Some Photoshop Help Please

[lettuce]

I have been following this tutorial..



for a lightning effect, but is there a way to add an outer glow to each fork of lightning?, like the glow added to the text in this tutorial....

http://www.tutcity.com/view/electric-glow-text-effect.9194.html

As im working with a MUCH larger canvas than the canvas's there using in the guide, when adding the 'difference cloud' effect, this effect is scaled down alot more as its covering a bigger canvas, is it possible to change the scale of the 'difference cloud' effect, as the lighting forks are no way near as bold and thick as in the tutorial?

thanks for any help

[garnerb350]

Yes you can...


Take the "lightning" layer and add outer glow...( same as you would do text layer)

Make a layer...draw,paste,insert, etc what you want...(i.e. Lightning)

Then when you have what you want to add "Outer glow"... ( taking the long way here)

Go to ...Layer > Layer Style > Outer Glow...
Then make what changes you want and there you go....




OR take a shortcut and click the little "FX" (Black circle with lower case "f" on older versions of PS)


* Just to let you know I cant see your youtube link...they have youtube blocked where I work at....( so im going blind here) But Ive never used "difference clouds"  when i make lightning...(different artists use different techniques, etc). Best thing , and this is how i learned...is to just take the time and play around with it... The filters and Layer styles is what makes PS and it blows a beginner away with the effects...Tutorials can help you also refine your "craft". Ive been using PS since 4.0 and I still learn new ways each day...
Hope it helped...

Here is a Ryu that I vectored & i placed lightning on for my marquee...it works for me...

[lettuce]

Thanks for the reply, i did try adding out glow to the layer, but instead of it adding glow to the forks of the lightning, it added it to the inside edge of the canvas frame instead. I think because in that tutorial, his not actually using a layer, is a background is doing it on. I have tried going it as a layer but when you get to the part about changing the Hue/saturation (Ctrl U), the actual colour doesnt change, im guess this is because its a layer? Any ideas, sorry im a N00b when it comes to PS 

[garnerb350]

I think because in that tutorial, his not actually using a layer, is a background is doing it on.

Correct...

I have tried going it as a layer but when you get to the part about changing the Hue/saturation (Ctrl U), the actual colour doesnt change, im guess this is because its a layer? Any ideas, sorry im a N00b when it comes to PS 

Now I'm lost here from what you are saying...I guess you are talking about the video ( i cant see it where I am at here at work)
Look at the blend mode when you bring up outer glow...and change it from Screen to Normal...and then expand or contract the glow using the Spread/Size levels...see if that is what you need...

After posting, I did a simple search of "make lightning in PS" and there are SO many different techniques to doing it...
I made a photo for my Star Wars buddies with them all using lightsabers (which is somewhat simular to making lightning)...I used blur, outer and inner glow...

Some people like to go around their leg to reach their elbow...while some people just raise thier arm and simply touch elbow
Just do some searching, you'll find different ways, & experiment ....and also by doing that, you will find out ways that are better for you...

Sorry if I am confusing ya..I'm better at face to face conversations and working beside you to show you what you need.

( Like --BINGO! Either that, or I was attempting to say "before" but it was too many letters to type--, I dont use difference clouds...unless i'm making backgrounds)

As for the lightsaber...its basicly lightning in a straight line (as per say) try this link and like said before...play around with it...
http://www.bluesfear.com/tutorials/Lightsaber.php

Dont worry bout being a Noob...PS is very complex when it comes to a newbie...When I was in the miltary (photographer) PS was just coming out...We had the program in my shop and with me being the new kid (fresh out of Boot Camp, no money, no car) I would sit and play and understand Photoshop & Illustrator...Took me roughly a year to know it front and back... After that first year, i was making crazy graphics and BAM i became digital guru for the shop. They begged me to stay in when my time came up. It takes time...

Show Nuff!

[lettuce]

Now I'm lost here from what you are saying...I guess you are talking about the video ( i cant see it where I am at here at work)
Look at the blend mode when you bring up outer glow...and change it from Screen to Normal...and then expand or contract the glow using the Spread/Size levels...see if that is what you need...

Basically, if i select a new layer, on this layer use the marquee tool, and make 4-6 rectangle block on the layer, and fill each of these block with the colour black, got to filter>blur>gaussian blur, then filter>distort>polar coordinates. This then gives you a kind of lighting effect, but what i want to do is add a glow to the edges of this lightning, but when i go to outer glow, it doesnt add to the forks of lightning, it add it to the edges of the canvas. Im guess i need to have all the lighting forks selected, and then make them a new layer, and then on this new layer would i be able to add the glow effect to the edges of the lightning then? Would magic wand allow me to select the lightning fork easy?

[lettuce]

I didnt notice your Ryu pic before, thats excellent, and its just the type of lightning effect im after. Basically im 'trying' to make some artwork up for my upcoming Pinball cab build, its called 'Thunderball', what i have so far is the logo, but am wanting that same lightning effect you have on your Ryu pic, but instead of where ryu's hands are, there'll be a pinball. So basically it looks like lightnings wrapped around, and coming from the pinball. Could you tell me how you managed to get such a good effect, looks much better than the method i am following

[garnerb350]

Thanks...

Ok....trying to figure out the quickest best way to help ya...

Go to http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/exchange/index.cfm?event=productHome&exc=16&loc=en_us

Its the Adobe exchange store...basiclly its a free site where adobe users can post free their tricks and such...brushes, filters, etc. I use it because It allow me to do things without having to reinvent the wheel...

Look through brushes and download the lightning brushes...Load the brushes, and use em...make seperate layers...then use the layer styles to make em whatever colors you want...

I think that the problem you had is that when you fill in the marquee/lasso selection, you didnt deselect the selection before doing the filters... everything is confined within the selection and you dont want that...

With photoshop...there isnt a SET way to do something...If you create something...bet ya it can be reproduced 5-6 different ways...

[garnerb350]

http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/exchange/index.cfm?searchfield=lightning&search_exchange=16&search_category=-1&search_license=&search_rating=&search_platform=0&search_pubdate=&num=25&startnum=1&event=search&sticky=true&sort=0&rnav_dummy_tmpfield=&Submit=Search

[lettuce]

Cheers, that make my life alot easier!  .


Do they have sphere's on that adobe site aswell, after ball bearing/pinball characterture, so in other words not too realistic

[garnerb350]

You'd have to look...