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mc_mark
mc_mark
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How to fade out a reflection from 2 directions?

Aug 1, 2012 9:20 AM

Using CS6 on Windows 7. I've got a product photo of a product with square corners and the shot is taken on a angle so that a corner is pointed out towards you with 2 sides going away from you. I've created a copy of the layer, flipped it vertically and lowered the opacity to create a reflection. I then added a layer mask to the reflection layer and then a gradient to fade out the relection to solid white on 1 side of the product. But I need to apply a gradient to the other side of the product to fade out its reflection, but when I do this, it removes the first gradient. How can I fade out both sides of my

 

reflection? Thanks.

 

Mark

397 Views   6 Replies   Latest reply: mc_mark, Aug 2, 2012 11:03 AM
 
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  • mc_mark
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    1. mc_mark,
    Aug 1, 2012 9:31 AM   in reply to mc_mark
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    Thought I had it figured out by adding a new layer and then applying gradient to it, but then when I delete the background layer, the gradient I made on the new layer is visible. I'm trying to create a PNG with transparent background so when it displays on our website, just the product and its reflection is shown against the site's background. Can anyone help me out? Thanks.

     
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  • conroy
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    2. conroy,
    Aug 1, 2012 9:43 AM   in reply to mc_mark
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    If you want to maintain two masks affecting one layer then put one gradient in the layer's mask, put the layer into a layer group and put the second gradient in the group's mask.

     

     

    Alternatively, you can combine gradients by using different blending modes. The Gradient Tool options bar has a blending mode control for the next gradient to be drawn. You can also build a mixed gradient in layers, blending the layers, then stamp these layers into one layer and copy that layer into a mask. I recommend Gradient Fill layers (Layer > New Fill Layer > Gradient...) for making gradients which you can repeatedly tweak now and later.

     
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  • Noel Carboni
    21,027 posts
    Dec 23, 2006
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    3. Noel Carboni,
    Aug 1, 2012 12:24 PM   in reply to mc_mark
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    An easy way to limit a gradient to part of an image is to make a selection first, then paint the gradient in it...

     

    Just to toss out some visual ideas...

     

    CubeDark.jpg

     

    CubeWithReflection.png

     

    http://Noel.ProDigitalSoftware.com/ForumPosts/CubeWithReflection.psd

     

    -Noel

     
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  • mc_mark
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    4. mc_mark,
    Aug 1, 2012 5:17 PM   in reply to Noel Carboni
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    Noel,

     

    Your cube is a perfect example of what I want to do, but even after downloading your PSD file, I still cannot figure out how you did it. Can you explain further to me how you created the layer "Reflection?" Thanks.

     
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  • Noel Carboni
    21,027 posts
    Dec 23, 2006
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    5. Noel Carboni,
    Aug 1, 2012 5:38 PM   in reply to mc_mark
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    I duped the cube layer, rasterized it, deleted all but the two faces, flipped vertically via Edit -Transform, then used Edit - Transform - Distort on each side separately to make the edges line up. 

     

    I just selected each side individually and rendered white to black gradients at near right angles into the layer mask.

     

    -Noel

     
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  • mc_mark
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    6. mc_mark,
    Aug 2, 2012 11:03 AM   in reply to Noel Carboni
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    Thanks Noel! Got it!

     
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