Photoshop Classic: How To Make A Water Reflection Effect In Photoshop

Create a naturalistic water reflection effect with new Photoshop Cs6 elements. This will work in almost all the versions of Photoshop. For this effect image size is important. This takes a pretty much time for the user to do it. You can use any of your photos for this effect, and I’ll be using the Burghley house. Ok so let’s get started.

1^st Step : Open up the image.

2^nd Step : Image size is important for this tutorial, so I’ll just crop off the image. Remember that the height is less and Breadth higher. You can use the crop tool for cutting, simply press C for the crop tool.

3^rd Step : After you have successfully cropped your image, go to Image/ Canvas size.

4^th Step : After the Canvas size box pop ups, change inches to percent and up arrow on anchor. Height 150 – 200 according to you image, I’ll use 170 for my image.

5^th Step : Now go to Layer/ New/ Layer via copy and create a new layer.

6^th Step : Go to View/and make sure Rulers and Snaps are checked.

7^th Step : Grab the ruler and place it in the middle of the image and press Enter.

8^th Step : Select the Rectangular marquee tool from the tool bar or simply press M.

9^th Step : Now make a selection of the image not the white background.

10^th Step : Again go to Layer/ New/ Layer via copy.

11^th Step : And a copy of it by Ctrl + J.

12^th Step : Now press Ctrl + t, and drag the selection to the middle of the white background.

13^th Step : After that Drag the layer 2 copy between layer 2 and layer 1 and name it Reflection.

14^th Step : Name the top Layer as your wish.

15^th Step : Delete the Layer 1 .

16^th Step : Click on Reflection layer and press Ctrl + J.

17^th Step : While you have clicked the Reflection copy layer, go to Filter/ Blur/ Motion Blur.

18^th Step : Make the angle 90 degrees and distance 35.

19^th Step : Merge the two layers , Reflection and Reflection copy by Ctrl + click on both Layers , right click Merge visible. After you have merged you will have only the Background left.

20^th Step : Again create a new layer by going Layer/ New/ Layer via copy.

21^st Step : Grab the Smudge tool from the tool bar

22^nd Step : Make sure the hardness is set to 0 and Strength is set to 10 and start coloring over the water reflection to get a natural look.

23^rd Step : Now create a new Layer by going Layer/ New / Layer via copy.

24^th Step : Make sure white is the background color not the foreground color and press Ctrl + del.

25th Step : Now to Filter/ Noise/ Add noise.

26^th Step : Make sure the amount is 400 and Monochromatic checked.

27^th Step : Now go to Filter/ Blur/ Motion Blur.

28^th Step : Make the angle 0 and distance 50.

29^th Step : Go to Image/ Adjustments/ Levels.

30^th Step : After the Level box pop ups ,type left 147, middle 1.53, right 219.

31^st Step : Now grab the Zoom tool from the tool , or else simply press Z.

32^nd Step : Now right click and Zoom out.

33^rd Step : Press ctrl + t and go to Edit / Transform / Perspective.

33^rd Step : Go to a bottom corner and drag out and to a top corner and drag in and press enter.

34^th Step : Now press Ctrl + 0 , to get the actual size of the picture.

35^th Step : Go to Filter/ Blur/ Gaussian Blur.

36^th Step : Make the Radius 2.0 pixels.

37^th Step : Click on layer 1 and make a copy of it by pressing ctrl +J.Make it not visible.

38^th Step : Click on Layer 1.

39^th Step : Change the blend mode to soft light and opacity 35%.

40^th Step : Make the layer 1 copy visible and click on it.

41^st Step : Press Ctrl + i. You should get a picture like this.

42^nd Step : Now change the blending mode to Overlay and Opacity 30.

43^rd Step : After that take the move tool and press down arrow on keyboard to move the shadows down. You can take the move tool by pressing V.

44^th Step : Now grab the Blur tool from the tool bar.

45^th Step : Make sure the Hardness is 0 and strength is 100 and start coloring over the bottom of the water reflection. Do this for both Layer 1 and Layer 1 copy.