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Step 3: Combining the reflection layer and water layer
Now we want to combine our water and reflection layers to that the reflection takes on the appearance of the ripples we created in our water layer. To do this, we need to add some filters to our reflection layer. The first one is Displace. Apply this filter from the Library, and then go over to the Inspector palette. Here' you'll see the basic settings for DIsplace, as well as a blank box labeled "Map Image." For our map image, we're going to use our water/clouds layer. And to do this, we simply grab the cloud layer out of the Layers palette and drag it into the empty box. When you do this, the reflection image should become distorted, and the cloud layer should disappear. If it doesn't disappear, you should uncheck it in the Layers palette.
Then we'll apply the Bump Map filter and also use the cloud layer as the source.
Here are the settings I'm using for both of these filters.
Now, on top of this, you'll probably want to stretch out and soften up the reflection image a bit. To do this, I've added in a gradient blur and a directional blur. The Directional Blur stretches the reflection image downward, while the Gradient Blur softens up the reflection in the lower portions of the image. Here are the settings I used.
Step 4: the ripple overlay
Now we also want to add in an overlay to simulate light reflecting off our ripples. This is a simple matter of duplicating the original cloud layer and dragging the copy up to the top of the stacking order in the Layers palette. After that, you'll want to change the blending mode of the new cloud layer so that it matches your scene. In my case, I'm using the Screen blending mode, though other modes--such as Multiply, Add, Color Dodge, Soft Light or Hard Light might work better for you.
Those ripples are a bit too severe for my scene, so I'll also take down the opacity of the new clouds layer to about 50 percent.
But I'm still not completely happy with it. What I'd like to do, since there's really no perspective in this effect, is to take down the opacity of the ripples in the more "distant" parts of the water, but leave them as they are in the "nearer" portions. And to do this, I'm going to need to create a quick gradient mask to make the ripples fade out.
Step 5: the gradient mask
To create a gradient mask in this case, I'm going to add a gradient layer to my project. (You can find a pre-made gradient layer in the Generators library.) And I'm going to stretch it down to the size of my water effect layers.
Then I'll select the layer I'm using for my ripple reflections and add an image mask to that layer (Shift-Command-M). When I do this, a new tab becomes available in the Inspector palette labeled "Image Mask." Within this tab, you'll see a blank square labeled "Image." Drag the gradient layer from the Layers palette, and it will become your image mask. (It should also automatically become invisible in your composition. If not, uncheck it manually in your Layers palette.) Also within the Image Mask tab, I want to set the Source Channel to "Luminace." This way, the mask will use black for transparent and white for opaque.
Then, finally, I delete the Rectangle Mask I originally had on this top cloud layer, relying instead on my image mask to set my opacity for me. And here's the result.
All that's left for you to do is a little final tweaking to get it to look exactly how you want. And here are some more examples of this flood effect.
In future installments in this series of articles, we'll look at methods for compositing other types of water effects. In the meantime, if you have any questions, be sure to visit me in our Apple Motion forum here.
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