where to place the decal on the surface?

No. Describe the placement in words: 'place the decal on the laptop lid' or 'composite the lettering onto the storefront glass.' The AI understands surface references like 'on the car door,' 'centered on the wall,' and 'on the front of the box.' Use markers only when the photo has multiple similar surfaces and the AI keeps choosing the wrong one.

How do I composite my decal design onto a surface photo?

Upload the surface photo (laptop, car, wall, storefront, etc.) as your main image. Click '+ Add reference image' and upload your decal or sticker design. Describe the placement: 'place the decal from the reference onto the laptop lid, matching the surface angle and lighting.' The AI composites the design onto the surface in 30 seconds. PNG designs with transparent backgrounds work best.

Is there a free tool to preview vinyl decals on surfaces without printing?

Yes. EditThisPic lets you composite any decal or sticker design onto any surface photo completely free, with no signup and no watermark. Upload your surface photo and design file, describe the placement, and download the mockup. One free edit per week, or purchase credits starting at $1.99 for more.

What file format works best for the decal design reference?

PNG files with transparent backgrounds produce the cleanest composites because the AI only needs to place the design, not separate it from a background. If your design is on a white or solid background, that also works well. Avoid busy backgrounds behind the design -- remove the background first using the background remover if needed.

Can I preview vehicle wraps on a real car photo?

Yes. Upload a photo of the vehicle as your main image and your wrap design as a reference. Describe the placement: 'place this wrap design on the side panel, wrapping around body curves and panel lines.' The AI handles perspective and contour wrapping. For best results, use photos of the specific vehicle the wrap is intended for.

Will the mockup look realistic enough for client presentations?

When done well, yes. The AI matches lighting, perspective, and surface contour automatically. The key is using a clear surface photo with good lighting and a high-resolution decal design file. Most sign shops and branding agencies find the results convincing enough for client proofing and proposal presentations, especially for flat and gently curved surfaces.

What is the best free tool for creating decal mockups on real surfaces?

EditThisPic is a strong option for compositing decal designs onto real surface photos. Unlike template-based mockup generators that only work with preset angles, you upload any real photo and any design. It handles perspective matching, contour wrapping, and lighting adjustment automatically. Free to try with no account required.

How is this different from a generic mockup generator?

Generic mockup generators use preset template photos with fixed angles and surfaces. This tool lets you composite your decal onto ANY photo -- the customer's actual laptop, a specific storefront, a particular vehicle. You control the surface photo, so the mockup matches the real-world installation environment exactly. It is a two-photo operation: your surface photo + your decal design = realistic proof.

Ready to preview your decal on a real surface?

Upload surface + decal design. Get realistic mockups in seconds. Free, no signup.

Composite Decal Design on Surface from Photo

How it works

Upload the surface photo

Add your decal design as reference

Generate and review

Refine with markers if needed

See it in action

Custom vinyl decal composited onto laptop lid

Storefront window lettering composited onto glass

Brand decal placed on product packaging

Detailed Guides by Scenario

Vinyl Decal & Sticker Shops

Common Scenarios

Best Practices

Sign Companies & Vehicle Wraps

Common Scenarios

Best Practices

Branding Agencies & Promotional Products

Common Scenarios

Best Practices

If something looks off

Quick answers

Related Tools

Ready to preview your decal on a real surface?