How to: Create a Reflection

This example shows how to use a VisualBrush to create a reflection. Because a VisualBrush can display an existing visual, you can use this capability to produce interesting visual effects, such as reflections and magnification.

Example

The following example uses a VisualBrush to create a reflection of a Border that contains several elements. The following illustration shows the output that this example produces.


A reflected Visual object

A reflected Visual object

<Page  
  xmlns="https://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation" 
  xmlns:x="https://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml" 
  Background="Black">


  <StackPanel Margin="50">

    <!-- The object to reflect. -->
    <Border Name="ReflectedVisual" Width="400">
      <Border.Background>
        <LinearGradientBrush StartPoint="0,0.5" EndPoint="1,0.5">
          <GradientStop Offset="0.0" Color="#CCCCFF" />
          <GradientStop Offset="1.0" Color="White" />
        </LinearGradientBrush>
      </Border.Background>
      <StackPanel Orientation="Horizontal" Margin="10">        
        <TextBlock TextWrapping="Wrap" Width="200" Margin="10">
          Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit.
          Suspendisse vel ante. Donec luctus tortor sit amet est.
          Nullam pulvinar odio et wisi.
          Pellentesque quis magna. Sed pellentesque.
          Nulla euismod.
          Pellentesque habitant morbi tristique senectus et netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas.
        </TextBlock>
        <StackPanel>
          <Ellipse Margin="10" Height="50" Width="50" Fill="Black" />
          <Ellipse Margin="10" Height="50" Width="50" Fill="Black" />
          <Ellipse Margin="10" Height="50" Width="50" Fill="Black" />
        </StackPanel>
      </StackPanel>
    </Border>

    <Rectangle Height="1" Fill="Gray" HorizontalAlignment="Stretch" />

    <!-- The object to contain the reflection.-->
    <Rectangle 
      Height="{Binding Path=ActualHeight, ElementName=ReflectedVisual}" 
      Width="{Binding Path=ActualWidth, ElementName=ReflectedVisual}">
      <Rectangle.Fill>

        <!-- Creates the reflection. -->
        <VisualBrush 
          Opacity="0.75" Stretch="None"
          Visual="{Binding ElementName=ReflectedVisual}">
          <VisualBrush.RelativeTransform>

            <!-- Flip the reflection. -->
            <TransformGroup>
              <ScaleTransform ScaleX="1" ScaleY="-1" />
              <TranslateTransform  Y="1" />
            </TransformGroup>
          </VisualBrush.RelativeTransform>
        </VisualBrush>
      </Rectangle.Fill>

      <Rectangle.OpacityMask>
        <LinearGradientBrush StartPoint="0.5,0" EndPoint="0.5,1">
          <GradientStop Color="#FF000000" Offset="0.0" />
          <GradientStop Color="#33000000" Offset="0.5" />
          <GradientStop Color="#00000000" Offset="0.75" />
        </LinearGradientBrush>
      </Rectangle.OpacityMask>

      <Rectangle.BitmapEffect>
        <BlurBitmapEffect Radius="1.5" />
      </Rectangle.BitmapEffect>
      
    </Rectangle>
  </StackPanel>
</Page>

For the complete sample, which includes examples that show how to magnify parts of the screen and how to create reflections, see VisualBrush Sample.

See Also

Reference

VisualBrush

Concepts

Painting with Images, Drawings, and Visuals