Better Reflections in Photoshop

May 23rd, 2008

Overview

Tired of having boring reflections? Follow these tips to make your reflections better!

In this tutorial you will learn how to create better reflections in Adobe Photoshop.

Step 1

First, you want to have an image to reflect. I’ll be using this image of a planet I made for this tutorial.

With your image duplicate it (command+j) flip it vertically (command+t and control click on it and click “Flip Vertical”). Now move it down so the top of it is 1 pixel from the bottom of the non-flipped image (You can do any distance you want).

Step 2

Now lets apply a Gaussion Blur (Filter -> Blur -> Gaussion Blur) and apply a blur with any radius you want, I used 4.1.

Step 3

Add a layer mask to the layer, select the gradient tool (g, if the gradient tool is not selected go to your tools and alt click on the paint bucket) and select the foreground to background gradient and make your foreground white and background black (d)

Now with your gradient tool click right above the preimage and drag it to about 3/4 of the second image (This totally depends on the image you are doing! so most likely will be different for each thing you do)