Arcing Current

We’ll create a very simple effect that gives the impression fo an arcing electrical current.

Create a new document. I’m using 200×200px for this example. The background doesn’t matter because we’ll be covering it right away.

Hit D to reset the foreground and background colors to their default values and select the gradient tool. Select Foreground to Background for the type and linear for the style.

Now make an angled gradient of black to white from the top left of the canvas tot he bottom right.

Now go to Filters - Render - Difference Clouds

Now hit Ctrl+I to invert the colors and then bring up the elvels dialog (Ctrl+L) and change the input levels to the following: 185, 0.10, 255

Finally, go to Image - Adjust - Variations and click on Blue once and Cyan twice. Now you have a simple, yet effective electrical arc/lightning strike.

Added Saturday, May 13th, 2006 at 9:04 pm under Drawing & Painting.