How to Add a Reflection to Sunglasses in Photoshop

Adding a little Paris to your studio portraits is simpler than you might think! Learn how to add a reflection to sunglasses in today's episode.

Start by scaling the scenery down to the right size. Lower the opacity to see how it will look inside of the lenses. Be aware that only one of the lenses needs to look good, because it will be copied!

Next, select the area right around the lens with the Marquee tool. Go to Select - Inverse, then press the delete key. Now you should have a little square of reflection over one eye. Copy that layer and move it over to be on top of the second eye. Now make the reflection layer invisible and select the Magic Wand tool. We use this to select out the lenses (be sure that “sample all layers” is checked). Use the refine edge tool to soften or bring the edge in a bit. Group those layers with themselves and hit the layer mask button.

To style the reflection so that it doesn’t look fake, create a levels adjustment layer. Darken the darks and mess with the output levels so that it looks more like a reflection. You can add a Hue/Saturation level as well, to match the color from the original lens. In this case, we make it a little bluer and lessen the saturation.

Being able to see through the glasses a little bit is extremely helpful in terms of realism. We use a black to transparent gradient to select areas to be darker, and others to be more see-through.

Now the part you’ve all been waiting for…time to blow some minds! Select the layer that the reflection is on with the Marquee tool. Go to Filter - Distort - Spherize. From here it’s very simple to adjust the slider to a certain amount of curve. This bulges the image out and makes it appear less flat!

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[NamNguyen-vwjg]

I love all tutorials of Phlearn Photoshop & Photography Tutorials - very very useful, thanks AARON :)

[StuWright]

Ah this is really cool, I`m sure i`ll have need for this in the future
I believe phlearn may be my favourite youtube channel !

[MLVMMatteoMaggio]

Thanks Aaron! Thanks Phlearn! With you, i'm improve my PS abilities! I'll continue to watch the videos of your channel and i'll follow you in all the other tutorials! I learn a lot of things, it's great! Good work!  

[mrkeys]

Love, love, love how to covered every single Thank you! 🙏🏾

[Vittoriouss]

I´m just starting out with photoshop a few days ago. Im learning so much from you !! thank you!! 

[razeroxo]

Thanks for the Reflection to Sunglasses Tutorial much appreciated!

[samanthony]

This was the first video i felt helpfull thank you for telling every detail about it . I have subscribed your channel and oned the notifications

[patrickbrunel]

Merci Aaron ...very very good tutorial . You are the best !!!
Thanks so much

[MrMoonpie]

Great job Aaron and the Phlearn team!  Great effect, thanks!

Moonpie

[XtrAMassivE]

This is really nice trick and it looks very natural, great job!

[jvstudio]

another great video by aaron super cool pointers:)

[MIRZA]

Thanks for this awesome tutorial, esp. gradient tool adjustments.

[Cassidiel]

Life saver. I have a photography 10 hour exam for the next two days and this is exactly what I need to learn to bash out a good picture. Thanks so much!

[amrtsgr]

very nyc useful one !! thanks AARON ;) 

[JoshCarbayo]

Aaron, you are amazing! thank you for your tutorials.

[sosesports]

thanks dude, i really really appreciate your tutorial. THANKS BRO VERY THANKS

[JuicyBerry]

Are there any channels like Phlearn but instead of Photoshop, they use Premeire Pro or a video editing software? I just love the style and format of Phlearn :)

[gripitandripit]

That looks like a really fun trick to try! Thanks for sharing. :)

[BSide]

Thank you much for this toturial, very useful !

[patrickfreitas]

damn you know how to teach :D, it is not every one can teach like that, i love your videos, so cool, every episode i learn new stuff!! i wish you were my personal tutor xD aha. keep with the good work and to the entire team of phlearn to. xD