Difference Cloud vs Image Size In Creating Lightning

[eliza89681725]

I have tried to create lightning with Difference Cloud, which works perfectly on a 500px W photo, but on a large image I cannot get it to work. On a photo of five or six MB,  this creates too many lines to use and when I try to zoom in on a small section that looks like it would do,  then enlarge it, it becomes far too pixelated. Can I get around the problem? 

I was following this: https://photoshopcafe.com/tutorials/lightning/lightning.htm

Make a new Layer

Add a black to white gradient

Difference cloud

Invert the cloud

Raise the black point with levels

Change Blend Mode to Screen

Paint out what you don’t want from the cloud layer

[Mike_Gondek]

That is because effects such as cloud &  difference cloud  do not allow you to generate the effect at higher resolutions. You will have to scale the lightning larger.

Yes when you zoom in looks pixelated, but when you scale that should look better as long as you are not scaling an enormous amount. You can then sharpen afterwards if looks soft with unsharp mask or an S curve in curves if you are familiar with that.

[c.pfaffenbichler]

I would prefer

Filter > Render > Clouds

with a Gradient Map Adjustment Layer with a narrow white against black (and additional Adjustment. Layers if necessary).

when I try to zoom in on a small section that looks like it would do,  then enlarge it, it becomes far too pixelated.

How did you upsample?

Please post screenshots taken at View > 100%.

[eliza89681725]

I originally used Transform and stretched the image--I hadn't found Scale, yet. Here, I used Transform | Scale on a very small portion of the image, then used Levels a second time to take out more grey. The look is more like the tutorial but still looks a bit too wispy to look realistic. I did try using Render | Clouds, instead of Difference Clouds, first, but did not come close to what looked like lightning.  Is there another way?

[Guest]

Hi

You could just download lightning brushes

18 Electrifying Lightning Brush Strikes | Free Photoshop Brushes at Brusheezy!

[eliza89681725]

That's a good idea and I will get the new brushes for PS.  For the moment, though, I am trying to follow a course outline, which doesn't allow for making things easy.

[c.pfaffenbichler]

but still looks a bit too wispy to look realistic.

If you want »clean« lines you could try using Blend If settings and the Layer Style Stroke.