Introduction
In this article you will learn how to create a mirror image effect in Photoshop.
Original image
The final "Mirror Image" Effect.
Step 1: Create a New Blank Document
Go up to the "File" menu at the top of the screen and choose "New" or simply the shortcut key "Ctrl+N" and enter the height and width into the TextBox as needed and in the dialog box choose pixels.
Step 2: Select and Copy the Photo
Go up to the "File" menu at the top of the screen and choose the "Open" shortcut key "Ctrl+O". To select all use the shortcut keys "Ctrl+A" then "Ctrl+C".
Step 3: Post the Image in the New Document
If we look in the Layers palette for the new document, we will see that our photo has been placed on its own layer above the Background layer. Photoshop has automatically named the layer "Layer 1":
Step 4: Resize and Reposition the Photo Inside the Document if Needed
If your image is not sized appropriately for the new document then you must resize the image .Go to the "Edit" menu and choose "Free Transform" or shortcut key "Ctrl+T".
Step 5: Add a Vertical Guide Down The Middle of the Document
Click "OK" when you're done to exit out of the dialog box, and Photoshop will add a new guide straight down the center of the document.
You can drag verticaly as needed. Your mouse cursor however should meet the vertical line.
Drag the mouse to the side you want to select. Like this:
Step 6: Copy the Selection to a New Layer
With the side that's going to be mirrored now selected, go up to the "Layer" menu at the top of the screen, choose "New", and then choose "Layer via Copy". Or press the keyboard shortcut "Ctrl+J".
This creates a copy of the selection and places it on a new layer directly above the previous layer. Nothing will seem to have happened in the document window, but if we look in the Layers palette, we will see that we now have a new layer named "Layer 2″, and if we look in the layer's preview thumbnail to the left of the layer's name, we will see that the layer contains a copy of the side of the document we selected:
Step 7 : Flip the Left or Right Side of the Document Horizontally
Go to "Edit" then choose "Transform" > "Flip horizontal",
Then adjust the image. You will then find:
We don't need to guide you anymore. Go up to the "View" menu and select "Clear Guide".
Step 8: The final result