Lightning tutorial in PS

Kombatant · Mar 10, 2006, 09:42 AM

Don't know whether this is the right forum to post this; if it's not I'll move it

Anyone knows of a good tutorial to create thunder effects in Photoshop? I am interested in doing stuff that are based on my avatar/sig, so I obviously need to learn to do thunder properly

LeanWolf · Mar 10, 2006, 11:54 AM

I'm guessing you mean lightning effects

Kombatant · Mar 10, 2006, 12:36 PM

Is it that obvious that i'm not a native English speaker?

danjufo · Mar 10, 2006, 07:03 PM

easiest and quickest way (although you have little control of it) is simply to:

make a new layer
make sure you have default colours selected (press D)
go to Filter > Render > Clouds
go to Filter > Render > Different Clouds
Invert (Ctrl + I)
Press Ctrl + L and move the furthest left arrow (on the top line) towards the right until the desired effect

for an increased glow effect, you could duplicate the completed layer and give it a Gausian Blur, and then go through different filters. I'd assume if you keep the black you'd need to set it to Linear Dodge, and play with the transparency

For a more controlled Lightning i would paint a line and keep deforming it then going to Edit > Fade and set it to about 10% and do that over and over and over. I can explain that better if you need more to

this was just a quick 1,2,3

Kombatant · Mar 13, 2006, 06:04 PM

Ok man, thanks

I'll try it out and let you know.

daedal · Mar 13, 2006, 06:41 PM

Here are four different ways and results. Good luck.
http://www.photoshopcafe.com/tutoria.../lightning.htm
http://www.world-of-cha0s.hostrocket...orialmain.html
http://www.tutorialized.com/tutorial/lightning/842
http://www.digitalabuse.net/abstract...gtutorial2.htm

danjufo · Mar 14, 2006, 10:59 AM

The technique used in the last link I find to have a nicer finish if you use some sort of distoring filter. I always use 'wave' for it. I will Wave the layer with settings that dont change it too much but enough. Then i go to Edit>Fade Wave (you must do this straight after you have applyed the wave filter) fade it about 10%. Do this over and over slightly raising the fade each time. (Also don't forget to hit 'random' each time you go to apply a new wave filter)

Post up your results though yeah?

Kombatant · Mar 14, 2006, 11:29 AM

Yup, I will don't worry

Mar 10, 2006, 09:42 AM	#1
Kombatant DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Athens, Hellas Posts: 644 Rep Power: 62	Lightning tutorial in PS Don't know whether this is the right forum to post this; if it's not I'll move it Anyone knows of a good tutorial to create thunder effects in Photoshop? I am interested in doing stuff that are based on my avatar/sig, so I obviously need to learn to do thunder properly __________________ There is no spoon... Kombatant's Lair

Mar 10, 2006, 11:54 AM	#2
LeanWolf alpha male Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Skyrim Posts: 5,713 Rep Power: 84 System Specs	I'm guessing you mean lightning effects __________________

Mar 10, 2006, 12:36 PM	Thread Starter #3
Kombatant DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Athens, Hellas Posts: 644 Rep Power: 62	Is it that obvious that i'm not a native English speaker? __________________ There is no spoon... Kombatant's Lair

Mar 13, 2006, 06:04 PM	Thread Starter #5
Kombatant DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Athens, Hellas Posts: 644 Rep Power: 62	Ok man, thanks I'll try it out and let you know. __________________ There is no spoon... Kombatant's Lair

Mar 13, 2006, 06:41 PM	#6
daedal Uber Coffee Drinker Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Gatineau, Quebec Posts: 2,250 Rep Power: 0	Here are four different ways and results. Good luck. http://www.photoshopcafe.com/tutoria.../lightning.htm http://www.world-of-cha0s.hostrocket...orialmain.html http://www.tutorialized.com/tutorial/lightning/842 http://www.digitalabuse.net/abstract...gtutorial2.htm __________________

Mar 10, 2006, 07:03 PM	#4
danjufo DH.Sig.Maker Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: england Posts: 1,231 Rep Power: 0	easiest and quickest way (although you have little control of it) is simply to: make a new layer make sure you have default colours selected (press D) go to Filter > Render > Clouds go to Filter > Render > Different Clouds Invert (Ctrl + I) Press Ctrl + L and move the furthest left arrow (on the top line) towards the right until the desired effect for an increased glow effect, you could duplicate the completed layer and give it a Gausian Blur, and then go through different filters. I'd assume if you keep the black you'd need to set it to Linear Dodge, and play with the transparency For a more controlled Lightning i would paint a line and keep deforming it then going to Edit > Fade and set it to about 10% and do that over and over and over. I can explain that better if you need more to this was just a quick 1,2,3

Mar 14, 2006, 10:59 AM	#7
danjufo DH.Sig.Maker Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: england Posts: 1,231 Rep Power: 0	The technique used in the last link I find to have a nicer finish if you use some sort of distoring filter. I always use 'wave' for it. I will Wave the layer with settings that dont change it too much but enough. Then i go to Edit>Fade Wave (you must do this straight after you have applyed the wave filter) fade it about 10%. Do this over and over slightly raising the fade each time. (Also don't forget to hit 'random' each time you go to apply a new wave filter) Post up your results though yeah? __________________ [COLOR=dimgray]DeviantArt Gallery[/COLOR] [COLOR=silver]How to add your signature image[/COLOR] [COLOR=white]Signature + Avatar Rules[/COLOR]

Mar 14, 2006, 11:29 AM	Thread Starter #8
Kombatant DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Athens, Hellas Posts: 644 Rep Power: 62	Yup, I will don't worry __________________ There is no spoon... Kombatant's Lair