ChatGPT 4.0: How to create a FOOH mockup in under 20 minutes

AI is moving fast — and with ChatGPT 4.0’s new image generation feature, FOOH creators have a new tool in their workflow. Whether you’re testing early-stage concepts, building moodboards, or quickly mocking up visuals for a pitch, this update makes it easier than ever to move from idea to image, fast.

We put it to the test. Here’s a lightweight workflow that took less than 20 minutes – no 3D software, no photoshop, no heavy rendering.

Pro tip: stick around to the end – we’ll share a simple bonus hack to add motion to your static FOOH mockups in seconds! Let’s jump straight into it.

Step 1: Generate the Hero Element (Text-Based CGI)

We started with a simple prompt to generate a balloon that would have the words “fooh.com” on it.

ChatGPT 4’s image generation nailed the concept on the first try – a clean, usable asset that didn’t need any tweaking.

The Prompt: Can you create a black round balloon with “fooh.com” on it on a white background.

The result:

Step 2: Find Your Location

Next, we jumped on Google and grabbed a high-res photo of a building in Bryant Park, NYC. Nothing fancy — just something with strong angles and a clean sky to place the elements against - classic FOOH.

Feeding GPT-4o both the city scene and the balloon, we told GPT-4o to fill the windows of the building with ‘fooh.com’ balloons.

And just like that, the building transformed into a playful branded scene, zero Photoshop involved.

The exact prompt: “Behind this glassfront there should be hundreds of this balloon seeable.”

The result:

Step 3: Add Movement

Then we wanted to create that classic “balloons rising into the sky” moment.

After three quick iterations, it delivered a version that captured the feeling perfectly. This part took the most time, but even then, it was surprisingly fast.

Here’s the prompt: Imagine the balloons are coming out on top of the building. Make sure to keep the front of the building intact.”

Step 4: Bonus: Turn It Into a Video Mockup

Still images are powerful – but if you’re pitching to non-visual clients, a video mockup can make all the difference. Here’s a simple trick:

We took the first frame (balloons in building) and last frame (balloons in the sky), and dropped them into Pica.art – an AI tool that animates between two images.

The result? A lightweight animated mockup that tells the story in seconds. Is it perfect? No. But it adds just enough emotion and motion to bring the idea to life.

Final Thoughts

The new ChatGPT 4 update really comes in handy for quick FOOH mockups – especially when you’re working with text-based elements or branded visuals. That’s what makes it a great tool for early ideation, pitching or just getting ideas out of your head and into visuals fast.

Pairing it with a tool like Pica.art adds a whole new layer – helping you bring emotion and motion into the mix with lightweight animations. It’s not perfect (yet), but it’s already proofing itself as a very useful add-on for anyone wanting to make static FOOH concepts feel more alive.