Lightning Effect with Photoshop

1. Open the image you're editing or make a new file. The example shown here uses an RGB 300 x 100 with a black background.
2. 
   Draw the lines in the position you want the lightning to be. Use a 1px paintbrush.
3. Use the 'Wind' filter. Filter > Stylize > Wind. Select the method as 'Wind' and the direction 'From the left'. Now repeat except change the direction to 'From the right'
4. 
   Rotate the image 90 degrees. Click Image > Rotate > 90 degrees right. Repeat the previous step and rotate it 90 left.
5. Move to Filter > Distort > Ripple, set the amount to 100%, and hit "OK".
6. 
   Go to "Enhance > Adjust Color > Hue/Saturation". At the bottom right corner, hit "Colorize". Now adjust the "Hue" bar and the "Saturation" bar until you get a color you like.