This is similar to my previous tutorial but requires a bit more than simply flipping an image and distorting it a bit. Again, I’m using PhotoShop CS6 on a Windows 7 Pro 64-bit computer. I’ll be using a Wacom Bamboo Fun CTE-650 which is somewhat larger than the standard 5 x 7 graphics tablet.
We start out with this image, which you can download HERE if you like.
Load the image into PhotoShop and make two duplicates (right-click on the layer, select Duplicate Layer), then hide the “Background” layer by clicking on the Eye. Remember rule number one: never work on your original photo. Always work on a copy.
Flip one of the copies 180 degrees vertically, then hide it. Edit – Transform – Flip Vertical
Make the right-side-up copy the active layer. Using the eraser, cut out some of the ground, making a somewhat random, blobby shape. Be careful about cutting trees in half, as that will spoil the illusion.
Now, unhide the upside-down version of the image and place it beneath the one with the erased areas. Notice that no dragging downward is really needed, it lines up pretty well (in this example. If you choose another image to work on, you may have to drag downward).
Now, create a new layer, use the Paint Bucket tool to fill it with black, and set the opacity down to 45. Place it between the right-side-up image and the upside-down one. This makes the lower layer a bit darker, as you might expect in an area with a lot of trees.
Now, you’ve probably noticed that we still need a couple of steps to help with the illusion. In particular, this guy–
–doesn’t cast a reflection! Argh, run, it’s a vampire! Just kidding. It’s not a vampire, you can come back, seriously. Anything that stands out near the artificial water will have to be copied, flipped, and placed into the image. I like using the Quick Mask for this. Just press Q, then choose the Paint Brush, and paint over the leaf cluster.
Press Q again to see selection. NOTE: You may have to go to Select, Inverse to grab the leaves, instead of everything but the leaves. Then copy, paste into a new layer, and place this layer below the black layer.
I’ve hidden all other layers below to give a better picture of the leaf cluster.
This tree over on the right also needs to get a reflection, at least of the trunk where it meets the water.
We use the same steps as previous–select, copy, paste into new layer, flip vertically, and place below the black layer. You’ll have to align them so that they “look good” to your eye, there’s no settings that I can give you for this.
And we’re done!
Any comments, suggestions, improvements or anything else you’d like to share, please feel free, and thank you for stopping by.