How to Create Lightning in Photoshop

Let me introduce an easy way to make lightning in Photoshop.

Create lightning

First, we need to create a base of lightning.
Click on [Default Foreground and Background Colors] at bottom of the tool panel to set the foreground color to black and the background color to white.

Choose [Filter] > [Render] > [Difference Clouds] to create a cloud pattern.

Repeat the process once again.

Clouds are created randomly each time, so if you don’t like it, try [Difference Clouds] several times.

Go to [Image] > [Adjustment] > [Levels] to adjust levels.

Move the Midtone and Highlight input level sliders at the top of the value to the left.

Adjust the line so that it is a thin black line. This black area will become a lightning.

Next, Go to [Image] > [Adjustment] > [Invert].

The white background changed to black, creating a lightning base.

Now, go to the steps to add color to the lightning.
Go to [Image] > [Adjustment] > [Hue/Saturation] and check [Colorize] in the dialog box.
Adjust the slider to change the color as you like while looking at the canvas.

We were able to make lightning.

Combining the created lightning with other images

If you want to blend the created lightning with other images, change the [Blending Mode] of the lightning layer to [Screen].


You can copy some parts and increase or transform them to create a different look.

For other effect

The atmosphere changes depending on the lightning color and the photo you combine.
You can use it as a variety of effects.