Here is a quick and easy lesson to create a mirror word images in Photoshop that you can use for websites, digital scrap book pages or anything your creative mind can find use for.
Step 1: Start by opening a new document page; what ever size you would like to use then type something. I would start off using a simple and bold font.
Step 2: Create a new blank layer and name it MIRROR WORDS. Make sure the background layer is NOT visible and merge the blank layer and the word layer by pressing CTRL + SHIFT + ALT + E. Photoshop CS2 automatically creates a new layer when doing this.
Step 3: We are now going to turn the MIRROR WORDS layer upside down by going to EDIT > TRANSFORM > FLIP HORIZONTAL. Change the transform option to SKEW and stretch it just a little so it isn’t perfectly strait with the top.
Step 4: After you flip the image you want to match the bottom edges to the master words. If any of the the “mirror” are over lapping the top words erase them so there is a even line between them.
Step 5: Select LAYER STYLE and GRADIENT OVERLAY . Use two colors one being the color of the font, the other the color of the background. You can customize your colors by clicking on the color box and a new window will open. Click on the small box in the left colorUse the dropper and click on the font color and click ok. Set the layer style to REVERSE; if needed, so the text color is on top.
Step 6: Change the visibility but lowering the OPACITY in the layer box. I usually go down to 50% or less.
Step 7: Lower the saturation (Remove some of the color) by going to IMGAGE > ADJUSTMENTS > HUE/SATURATION. Reduce it by 10 to 25% so it’s just a little less saturation.
Step 8: Blur slightly by going to FILTER > BLUR > GAUSSIAN BLUR. You just need a little feathering / blurring so 1 to 2 pixels should be fine.
Step 9: Select the original text layer and using LAYER STYLE add a DROP SHADOW according to taste.
YOUR DONE! Now you can do what every your imagination tells you to do with it!
On a side note you can basically use the same steps above with photos and other pictures for a reflection effect with a little playing, blurring and using the smudge tool.
