Simple Reflective Text

**Chronologix** · 02-05-2006

i had a request for this one....so here it is:

1.) Open up your signature (or make your signature), i used a blue one just for the tutorial. Then you simply add your text in as you normally would.

[IMG]https://img.photobucke*****m/albums/v470/Chronologix/Tutorials/refstart.jpg[/IMG]

2.) Then you will need to duplicate the text layer (go up to the menu and click "Layer->duplicate layer" Then move that layer below the normal text (try to not move it to the left or right....keep it right below, you can do this by holding Shift and moving it) then go into Edit->Transform->Flip Vertically...this will create the first mirror/reflection effect.

[IMG]https://img.photobucke*****m/albums/v470/Chronologix/Tutorials/refstart2.jpg[/IMG]

3.) Next is the line....this is optional, but i usually add itto my sigs with reflection text. Basically you just choose the line tool and make sure your color pallette is set to black and white or else your line will be a different color (or change the color to the same color as your text) then click somewhere and hold down shift (this will keep the line straight) and drag to the length you want it and finish.

[IMG]https://img.photobucke*****m/albums/v470/Chronologix/Tutorials/refstart3.jpg[/IMG]

4.) Now if you want to add a fading effect you will need to rasterize your bottom text layer as well as your line layer, to do this you right click the layer in the layer pallette and find the "Rasterize Layer" or Rasterize Type" and select it. This will convert your text or masked layers into a basic image layer. (you might need to right-click different areas of the layer in the list to find it...for example if you right-click the left side of the Shape 1 layer in the list you will get a different set of options than if you clicked the right side)

[IMG]https://img.photobucke*****m/albums/v470/Chronologix/Tutorials/refstart4.jpg[/IMG]

5.) Now that the layers are rasterized that means you can directly edit them and add the fade effect to the bottom text....to do this you need to use your selection lasso or rectangular marquee tool and select right underneath the bottom text layer...once you have the select you then right click it (you must have a selection tool selected) and click "Feather" and set it to around 15 pixels. Press OK then press delete a few times, usually 2 or 3 times does the trick...just delete until you have the effect that you want. Also (optional) you can do this same method for the line....select directly to the left of the line and Feather to about 5 pixels and delete a few times. (i did not do this on my images for the tutorial)

[IMG]https://img.photobucke*****m/albums/v470/Chronologix/Tutorials/refstart5.jpg[/IMG]

6.) Now that you have the fade effect in there you are practically finished...now you can (if you want) set the line and 2 text layers to "Soft Light" and if they are too difficult to see then simply duplicate the layers a few times and it should brighten them up. Setting them to soft light makes them semi-transparent and the background is visible through it giving it a glassy "clear" effect. And even with that you could merge the layers, then set it to soft light, then go into the blending options and add an outer glow...or maybe add a nice dropshadow to give the text definition.

[IMG]https://img.photobucke*****m/albums/v470/Chronologix/Tutorials/refstart6.jpg[/IMG]