How to make lightning effects?

Preview the finished product:

Step-by-step instructions:

1. Create a new file, set its width to "280 pixels", height (height) is "160 pixels", resolution (resolution) is "a Pixels/inch", the mode is "RGB Color", Document background ( Contents) Select "White" and click the "OK" button to create a black background image.

2, set the foreground color black, double-click the linear Gradient tool in the toolbox, in the pop-up linear gradient palette, set the gradient from foreground to background (Foregroud to Background). Use the mouse to pull a straight line from the bottom left corner of the image window to create the following gradient effect.

3, click the Mirror menu, select the rendering, and then select a layered cloud mirror. (Filter > Render > Difference clouds) gets the following effect. (Note: Because the effect of layered clouds is randomly generated, so to create a good lightning effect, you need to repeat this step many times until the results are satisfactory)

4, click the Image menu, select the adjustment, select Automatic color order (Image>adjust>auto levels), automatic color adjustment after the image below.

5, click the Image menu, select the adjustment, select the reverse command (image>adjust>invert), the reverse phase of the image as shown below.

6, click the Image menu, select the adjustment, select the color order (Image > Adjust > Levels), in the pop-up dialog box, the middle of the slider to the far right. Click the OK button to get a picture effect. In the diagram we can already see that the color-adjusted image has a lightning effect.

7, click the Select menu, select the Color Range command (select > Color Ranger), in the Color Range dialog box to select Dark tone. Click OK, and the black darkened area in the image is selected.

8, click the Select menu, select Reverse phase selection (Select>inverse) for the reverse, and then click the Image menu, select the adjustment, click the color level (Image > Adjust > Levels), adjust input levels The median, To change the range of the selected area until the results are satisfactory. Adjust the effect as shown. 13

9, below we will adjust the color of lightning. Click the Image menu, select the adjustment, click on the color saturation (Image>adjust>hue saturation), the pop-up dialog box below, the Colorize hook, and the following figure set each parameter. Click the "OK" button.

10, press Ctrl+d to cancel the selection, see the effect? (if you have finished the 9th step, see the lightning next to some gray blur shadow, you can press Ctrl+alt+i to reverse, and then fill in the selection of black)