Simulated Lighting Revised

1. Open scene where you want to add simulated lightning
a. Set foreground color to i. H - 215 ii. S – 36 iii. B – 33
2. Add New Layer to make the scene look stormier.
3. Choose the Gradient Tool > Linear Foreground to Transparent
a. Drag from the top to the bottom
4. Change Blend Mode of this layer to Multiply
a. Reduce Opacity to 80%
5. Add New Layer named Lighting
6. Default colors
7. Gradient Tool > Foreground to Background
a. Drag across small distance on a slight angle
8. Filter > Render > Clouds (new)
9. Filter > Render > Difference Clouds - note: you can press Ctrl + F to reapply this filter until you get the look you want.
10. Levels – move Midtone slider to ~ 3.66
11. Invert, Ctrl+I
12. Levels – Mid-tone slider to the right to make black
13. Change to Screen Mode
14. Hue/Sat – check Colorize
15. Move slider to the right 15.
16. Delete the unwanted "strikes" either paint them with black or select them with Marquee slection tool then Delete.
17. When you have a single strike and want to create a branch with the rectangleur Marquee select lower part of the lighting
18. Crtrl+J to copy selection to a layer
19. Use Ctrl + T, Free Transform to change size and move into a position to attach it to the main strike.

There you have it.