Lightning Effect

Lightning Effect

This tutorial will show you how to create a realistic lightning effect using Pixelmator. To follow this tutorial, you should be familiar with layers, Pixelmator Gradient, Brush, and Transform tools.

Step 1

First, you need to choose an image you want to modify by adding lightning.

Step 2

Switch to Gradient Tool (G). Create a new linear gradient using two colors – white at position 0% and black at position 100%.

Step 3

Create a new layer, and select it. You may name it “Strike Gradient.”

Step 4

Optional step: With the Rectangular Marquee Tool (M), select an area of the size you want for the lightning strike. You can skip this step, if you want to use whole image size.

Step 5

Switch back to the Gradient Tool. Make sure that the selected gradient is the one you created in Step 2. Draw a horizontal gradient in the selected area (if you haven’t skipped Step 4).

Step 6

Create a new layer again. Change its blending mode to “Difference.” You may name it “Strike Clouds.”

Step 7

Choose Filter > Generator > Clouds. Make sure that primary color is black and the secondary one is white. Apply Cloud filter by hitting OK.

Step 8

Select the layers created in Step 3 and Step 6. Choose Layer > Merge Layers (Cmd+E).

Step 9

With the merged layer selected, choose Image > Invert (Cmd+I).

Step 10

Choose Image > Levels. Adjust Black (the left slider knob) and Gray (the middle one) point, until the strike becomes clean.

Step 11

Change the selected layer blending mode to “Screen.” You may rename layer to “Strike #1.”

Step 12

Remove the selection (if any was made in Step 4) by choosing Edit > Deselect (Cmd+D).

Step 13

Optional step: If required, remove any unnecessary strike parts by using Brush Tool. Choose black color and paint over strike parts that you want to remove. Soft brush is recommended.

Step 14

Make sure your lightning layer is still selected in layers palette, and choose Edit > Free Transform (Cmd+F). Resize, rotate, and move the lightning strike to your desired position. Commit transform.

Step 15

Optional step: With the lightning strike layer still selected, choose Image > Colorize. By using the Colorize tool, you can change the lightning color and saturation. Feel free to experiment with hue, saturation, and lightness values to obtain result you want.

Basically, that’s all. You have added a lightning strike to your image. To achieve better results, you should repeat steps 3-15 to add more lightning bolts. Combine them, use different colors, etc. Of course, you may duplicate already created lightning bolts, transform, and reposition them. But a better way is to create new ones.

Advanced steps

To make the lightning more realistic, you may use layer mask to dissolve strikes at their ends.

1. Select any of lightning strikes layer.
2. Choose Layer > Add Layer Mask.
3. Select added layer mask.
4. Switch to Gradient Tool (G) and make sure the gradient from Step 2 is selected.
5. Draw a gradient from the strike beginning to its end. Try until you’ll achieve the desired results.

Conclusion

By following this tutorial, you have created a lightning effect. You can add it to your own photo to make the scene look stormy. Even more, you can create lots of special effects for your paintings.