Tutorial on how to mirror images in Photoshop CS5

2. Open your image into Photoshop
Crop it down so that you do not have any
messy bits or objects partly poking in to
your image – these will look messy when
reflected.
Duplicate your image so that you have 2 layers
that are the same.
Go to “Image” and select “Canvas Size” –
make sure your icon box shows the below
settings:

3. Click onto your top
layer and select your
move icon.
Click on the left
hand edge of your
image and drag your
image to the right –
this will flip it so
that you get the
mirror image on the
right hand size.

4. Now that you have your first mirror image, you need to merge your layers. Right
click on your top layer, and select “Merge Down”. This will flatten your image back
in to one layer

5. Duplicate your image again.
You need to enlarge your Canvas again, like you did
before, but this time you need to enlarge it by height –
match the shown settings.
Once again, you are
going to flip your top
layer by using the
“move” icon to click and
drag your image into the
white space.

6. IMPORTANT:
Right click onto your top layer
HOLD DOWN THE ALT KEY and select “Merge Visible”
This will merge your image into one NEW layer so that your
layer panel looks like this:

7. Go to “edit” – “transform” – rotate 90
CW. This will spin your new layer 90
degrees
You now need to crop your layer
down so that you loose the extra bits
on either side of your rotated image.

8. You can now adjust the blending mode
of your top layer so that you can see
information from the underneath
layers.
I have used the “lighten” mode, but this
may not be the best fit for your image –
click through the modes to see what
looks the most effective and blends
seamlessly.
Right click onto your top layer
HOLD DOWN ALT and select “Merge
Visible” to create a new layer which
shows your above image

9. Go to edit – transform – rotate
Along the top dialogue bar, click on the below icon and set
the figure to 45.00 degrees. This will rotate your image by
45 degrees exactly. Click ok when done
Set the blending mode of this rotated layer to a mode that
looks effective - I have used “darken colour” this time.

10. Repeat this alt, merge visible, rotate, blend
mode process as many times as you need to
create a dynamic and interesting image.
You can also add finishing touches by using
your mask layers to adjust tones and colours
like I have below.