The 5 Essential Photoshop Reflections
You’ve undoubtedly seen these 5 reflections in all sorts of graphic design, website design, and interface design. In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to make them in Photoshop.
The Reflections
You see reflections everywhere in design, whether you realize it or not. You see them used in graphics, commercials, products, and even websites. There are lots of photoshop tutorials that teach how to create a specific reflection, but in this tutorial, I am going to outline how to create 5 of the most widely used types of reflections in design. Feel free to download the attached PSD if you’d like to work on the same document I’ll be editing.
The Surface Reflection
The Surface Reflection is probably the most widely known reflection type, as it has basically been made into an icon by Apple Inc. Basically, it’s simply the reflection of an object on a surface below the object. It’s very simple to create.
Begin by Duplicating the layers you wish to reflect (Right Click Layer > Duplicate Layer). In my case, it will be the Tutorial9 Logo. Next, Flip the layer Vertically (Edit > Transform > Flip Vertical).
Now, using the Move Tool, drag your new layer just below the original.
Using the Eraser Tool, with a brush size of 40-200 (It will vary from case to case, just experiment), and Hardness set to 0%, erase the bottom of your upside down cloud. Hold Shift while erasing to erase in a perfect line.
Only thing left to do is Adjust the Layer Opacity to control the intensity of the reflection. That’s it for the surface reflection!
The Environment Reflection
The Environment Reflection Might be best known as the Reflection used for windows in Microsoft Windows Vista. There are plenty of other uses for it too, such as menu bars on website, or Icon Design.
To start, you need to Select the Layer Transparency of the layer you will be adding the reflection too. To do this, Ctrl + Click said layer, or Right Click > Select Layer Transparency. You must click the actual layer icon, NOT the layer name.
From here we can create two different reflection types. We could go with a curved reflection, or a simple flat reflection. I will be creating a curved one with the Elliptical Marquee Tool, but you may create a flat one with the Rectangular Marquee Tool 
if you wish.
Once you’ve selected your tool of choice, hold Alt + Shift and draw a selection through your layer. Holding Alt and Shift will make your layers Intersect, meaning a selection will be left ONLY where both selections overlap.
Create a new layer to draw the reflection on.
Select the Gradient Tool from the toolbar, and select White as your foreground color. Select the “Foreground to Transparent” gradient from the gradient picker in the options bar. Now, while holding shift to create a straight gradient, drag from a bit below your selection towards the top of your layer, and release to create a gradient.
You may choose to adjust the layer opacity in order to get the right kind of lighting intensity. Otherwise, that’s it for the Environment Reflection.
Glossy Reflection
Glossy Reflections are very prevalent in Text and Icon effects, but are also seen in many other scenarios too, similar to the Environment Reflection.
The creation of a Glossy Reflection type is exactly the same as the Environment Reflection shown above. The only difference is when you are drawing your gradient. Instead of dragging from bottom to top with the Gradient Tool, drag from the top to the bottom. Afterwards, just adjust the layer opacity of your reflection to alter the intensity.
3D Fold
This is really more of a lighting effect than a reflection, but basically that’s what a reflection is. A Lighting Effect. You have probably seen something like this on a logo, or website layout before.
To achieve the effect, select your objects layer just as you did with the previous two reflections (Ctrl + Click Layer Thumbnail).
Using the Rectangular Marquee Tool, intersect that selection so that you have a straight edge (Remember, to intersect a selection, hold Alt + Shift while drawing one selection over another).
Create a new layer.
Now, select a large, soft Brush (200px, 0% Hardness) from your toolbar. Using Black as your foreground color, use just the edge of the brush to fill it a bit of the selection you’ve made.
Duplicate this layer, and move the duplicated duplicated layer just below the original with the Move Tool.
Finally, create a new selection that instead overs the top half of your layer, and this time, brush it with a white foreground instead of a black one. The end result should have a 3-Dimensional feel to it!
The Flare
The flare is self-explanatory. It’s basically a imitation of a collection of light that produces a bright spot on an edge or surface.
To create a flare, we will be using the Dodge Tool.
Begin by grabbing the Dodge Tool, and setting the Brush options to 50px in Size, 0% in Hardness, and 50% in exposure (exposure settings may need to be modified depending on brightness of surface). Set the Range to Highlights.
Begin gently brushing around the edges where the light will be hitting strongest. Just use the edge of your brush, and lighting go back and forth over these edges.
Reduce your brush size to something significantly smaller, perhaps around 10px. Continue to gently brush these edges until you really create a thin bright edge. Zooming In and Out (Ctrl + ‘+’, or Ctrl + ‘-’) may assist you here.
Finally, using your Brush Tool, and a small, soft brush, Create a new Layer, a make some soft “Flare Marks”. Adjust the Opacity of this layer as needed. That’s it!
And there you have it, 5 different flares added to your arsenal for excellent design. Good Luck, and have fun!
86 Comments
Great tutorial. I tried them all and it went good!
Nice effects!
Thanks a lot for sharing! :)
Flag as inappropriateAll effects are awesome. I enjoyed doing this tutorial
Flag as inappropriateThank you.
hello, I am trying the dodge tool for the flares and it does make white the black outline of the cloud but nothing happens with the blue part of the cloud help :*(
Flag as inappropriateThanks for the awesome and accurate tutorial. It was crystal clear and easy to follow. Thanks so much!
Flag as inappropriatethank you David, please keep creating nice tutorial.
Flag as inappropriatevist for basic training of photoshop
Flag as inappropriatehttp://training4free.co.cc/Basic%20training/Basic%20training.html
Very Vague on how to make it fade out….
Flag as inappropriateYou are simply the best.
Flag as inappropriateLol at ur mom Zir
Flag as inappropriateU OWN
I am a corporate trainer, currently working on an online travel process, I visited your blog, its really nice and I got lot of knowledge from it. I want to say thanks…
Flag as inappropriateGreat article, thank you – I will use this technique again and again!
Flag as inappropriatetanx i want it really
Flag as inappropriatei am a beginner and its a Great one.. thanks..
Flag as inappropriategreat tutorial . Thanks526
Flag as inappropriategreat tutorial . Thanks519
Flag as inappropriategreat tutorial . Thanks514
Flag as inappropriateWhat about reflections of objects that can’t be just flipped and flopped? Like a chair at an angle on a shinny floor? How can I achieve a mirror reflection of an asymmetrical shape?
Flag as inappropriateкруто! (nice!)
Flag as inappropriateGreat post. Really pro. Improved our school site no end : )
Flag as inappropriateVery nice pack :P thanx.
Flag as inappropriatenice turtorail
Flag as inappropriatethanks David Leggett, your works are so good. I follow you:)
Flag as inappropriatehow do you do that dark background?
awesome tut,
thanks
Flag as inappropriateThanks you for this great tutorials!! I can do it now!!
Flag as inappropriateSimply awesome… :)
Flag as inappropriateTHNX ALOT ..AMAZING WORKS
Flag as inappropriateThank you for this excellent article.
Flag as inappropriatethis is what i have been looking for, im really looking on how to make reflection types, and how to apply it to…
Flag as inappropriateI really should say, you are God of graphic.
Flag as inappropriateThank you very much for this post!!!
Flag as inappropriateGreat stuff, especially the flare, that gives me a lot of ideas now.
Flag as inappropriateRellay like the additional flares on the end article, I have always just done the lower reflection and never thought about extending the idea further like you have, excellent.
Tim
Flag as inappropriateYou are amazing Dave.
Flag as inappropriateGreat tutorials, been doing them all day but just one question regarding the flare technique; how do achieve it without any visible lines of the overlapping dodge marks? I can get it looking okay but nowhere near as smooth as your examples!
Thanks!
Flag as inappropriateTry these two things:
1. Make sure that you’re hardness is set to 0%
2. Set your Exposure for the Dodge tool down to 5%-20%. This will make it less strong when you use it.
Thanks Ben, hope that helps!
Flag as inappropriatethat’s really cool! thanks
Flag as inappropriateOMG, awesome, thanks thanks thanks!
Flag as inappropriateI effing love you! Your TUTORIALS ARE SOOOOOOOOOOO GOOOD.
effing thanks so much man. you’re awesome, keep up the great work.
Flag as inappropriateI found a great example for 3d fold. If you look at the windows xp media center version. The start menu button has the 3d fold effect. Well at least it looks like it.
Flag as inappropriateThanks for this tute. And yes it IS easier using a gradient mask :-)
Flag as inappropriatethanx for the tut! nice one! :like:
Flag as inappropriateVery Cool Tutorial..simple yet effective!! thanks
Flag as inappropriateGreat site! ‘Amazing Retro Rainbow Curves’ is excellent!
Flag as inappropriateI love “The Flare” technique! The tutorial was really helpful and I’m sure I’ll use it in the future! Keep up the good work.
Flag as inappropriateAnother great tutorial here. I would like to see the surface reflection done with gradient mask though, if possible.
Thanks.
Flag as inappropriateholy shiznit, i love these tuts. and i WILL subscribe, because the tutorials are incredibly helpful and i keep on asking for more! lol ty David
Flag as inappropriatehey, nice tutorial.
never seen flare or 3d fold,
but im sure going to give them a try =D
thankyou.
Flag as inappropriateNice touch with the glare on #5. Very effective techniques.
Flag as inappropriateFantastic tutorial!
Flag as inappropriateNice stuff… really useful!
Flag as inappropriateNice job! Well written tutorial.
Flag as inappropriateThanks, learned a lof from this!
Flag as inappropriateThis is exactly what I’ve been looking for. Too many places concentrate on building specific templates and not giving tuts on the process of certain things. Great work!
Flag as inappropriatepretty cool mate!
Flag as inappropriateYou’re all very welcome, and yes Gustavo, we’re going to keep posting more and more tutorials, so be sure you’re subscribed to our tutorial feed ;)
Flag as inappropriateReally useful, thank you for sharing
Flag as inappropriateuseful article thanks.
Flag as inappropriateNice tutorial:D I congratulate you..eh eh, please, keep posting more.:D
Flag as inappropriateNo problem NhatHM! Glad you found it so useful =)
Flag as inappropriateThat was awesome man! Really thank you for this! That helps me much.
Flag as inappropriateThanks Jamie & Chris =) Glad you found us!
That’s a really good suggestion Jamie, thanks for sharing mate!
Flag as inappropriateA great overview of all the reflection options. Glad I found it via design float. Keep up the good work.
Cheers,
Flag as inappropriateGood post,
With the first one, i would suggest using a gradient mask rather then the eraser tool – then if you have made a mistake with the position of the refelction, you can just move the gradient rather then do the whole process over again :)
Flag as inappropriateI’m sorry randallarthur, I’m not sure what you’re quoting there =/
Flag as inappropriatesaying this is “web 2.0″ is like saying that Bruchart was modern art…more a TREATMENT than a movement…
it gives novices a justified ticket to the show…please dont step on board until you’ve purchased your ticket
Flag as inappropriateWow, Great tutorial. Thanks
Flag as inappropriateHeh I always overuse surface reflections. I should try using some of these others more often.
Flag as inappropriatecool prefer this technique applied on my banner, thanks a lot!!
Flag as inappropriatethanks, this has really helped with my projects.
Flag as inappropriatethanks muchly
some i havnt seen before, might try them
Flag as inappropriateAwesome! This will be very useful to me in the near future.
Thanks!
Flag as inappropriateCool!
Flag as inappropriateHi David, I would reallu like to see the Flood examples…
Flag as inappropriateI like how Flare looks!
Thanks cruddpuppet and Brian. I’m glad ya’ll enjoyed it!
Flag as inappropriateI was looking hard last night for a really good example of the 3D Fold in use, but I couldn’t find it (hate it when that happens). It’s a great effect for menu bars and icons though ;)
awsome tut.
Flag as inappropriateI’ve never seen the “flare” or “3-d fold”, but I’ll be sure to give them a try.
Nice post.
Flag as inappropriate