Realistic faux reflections can be of various types. It can be mirror reflection where two photos of one object representing the left and right profile are placed in an appropriate angle to create the illusion of a mirror. In case of a water reflection, an additional canvas area is generated below the original image. This area works as the reflected part, where a vertically flipped copy of the original image is inserted. To impart a more profound sense of reality, a ripple or blur effect is often added to the reflection. However it is not necessary that faux reflections are limited to mirror and water. With the help of professional graphic design, the absence of any shiny surface in the source image can be made up by instantly generating a digital gloss to reflect the surroundings.
A major reason behind the popularity of Photoshop among graphic design firms is the fact that the quality of illusions and effects generated by it are always top notch. Similar faux reflections generated by 3D graphics soft wares always prove to be very expensive and demand complex technical know-how. But the intuitive user interface of Photoshop opens up a whole new world of artistic possibilities before the designer where reality perfectly complements the creative imagination of an artist.