In this tutorial, we will study how to make this classic reflection effect on a title. I will try to be as clear as possible, but do not hesitate to post your questions if something is not clear enough !

So… Let’s get started !

1. First of all, open Photoshop, and create a new document (size : 600px*200px).

2. Then, we will apply to this document a black background : select black as Foreground color of your toolbar and press ALT and BACKSPACE in the same time.

3. Now, it is time to insert our text in there. Select the Text tool , and in the menu bar, choose a font like… Impact.

As you can see, next to it there is a setting for the color of the text, and another for the size… Let’s choose the size 14, and a flashy green . Then, click on your working area, and type the text you wish.

Here we go ! Now; let’s costumize this text a bit. Do a right click on the layer containing the text, and choose “blending options”.

Then, you will apply the following settings:

Of course, I let you try other settings. Customize it as you wish. The more you try, the faster you will get to know all these useful options of Photoshop !

Then, it is now time to create the layer that will be the reflection layer. Go on the layer panel, right click on the text layer we have created, and choose “duplicate layer”. Then, rename the new layer to “reflection”.

Now; we have two text layers; as you can see. Click and drag the layer called “reflection” under the original layer first. Then, do a right click on this “reflection” layer, and choose “rasterize layer”. Then, go to the menu bar; Edition > Transform > Flip vertical.

Then go back to your working area, choose in the toolbar the “move” tool.

Then drag your reflected text right under the original one.

Now, just a few more steps… Choose the “edit in Quick mask mode” tool in the toolbar

Then select the rectangular marquee tool, it is the first at the top of the toolbar! You will use it to draw a rectangle around the texte which will be the reflection. Take care, you have got to be precise ! Your work should look like that:

Then, choose the gradient tool, and draw a gradient from the top of this selected rectangle till the middle, in the straight line :

You should obtain this result. Then, come back in standard mode (it is the button at the left of “edit in quick mask mode”, and then simply push “delete” in your keyboard. Done? Great, just a few more steps and it will be perfect!

In fact, the first thing to do will be to inverse the direction of the gradient applied to our reflection. Indeed, as you can see, it does not fit. IN order to do that, look at your layer panel, right click on the “reflection” layer, then go to “Gradient overlay”, and unclick the “reverse” button.

Then, go the menu bar, Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur, and set it on 1,8. click “OK”. And finally, the last step… you have to set the opacity of the “reflection” layer to 75%.
Et Voila ! We’re done ! You now have the basics of the reflection effect. To improve it, you can change the background, but also play with the blending options… Just try !

If you have any questions, do not hesitate ! Some other tutorials will come soon so do not hesitate to subscribe to the RSS feed to stay updated!