How to Create Lightning in Affinity Photo

In this tutorial, we’ll learn how to create lightning in Affinity Photo. This effect will allow you to add an interesting/dramatic look to your images. You can add this lightning effect to a nighttime photo or any other photo of your choosing.

Before you begin, go to the following links to download the images for this tutorial:

• Landscape 1
• Landscape 2
• Lightning

Now, let’s see how to create lightning

Step 1

First, go to File > Open and select the first landscape picture.

Step 2

Next, grab the Selection Brush Tool from the Tools Panel. In the Context Toolbar, set the Mode to Add and check the Snap to Edges box. Take the brush and select the sky.

Step 3

Press CTRL + Shift + I to invert the selection. Or go to the Select menu and click Invert Pixel Selection. In the Context Toolbar, click Refine. Set the Output to New Layer. Then, hit Apply.

Step 4

Now, go to File > Open and select the second landscape picture. Grab the Selection Brush Tool from the Tools Panel. Make sure you’re in the Add Mode and that Snap to Edges is checked.

Step 5

Once you’ve selected the sky, hit Refine in the Context Toolbar. Set the Output to New Layer and hit Apply.

Step 6

Copy the sky layer and paste it onto the other document. In the Layers Panel, label this layer Sky, and place it beneath the mountain layer. Label the other layer Mountain and delete the original image. Resize the sky image so that it covers the area of the original sky.

Step 7

In the Layers Panel, click the Adjustments icon and select the Curves adjustment. Drag the layer inside the sky layer. Select the point on the left and slide it slightly to the right. Add a point in the middle of the curve and bring it down. Next, add a third point further up the curve. Then, select the point on the right and bring it down.

Step 8

Click the Adjustments icon in the Layers Panel. Select the Curves adjustment and drag it inside of the Mountain layer. Click on the point on the left and move it slightly to the right. Now, add a point in the center of the curve and drag it down. Then, click the point on the right and slide it to the left.

Step 9

With the Curves adjustment still open, go to the Blue channel. Add a point in the middle of the curve and drag it down. Then, click the point on the right and drag it down.

Step 10

Grab the Selection Brush Tool from the Tools Panel. Select the reflection of the mountains in the water. In the Context Toolbar. Set the Mode to Add and check the Snap to Edges box. Also, make sure the Mountain layer is selected in the Layers Panel. Switch to the Subtract Mode to deselect any unwanted areas.

Step 11

After you’ve made the selection, go to the Layers Panel and click the Adjustments icon. Select the Curves adjustment. Go to the Green Channel. Add a point in the center of the curve and drag it slightly down and to the right. Label this layer Water 1 in the Layers Panel.

Step 12

Next, grab the Selection Brush Tool from the Tools Panel. Take the brush and select the other part of the water. Make sure the Mountain layer is selected in the Layers Panel.

Step 13

Once you’ve selected the water, go to the Layers Panel and click the Adjustment icon. Select the Curves adjustment. Click the point on the left and drag it slightly to the right. Add a point in the center and drag it down.

Step 14

Go to the Blue Channel. Select the point on the right and bring it down. Press CTRL + D to deselect. In the Layers Panel, label this layer Water 2.

Step 15

In the Layers Panel, click the Add Pixel Layer icon to add a new layer. Then, grab the Selection Brush Tool from the Tools Panel. Take the brush and select the light bluish area of the mountain. Make sure you’re in the Add Mode and that the next pixel layer is selected in the Layers Panel.

Step 16

Now, double click on the white color in the Swatches Panel to bring up the Color Chooser. Enter the following hex code #556B85. Then go to the Edit menu and click Fill with Primary Color to fill the layer with the fill color we entered.

Step 17

With the pixel layers still selected, go to the Filters menu. Select Blur > Gaussian Blur. Set the Radius to 3 px. In the Layers Panel, lower the Opacity to 75 percent and label the layer Mountain Tip.

We’re now going to create some rain for this scene before we learn how to create lightning.

Step 18

In the Layers Panel, click the Add Pixel Layer icon to add a new layer.

Step 19

With the new layer selected, go to the Edit menu, and click Fill with Secondary Color. The pixel layer should be filled with black

Step 20

Go to the Filters menu. Select Noise > Add Noise. Set the Intensity to 100 percent. Select Gaussian and check the Monochromatic box.

Step 21

Now, go to the Filters menu and select Blur > Motion Blur. Set the Radius to 60 px and the Rotation to 130 degrees.

Step 22

After that, go to the Filters menu again. Select Blur > Gaussian Blur. Set the Radius to .5 px. In the Layers Panel, change the Blend Mode to Pin Light.

Step 23

Go to the Layers Panel and select Add Pixel Layer to add another layer. Then, go to the Edit menu and select Fill with Secondary Color to fill it with black.

Step 24

Next, go to the Filters menu. Select Noise > Add Noise. Leave the Intensity at 100 percent.

Step 25

Now, go to the Filters menu, select Blur > Motion Blur. Leave the current settings.

Step 26

Then, go to the Filters menu and select Blur > Gaussian Blur. Set the Radius to 1 px.

Step 27

In the Layers Panel, click the Adjustments icon and select the Levels adjustment. Drag the adjustment layer into the second rain layer we created. Set the Black Level to 3 percent, White Level to 80 percent, and the Gamma to .91. In the Layers Panel, set the Blend Mode of this rain layer to Screen.

Now that we’ve set up the image, we’ll learn how to create lightning.

Step 28

Go to File > Open and select the lightning picture.

Step 29

In the Layers Panel, click the Adjustments icon and select the Gradient Map adjustment. Click the green color stop and click the Delete beside Reverse. Next, click the red color stop and go to Color. Go to the RGB Hex Sliders. Slide all three sliders to the right to change the color to white. Then, click the blue color stop. Go to Color and slide all three sliders to the left to change the color to black.

Step 30

After that, go to the Layers Panel and click the Adjustments icon. Select the Levels adjustment. Set the Black Level to 10 percent and the White Level to 51 percent.

Step 31

Select the Background layer in the Layers Panel. Then, click the Add Pixel Layer icon to add a new layer above the Background layer.

Step 32

Now, grab the Paintbrush Tool from the Tools Panel. Make sure the new pixel layer is selected. Go to the Brushes Panel and select one of the Round Soft brushes. In the Swatches Panel, make sure the black color is active. Take the brush and remove the clouded area.

Step 33

Once you’ve done that, select all the layers in the Layers Panel. Right click on the selection and click Merge Visible. Turn the other layers off.

Step 34

Grab the Crop Tool from the Tools Panel. Take the tool and crop the pixel layer so that it’s focused on the lightning. In the Layers Panel, right click on the lightning layer. Click Rasterize & Trim.

Step 35

Next, go to File > Export click PNG. Then, select Export and save the PNG file.

Step 36

Now, go back to our document. Go to the Brushes Panel and click the menu in the right corner. Select Create New Category. Then, go to the menu again and click Rename Category. Name the category Lightning Brush.

Step 37

After that, go to the menu and select new Intensity Brush. Select the lightning image you saved.

Step 38

In the Layers Panel, click Add Pixel Layer and name the layer Lightning.

Step 39

Grab the Paintbrush Tool from the Tools Panel. Click the lightning in the Brushes Panel. Increase the size of the brush by pressing the right bracket key. In the Swatches Panel, set the color of the brush to white. Then, take the brush and click in the area between the dark part of the sky and the mountain. You can click the area more than once to make the lightning bolder.

Step 40

Now, we’ll add some layer effects to the lightning to make it more realistic. This is one of the key steps in knowing how to create lightning. With the lightning layer selected, click the fx icon in the Layers Panel. Select Outer Shadow. Set the Blend Mode to Screen. Go to Color and set it to the following Hex Code #0275F4. Next, set the Opacity to 70 percent, Radius to 100 percent, Intensity to 80 percent, and Angle to 315 degrees.

Step 41

After that, go to Outer Glow. Set the Blend Mode to Screen. Go to Color and set it to #021CA4. Next, set the Opacity to 50 percent, Radius to 100 percent, Intensity to 60 percent.

Step 42

Now, go to Inner Glow. Set the Blend Mode to Normal. Go to Color and set it to #3393FF. Set the Opacity to 50 percent, Radius to 2 px, and Intensity to 82 percent.

Step 43

Go to the Tools Panel and grab the Erase Brush Tool. Take the tool and erase some of the edges of the top part of the lightning.

Congratulations, this tutorial is complete! You now know how to create lightning in Affinity Photo. For more tutorials on Affinity Photo, check out this article on how to create a neon glow effect.