Fine-tuning Mirror Reflections
... some options and alternate scenarios
I think the black and white is very elegant, but a little too stuffy and formal. Let's add a bit of color to offset the steely grays of the camera. Create a new layer and simply fill it with the color you like.
The last (and optional) step is to add a Gaussian Blur to the reflected image. In realism, the reflection will never be perfectly clear. While you may like it, and keep it, I like to throw it off just a bit -- so I'll ad the most slight blur.
The amount of Blurring depends on resolution. More blur for higher resolution. But for the sake of loading times for my captures, I've kept this a low resolution image, so .5 or so blure does the trick.
You're done. Here's the finished blue version, the finished black version, and I even eliminated the background all together in this finished solid white version!
Take a different approach
Now, lets try an alternative, borrowing from Apple. Notice how their gradation is actually radial, and is offset to the lower left corner. Well simulate that by switching our gradient to radial.
Notice in the diagram above, I've placed a solid black layer behind that gradient. You can lighten or darken your gradient by simply changing the transparency of the gradient layer with a solid black layer behind it. Make the highlight hot spot as intense or subtle as you wish.
