Joseph Wright Lightning Tutorial

Step One: First make a new Photoshop document, the dimensions should be 1024x768 pixels, or whatever your screen's resolution is.

Step Two: Select the gradient tool. Anywhere you please on the screen, make the gradient.

Step Three: Now, go to Filter>Render>Difference Clouds

Step Four: After using Difference Clouds, press CTRL+I (This will invert the colors on the screen, and you will start to see the lightning).

Step Five: Next press CTRL+L (This will open up the Levels Menu) And drag the black and gray sliders at the top, to the right. You will start to see the black and gray colors disappear from the image. Drag them to your liking.

Step Six: Create A New Layer.

Step Seven: Repeat Steps 2-5 with a different gradient style.

Step Seven: Set the layer mode to Linear Dodge(add), this will take the black out of the layer so you can see the previous layer.

Step Eight: If you would like you can continue to repeat the process with different gradients or you can use the blur tool and/or Filter>Liquify to mess around and make some really unique(AKA ODD) lightning bolts.

Step Nine: After making all the gradients you want, merge all layers by pressing CTRL+SHIFT+E. This will form all layers into one.

Step Ten: Now press CTRL+U, this will open up the Hue/Saturation menu. Make sure you click colorize or else you will not add any color. Now slide the Hue until your lightning is a color you like. Then Slide Saturation to make the color "Pop" more or less. And finally just leave the Lightness at 0.

Step Eleven: Marvel at your newly created Lightning. Thanks for reading and have a great Day. :)