Now, the positioning and perspective of the ladder will make all the difference as to how you will layer your image, and at what angle you will draw the arms of your ladder. I chose to put mine in the back left-hand corner of the pool, but you might want to put yours in the front. If so, you will have to make adjustments for the shape of the "arms" and may even have to use the "deformation tool" to adjust the angles. *smile*

To make my first arm I added another raster layer to the image and called it ladder arm1, (this was the right arm of the ladder). I used the "freehand draw tool" with a line width of 5, and antialias checked. For my foreground palette, I used the same metallic linear gradient, as used for the rim of the pool. The shape of the arm is straight up from a point just out from the edge of the water, and then curved up and to the left...at which point, it straightens out again and proceeds straight downwards. If you have a graphics tablet, as I do, it is a lot easier to make this line, but a "steady hand" is the best attribute...as you can see mine deviated a bit on the downstroke! *grin* When you are happy with your arm....apply the "inner bevel" with the same settings as the rim of the pool.

Next, I copied this layer and pasted as a new layer named ladder arm2, (this was the left arm of the ladder, which was moved slightly in front of the first arm).

Next I added a layer above the "struts", but below the first arm of the ladder, and called it "rung". For this image I use the draw tool as a straight line. Again, apply the "inner bevel", with the same settings as before.

Lastly, play with the "mover tool" until you get the arms of your ladder, and the rung(s) in the positions that give you the most pleasing effect. *smile*

To make a reflection...you take a copy of the ladder, copy/paste as a new image. Then "mirror" the image and add it as another layer below the pool rim.