How to Create a Lightning Effect With Photoshop

It's relatively easy to create lightning using Adobe Photoshop. In the example, we use a less realistic more saturated version, but you can adjust these instructions to make a more realistic lightning effect.

1. 
   1
   Open the image you're editing or make a new file. The example shown here uses an RGB 300 x 100 with a black background.
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2. 
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   Draw the lines in the position you want the lightning to be. Use a 1px paintbrush.
3. 
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   Use the 'Wind' filter. Filter > Stylize > Wind. Select the method as 'Wind' and the direction 'From the left'. Now repeat except change the direction to 'From the right'
4. 
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   Rotate the image 90 degrees. Click Image > Rotate > 90 degrees right. Repeat the previous step and rotate it 90 left.
5. 
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   Move to Filter > Distort > Ripple, set the amount to 100%, and hit "OK".
6. 
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   Go to "Enhance > Adjust Color > Hue/Saturation". At the bottom right corner, hit "Colorize". Now adjust the "Hue" bar and the "Saturation" bar until you get a color you like.
7. 
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   If you'd like, hold down Ctrl, then select both the background layer and the first layer, and press Ctrl + E in order to merge the two layers.
8. 
   8
   Finished.

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