The Ultimate Vampire Resource and Directory

To create lightning in Photoshop CS



First, open a new file, any size will do, but for the interest of being able to intergrate it into larger pieces, you should make it as high a resolution as possible.



Filters>Render>Clouds



then, to create more contrast



Filter>Render>Difference Clouds



Invert the picture - Ctrl+I or Image>Adjustments>Invert



Bring out the light areas more using Image/Adjustments/Levels (Ctrl+L). Set the levels to Channel: RBG, Input Levels: 0 .21 255 (or thereabouts)



Through Image>Adjustments>Variations. Select shadows and add more magenta and darkness. Select midtones and add more yellow.



Select Image>Adjustments>Curves and play around till you get something that looks decent.



I'd suggest taking a blur brush and smoothing the clouds around the bolts (but not the bolts themselves), and using the burn tool to erase clouds that look out of place.



Here's my finished product.

Black and white picture with a "splash of colour"



At the request of Sabastion, I have created a tutorial that will show you how to make a black and white photo with a splash of colour

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Open up a colour picture, preferrably one where the feature you are highlighting is clear.



I am using this image







You'll want to create a duplicate layer, which you can do by opening the layers window (Window>layers) right clicking on your active layer, then selecting duplicate layer.



Goto Image > Adjustments > Desaturate (or press CTRL+SHIFT+U).



On the desaturated layer, select the eraser tool, and erase where you want colour to be.



Then select Layer>Flatten Image







Tada!

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There's other ways to do this as well, but this way is nice and quick.



Forgive me if this is unclear, I'm kind of sick right now.



Have fun!