Cityscape Reflections

• You will need this zip file of 2 images to complete the project
• This project uses the following techniques
  • layers
  • adjustment layers
  • liquify
  • saving and using a mask
  • clipping group
  • Layer effects

1. Open the NY cityscape image up in Photoshop.

2. Adjustment 1: First we will do some adjustments on this image. Click the adjustment icon on the bottom of the layers palette. Select levels from the list.

3. Sharpen the image using levels. To set the lightest colors to white, move the right slider left to the right edge of the histogram graph. To set the darkest colors to black, move the black slider right so it meets the histogram graph. Click ok.
4. Adjustment 2: Click the adjustment icon on the bottom of the layers palette. Select hue/saturation from the list.

• check Colorize
• Set the hue to 226
• saturation to 80
• lightness at 0

Your layers palette should be in this stacking order:

• Hue/saturation 1 adjustment
• Levels 1 adjustment
• Background.

5. Click on your background layer. Select the rectangular marquee M  tool. Select the top 2/3rds of the image starting at the water line.

6. Click on the channels palette and click the button on the bottom that is save selection as channel. The channel will be called alpha1.

7. Click select=> deselect. Click back on your layers palette and click on your background layer. While your background layer is highlighted, click Filter=> Liquify.

8. First change the Freeze area to your alpha 1 channel. Then click the invert so that the protected area are your buildings and the water is available for liquify.

9. Select the reflection tool M from your tool box on the left side of your work area in liquify.

10. Set your brush to

• Size 255
• pressure = 50

11. Drag your brush from the far right side to the left in horizontal stroke to add a reflection to the city. Continue stoking until you are satisfied with your reflection. Click ok to apply this to your image.

12. Click Filter=> Liquefy again. Set the Freeze area again to the alpha 1, and invert it.

 Change your tool to the turbulence tool A.

13. Set your brush to a smaller brush

• size = 100 pixels
• pressure = 20.

Add some turbulence to the water by dragging across the water starting at the edge of the freeze in left to right and back to left strokes. Click ok when done.

14. Highlight your levels 1 layer on the layer palette.

15. Open your reflection.PSD. Drag the reflection layer to your cityscape canvas. It should position itself between the adjustment layers so the new stacking order will be

• Hue/saturation 1 adjustment
• Refection text
• Levels 1 adjustment
• Background.

Use the move tool to position the horizon line of the text on the waters edge of the city.

15. Drag your background layer to your New layer icon on the bottom of the layers palette to duplicate it. Then drag the background copy over your text layer and drop it there. The new stacking order will be

• Hue/saturation 1 adjustment
• Background copy
• Refection text
• Levels 1 adjustment
• Background.

16. Hold your alt key down and position your mouse between the background copy and the reflection text layer until you see the clipping group cursor appear. Click your mouse when you see the image of the intersecting circles.Your image should look like the one below

.

17. Click on your reflection layer to highlight it. We will add several layer styles. Click the effects button and select  Drop shadows.

On the Layer styles dialog box, check drop shadow, inner glow, bevel and emboss.
18. Click on the Gradient Overlay and check it. Set the following:

• Blend mode = OVERLAY
• opacity = 100%
• Gradient is default, black to white
• reverse is unchecked.
• style = RADIAL
• align with layer checked.
• scale = 100%

19. Click OK. Save your work.