effect Lightning.......

Continue to yesterday assignment, I had done all the part of background. Today, I will create a LIGHTNING by using Photoshop.

First of all, double click on the layer and rename it (lightning 1)

Select Gradient tool ( shortcut - G)

Drag a line from left to right.

You will get the gradient black to white

Go to Filter >>>> Render >>>>> Difference Clouds.

Now, we can see the image of lightning at the dark part. So, we need to change it become more lighten.

Go to Image >>>> Adjustment >>>>> Invert ( shortcut - ctrl + I )

This is the image after I invert it, the dark part will become light and the light part become dark. We need to darken the background. So we can see the lightning more clear.

Go to Image >>>>> Adjustment >>>Level (  shortcut - ctrl +L)

There is a level table that you can adjust the image darkness.

I change my input levels to 237-- 1.00 -- 255 ( just for reference, it might change depends on your image )

After the adjustment, you will get a lightning shape as image above, the background is dark. But we still can see some extra cloud beside the lightning. Select brush tool ( shortcut - B) .

Erase on the extra clouds to clearly the lightning.

Now, create a new layer and name it Lightning 2

Select Gradient tool ( shortcut - G) . I drag the line diagonal.

Go to Go to Image >>>> Adjustment >>>>> Invert ( shortcut - ctrl + I ). You will get different type of lightning because of the gradient.

Again,go to Image >>>>> Adjustment >>>Level (  shortcut - ctrl +L)

Adjust the input levels.

I put the input levels as 237 -- 1.00 --255

Select brush tool ( shortcut - B) to erase the extra clouds.

After that, select screen

Now, you can see there are two lightning.

Press ctrl + T to transform the second lightning. Then, press enter to fix the image.

Create another layer and name it Lightning 3.

Select Rectangle Marquee Tool ( shortcut - M).

Drag on the image that you want ( make sure you are select the right layer ). Press ctrl + C to copy the image

Go to Lightning 3 layer and press ctrl + V to paste it.

Select screen and press ctrl + T to transform the image.

Adjust the position of lightning to joint with the other lightning. Press enter after finish transform.

Go to Adjustment >>> Color Balance. I change my lightning to green color because green color will let us felt horror and suitable for the Halloween Festival.

This is the lightning after the adjustment.

Click on all the layers ( hold ctrl ). Right click on the mouse and select merge layer, all layer will combine become 1 layer as well as rename it as Lightning.

Now, I want move my lightning into another file which is the background file. 

Select Move tool ( shortcut - V).

Press ctrl +T to transform the lightning. I place it at the left top side. 

Right click on the lightning layer and select duplicate layer.
Name it lightning 2.

Do the transform again by pressing ctrl +T. 

To make the image more realistic, we need to add some effect on the lighting. Select the castle layer and go to  Layer >> Layer style >> Outer Glow.

You can change color or do some adjustment on the layer style table. Tick the Preview to see the effect while you are doing the adjustment.

To match with the lightning color,I had to change my castle outer line to green color. I also adjust the noise and the size of the outer glow.

So, the castle will look like more attractive than before.

 Right click on the castle layer and select duplicate layer. go to  Layer >> Layer style >> Outer Glow.

Select the color that you want.

I change the light green for the outline of the castle. So you can see shape of the castle clearly.