Flipping, Mirroring and Creating Patterns In Photoshop

Step 1:Open up your original image in Photoshop.

Step 2: Choose which section of the image you want to use to and crop it.

Step 3: Duplicate the background layer

I had to create a copy of this layer. To do this I went to the 'layer' menu, chose 'New',then choose Layer via Copy.i If you then look again in the Layers palette, you will see that a new layer, which Photoshop has automatically named "Layer 1", has been added above the original.

Step 4: Double The Width Of The Canvas

I clicked on the Image menu at the top of the screen and choose Canvas Size. This opens Photoshop's Canvas Size dialog box which you can use to add more canvas space around the photo. I needed to double the width of the canvas, and wanted all of the extra canvas space to appear on the right side of our image. To do that, I set the width value to 200 percent and the height to 100 percent (which will leave the height of the canvas at its current size). To force the extra canvas space to the right side of the photo, I clicked on the left middle square in the Anchor grid.

Step 5:Drag The Photo On Layer 1 To The Right Of The Original Image.

I selected the move tool from the tools palette and dragged my image on the left, to the white area on the right.

Step 6:Flip The Image On The Right Horizontally

I went to the 'edit' menu at the top of the screen, clicked on 'transform' and then chose 'flip horizontal'

Step 7:Merge The Two Layers Together

I went onto the 'Layer' menu, and clicked on 'Merge Down'. Nothing will seem to have happened in the document, but if you look at our Layers palette, you can see that your two layers have been merged into a single layer.

Step 8: Duplicate The Layer (Repeating step 3)

Step 9:Double The Height Of The Canvas

I wanted to create another reflection, however this time vertically. I brought up the canvas size by going to the 'image' menu, and choosing 'canvas size'. I set the width to 100 percent and the height to 200 percent. To force the extra space to appear below, I clicked on the top middle square in the anchor grid.

Step 10:Drag The Image On Layer 1 Below The Original

Using the move selection tool, I dragged the photo on image 1, onto the white area.

Step 11:Flip The Bottom Image Vertically

To turn the bottom image into a reflection of the top image, I needed to flip the bottom image vertically. I went into the 'edit' menu, clicked on 'transform' and then chose 'flip vertical'.

Step 12: Merge Both Layers Onto A New Layer

I then had to merge both existing layers onto a brand new layer. To do that, I held down the 'Alt' key, whilst still holding it down, I went to the 'Layer' menu and chose 'Merge Visible'

Step 13: Rotate The New Layer 90°

I went to the 'Edit' menu, chose 'Transform' and then clicked on 'Rotate 90° Clockwise'.

Those were the basic steps in creating a kaleidoscope image. However I wanted to be abit more experimental and take it further. I wanted to blend the layers together, so I changed layer's 2 blend mode. I experimented with different blend modes which I will show below.