Customizing Reflections in Delphi Using TAdvReflectionImage

Create Realistic Image Reflections with TAdvReflectionImageTAdvReflectionImage is a visual component widely used in Delphi and C++Builder applications to add polished, professional-looking reflections beneath images. Whether you’re designing a media library, a product showcase, or a modern UI, realistic reflections can add depth and sophistication. This article walks through the component’s capabilities, practical techniques for creating convincing reflections, performance considerations, and tips for integrating reflections into different UI layouts.

What TAdvReflectionImage Does

TAdvReflectionImage takes an existing image and draws a mirrored version beneath it, blending the mirrored image with a gradient and optional blur to simulate the way real reflections fade and distort. It supports common image formats and provides properties to control reflection height, opacity, blur amount, and edge behavior. The component works well with bitmaps, PNGs with alpha channels, and other graphic types supported by Delphi’s VCL or FMX frameworks (depending on the implementation you use).

Key Properties and What They Control

• ReflectionHeight — controls how tall the mirrored area is relative to the original image (often a percentage).
• ReflectionOpacity — sets the starting opacity of the reflection at the interface between image and reflection.
• FadeMode / Gradient — defines how the reflection fades to transparent (linear gradient is common).
• BlurRadius / Softness — applies a blur to the reflection to simulate imperfect surfaces or distance.
• RespectAlpha / PreserveTransparency — determines whether the image’s alpha channel is maintained when creating the reflection.
• Offset / Gap — adds spacing between the original image and its reflection.
• StretchMode / Fit — controls how the image is scaled inside the component area (important when reflection should follow resized images).

Designing Realistic Reflections: Principles

Realism comes from subtlety and from matching the expected physical cues of reflections:

• Reflections are usually less saturated and less contrasty than the source.
• They fade out the farther they are from the object’s base; use a smooth gradient to transparency.
• Reflective surfaces often add a slight blur and reduce fine detail—apply a modest blur radius.
• If the reflecting surface is textured (like rippled water), add distortions or ripple effects.
• When the source image has transparency, reflections should respect shape edges; do not reflect fully-opaque bounding boxes unless that’s the intended style.

Step-by-Step: Creating a Realistic Reflection

1. Prepare the source image

   • Use a high-resolution image for best results; reflections shrink detail, so start with clear pixels.
   • If working with a PNG that has transparency, ensure the alpha channel is correct and premultiplied if needed.

2. Set basic reflection parameters

   • ReflectionHeight: 30–50% is common for a natural look. For stronger emphasis use 50–70%.
   • ReflectionOpacity: 40–70% at the top edge; reduce toward 0% across the gradient.

3. Apply fade and opacity

   • Use a linear gradient that starts at your chosen ReflectionOpacity and ends at 0% opacity.
   • Consider using a non-linear curve (ease-out) to better match how light diminishes.

4. Add blur

   • BlurRadius: small values (2–6 px) usually suffice. Stronger blurs emulate water or frosted glass.

5. Respect transparency

   • Enable PreserveTransparency or RespectAlpha so only the visible parts of the image are reflected.

6. Fine-tune color and contrast

   • Slightly reduce saturation and contrast in the reflection layer (e.g., −5–15% saturation, −5–10% contrast).
   • Optionally apply a subtle color tint (cooler tone for glass, warmer for wood) to match the surface.

7. Add surface effects (optional)

   • Ripple or displacement maps simulate water. Small, low-frequency waves look most believable.
   • Add a specular highlight line or soft gloss above the reflection to mimic polished surfaces.

Code Example (Delphi-style pseudocode)

Below is a conceptual example showing how you might configure TAdvReflectionImage programmatically. Exact property names vary by library version; adapt as needed.

var   RefImg: TAdvReflectionImage; begin   RefImg := TAdvReflectionImage.Create(Self);   RefImg.Parent := Self;   RefImg.Align := alTop;   RefImg.Picture.LoadFromFile('product.png');   RefImg.ReflectionHeight := 40;       // percent   RefImg.ReflectionOpacity := 60;      // percent at top   RefImg.BlurRadius := 3;             // pixels   RefImg.RespectAlpha := True;   RefImg.Offset := 6;                 // gap in px   RefImg.SaturationAdjustment := -8;  // subtle desaturation end; 

Performance Considerations

• Reflection rendering (especially with blurs and gradients) can be CPU/GPU intensive when images change frequently (animations, scrolling lists).
• Cache the rendered reflection where possible; only recompute when the source image or parameters change.
• For lists or thumbnails, pre-render reflections at the target size rather than computing them on-the-fly at runtime.
• On older hardware, reduce blur radius and resolution of the reflection, or switch to simpler linear gradients without additional processing.
• Use double-buffering to avoid flicker during repaint.

Integrating with Different UI Scenarios

• Galleries and Grids: Keep reflection height small (20–30%) to avoid cluttering the layout. Pre-render thumbnails with reflections and use them as static images.
• Product Showcases: Use larger reflections (40–60%) with slight blur and saturation adjustments to emphasize premium feel.
• Backgrounds and Slideshows: Mind contrast—reflections over complex backgrounds can lose definition. Add a subtle shadow under the main image to ground it.
• Responsive Layouts: Tie ReflectionHeight to the rendered pixel height rather than a fixed percentage if you need more predictable visuals across sizes.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

• Jagged edges on transparent images: Ensure the component respects alpha and uses premultiplied alpha blending. Anti-alias the image before reflection if needed.
• Reflection not showing: Check that the reflection opacity isn’t set to 0 and that PreserveTransparency isn’t clipping it entirely.
• Slow rendering: Disable real-time blur or lower its radius; cache computed bitmaps and reuse them.
• Color shifts: If colors look off, verify whether the reflection process is premultiplying alpha incorrectly or if gamma correction is being applied inconsistently.

Visual Style Tips

• Keep it subtle. Overly strong reflections often look fake.
• Combine reflections with soft drop shadows to make images appear anchored to a surface.
• Match reflection style to material: glossy surfaces = sharper reflections with specular highlights; matte surfaces = diffused, low-opacity reflections.
• When using multiple reflected objects together, ensure their reflections follow the same vanishing point and fade characteristics for visual coherence.

Conclusion

TAdvReflectionImage is a powerful tool for enhancing UI visuals quickly. By combining moderate reflection heights, fade gradients, slight blur, and color adjustments, you can achieve reflections that feel natural and elevate your interface. Prioritize caching and optimized settings for performance-sensitive contexts, and tailor reflection strength to the material and layout of your application.