Creating Reflected Text

In the solid text tutorial, we created this file: solidtext.png.

In this tutorial we will add a reflection to this text as if the text was sitting on a mirror-like surface.

Step 1: With the file opened, make a duplicate of the text.

Step 2: Do Modify -> Transform -> Flip Vertical and then move the resulting copy down.

Step 3: We don't need the shadows on the reflection, so delete both effects as shown above. And reposition so that there is a pixel gap between the two text.

I also renamed my two elements in the Layers panel, so I know which is which.

Step 4: Select the reflected text and click Add Mask.

Step 5: With the mask selected, select the gradient tool and set as shown...

Step 6: Apply the gradient as shown...

The circle end will be the faded end and the square end will be the less faded end. Note that for the circle end, I did not reach all the way to the tip of the reflected text. Because I want the very tip to be totally disappeared. And for the square end, I went past into the main text. This is so that I can get the base of the reflected text to be less than 100% opacity. And you should get something like this ...

Step 7: The reflection is still to dark. We want it to be subtle and not over-do it.

Step 8: You can add a background by drawing a rectangle of a color of your choosing. I happend to pick #DDDD9B.

Step 9: Drag this element to the bottom in the Layers panel so that the text becomes visible...

Step 10: Then select Linear Gradient instead of Solid for the Fill Category as shown above.

Step 11: Set both color stops to the same color as our background color by clicking on the color stops and then clicking the eye dropper tool to our background color.

Step 12: Now set our left color stop to a slightly darker color using the technique in the last tutorial

Step 13: And make the right color stop a bit lighter.

Step 14: With the text selected, manipulate our gradient handles so that the darker end is in the upper-right and the lighter end is on the lower-left as shown.

And here is our resulting file: reflected-text.png. Because of the gradient, this image should be exported in JPG format.