How to design water reflections in Photoshop
December 31, 2007 – 3:04 pm
“Reflections are the new drop shadows!” If that’s the case, here’s how!
Copy the text layer – or layer – that you want to reflect (Cmd/Ctrl-J). If the layer that you want to reflect is a text layer then you should Rasterize it. To do this, right-click on the text layer in the Layers palette and choose Rasterize Type.
This is my method of quickly flipping something vertically in Photoshop. Go Cmd/Ctrl-T for Free Transform, grab the top-middle point, pull down (see below) and then hit Return. Simple, no need for cumbersome menus.
Next you need to create a gradient mask to fade the reflection from top to bottom. To do this, select the layer that is the reflection, click on the “Add layer mask” icon at the bottom of the Layers palette (looks like a washing machine), select the Gradient Tool (G) and drag from above the top to below the bottom of the reflection. Easy! (Didn’t work? Make sure your Foreground and Background colors and your Gradient picker are defaulted.)
Lastly a bit of rippling and blurring. Go Filters > Distort > Ripple… and choose the desired level of wobble. Only blur it a touch.
Amazing.. I never thought that it’ll be that much easy.. but yet to try it
5 Responses to “How to design water reflections in Photoshop”
This effect is so cool. I have always wandered how the reflection effect is accomplished. Thanks for sharing.
By Zazsis sterling silver earing on Jan 26, 2008
tried this tricks at my own site and it works great. the header logo works great thanks for this tutorials.
By philippine joomla designer on Feb 5, 2008
Thanks guys, more tips and tricks to come!
By Rob Cubbon on Feb 8, 2008
I love photoshop articles like this thanks!
By Article Rewriter on May 23, 2008
Thank you, Article Rewriter.
By Rob Cubbon on May 26, 2008