Generate transparent lightning overlay PNGs for storm photography and VFX compositing. Customizable bolt shape, branching, and glow. Free online generator.
Open Lightning GeneratorGenerate lightning overlay PNGs with detailed bolt geometry, natural branching forks, and a multi-layer glow system that looks convincing when composited over storm skies, cityscapes, or dramatic portraits. Adjust segment count and jaggedness to set the bolt character, then control fork count and spread for realistic secondary branches. The transparent PNG output layers cleanly into After Effects, Photoshop, or any compositing tool without keying or rotoscoping.
Yes. The Segments parameter controls how many line segments make up the bolt (more segments means more detail), while Jaggedness determines how much each segment deviates from a straight line. Thickness sets the width of the bolt. Together these give you full control over the bolt geometry.
The Forks parameter sets how many secondary branches split off from the main bolt. Fork Spread controls the angle at which branches diverge. Each branch is generated procedurally from the seed, creating natural-looking electrical discharge patterns that vary with every seed value.
Yes. The Hue control shifts the bolt color across the spectrum, from blue-white natural lightning to purple, green, red, or any other color. Saturation controls color intensity, so you can create anything from stark white bolts to deeply saturated sci-fi energy effects.
Core Glow controls the bright, intense center of the lightning bolt that represents the actual electrical channel. Outer Glow controls the softer atmospheric bloom around the bolt that simulates light scattering through air. Glow Size determines how far the outer glow extends.
Yes. Set Background to "Transparent" and export. The resulting PNG will have only the lightning bolt and its glow on a transparent background, perfect for compositing over storm footage, sci-fi scenes, or any other content in Photoshop, After Effects, or similar tools.
Lightning bolts can be exported at 720p, 1080p, 1440p, or 4K (3840x2160). Higher resolutions capture more detail in the bolt segments and produce smoother glow gradients. For print work or large-format displays, 4K export is recommended.
For natural storm lightning, use high Jaggedness (0.6-0.8), moderate Forks (5-10), and blue-white color. For sci-fi energy beams, lower the Jaggedness, reduce branches, and shift the Hue to purple or green. For magical effects, increase Glow Size and Outer Glow with saturated colors.
Yes. Each seed value produces a completely different bolt path, branch pattern, and detail arrangement. Keep your other parameters fixed and change only the seed to generate as many unique bolt variations as you need while maintaining a consistent overall style.
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