I'm going to post something tomorrow that I think you'll find interesting. It has to do with 3D in Photoshop and the value of 'pre-planning'. I purchased a 4" dia. chrome ball. It cost $9.95. When needing a chromy look, I set up the ball and light it, arrange reflections, filters etc. that will work with whatever I'm doing (you can make a print of the background of the piece your doing and reflect it of the ball) Then I break out the handy digital camera, shoot and bring it into PS, creating either a pattern or texture of it. Or condence it, stretch it and / or apply filters to it and make it do anything you want, all with that great psuedo 3d look to it. The spectaculars are great, elongated reflections are very realistic. I think you'll like the effect. It doesn't look 'PHOTOSHOPY'.
http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/8949/purples2zf.jpg