How to Blend a Transparent Reflection in Photoshop

From bitmaps to full blown commercial imaging, Photoshop has been the choice of graphics specialists for arts and media industries. Photoshop provides an easy-to-use interface with lots of options for creating, editing and revising images. Some of Photoshop’s features include dithering, reflecting, opacity, and multiple layer options. This article will show you how to take up your arsenal of creative tools and blend transparent reflections for any image.

Instructions

1. Click on the paint bucket tool on the left tool box, and hold the mouse button down. A fly out menu will project from the side of the tool box. Click the Gradient tool.

2. Click on the Options bar. Choose the Foreground to Transparent gradient option. If you’re not sure which option this is, hold your mouse pointer over each foreground (the little colored squares) and wait for the explanation to pop up.

3. Select the Background layer in the layers palette. Click near the top of the background layer but do not depress the mouse button yet. Hold the shift key down as you drag downwards with the mouse. Release the mouse button and the shift key where you want the gradient to terminate.

4. Select the layer that you want to make transparent. If you want to make a layer over the background, then create a new layer in the layers palette. Click on the Opacity option, then slide the bar or type a percentage in the little text box next to it.

5. Drag one layer from the layers palette to the bottom of the layers palette. Drop the layer into the new layers icon at the bottom of the layers palette.

6. Flip the copied layer upside down. To do this, select the copied layer and press Ctrl+T. Your shape can now be transformed. Click on the top handle of the box that appears around your layer. Hold the shift key and drag downward to orient the layer vertically. Double-click inside the surrounding box. Use the move tool to move the layer up to the bottom of the original layer. Slightly lower the opacity in the layers palette.

7. Click the icon for Add Layer Mask. The icon is located at the bottom of the layers palette.

8. Set the foreground color to black. Select the gradient tool, and select the Foreground to Transparent option in the options bar.

9. Click on the white mask thumbnail in the layers palette.

10. Click slightly below the reflected layer and hold down the shift key. Drag upwards near the top of your layer. Depress the mouse button.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are using a Mac computer, then you can alternatively use the command button to act in the same way the control button behaves on the PC.