Shiny!

10 February 2006

Would you like to know how to achieve the reflection effect I use on most of the pictures I post here? Apple have actually implemented something similar in the latest versions of Pages and iWeb (although it lacks a shadow that really makes the effect shine), but if you want to do it yourself here’s how (you’ll need Adobe Photoshop, although I’m sure you can probably manage it with Photoshop Elements or the GIMP to):

Step 1

Firstly, open up Photoshop and create a blank document that’s the size of you image, plus a little bit at each side and about half the height again at the bottom.

Then, place your image in the middle at the top of your document.

Step 2

Next, create a new layer underneath the layer containing your image, and using the Elliptical Marquee Tool draw a thin oval at the bottom of your image (this will be for the shadow).

Step 3

Fill your selection with black using the “Paint Bucket Tool”. Then, in the layers palette drag the shadow layer so that it is underneath the original image layer.

Step 4

Now it’s time to blur the shadow. To do this, use the “Gaussian Blur” filter, which is in the “Filter” menu, under “blur”.

I normally use a 7.0 pixel blur for web images, but obviously this will vary depending on the size of the image (just go for whatever looks right, but don’t forget that we will adjust the transparency of the blur later, so it’s impact will be reduced).

After that, reduce the opacity of the shadow to something around 50%.

Step 5

Now we create the reflection. First, duplicate your image layer. Then, flip it vertically using the “Flip Vertically” function, in the “Edit” menu under “Transform”.

Next, move the the duplicated image down so that it’s top edge lines up with the bottom edge of the original image.

Then, in the layers palette drag the reflection layer so that it is underneath the shadow layer.

Step 6

Now we add the reflection fall off. To do this we give the reflection layer a layer mask, by using the “Reveal All” function, in the “Layer” menu under “Layer Mask”.

Next, using the “Gradient Tool” we put a black to white gradient in the layer mask going from the bottom of the reflection layer to where it meets the original image.

Then, adjust the transparency of the layer to reduce it’s impact – I normally use something around 40%.

That’s It!

From: Articles

10 February 2006