This workshops details how to create/simulate lightning between a persons' fingers (as seen in the online CB Paint demo video).

This effect can be used in a variety of special applications but for the tutorial we will re-create the scene from the demo video.

1. Videotape an image of a person who slowly pulls two hands apart with fingers extended (where the lighting will go).

2. Load that video footage into your Casablanca, trim the scene to the desired length and open CB Paint pulling that scene into the program

3. Now, add a new Animation Layer and select the top layer by clicking on the layer – extend the length of this new Anim Layer to the same length as your video layer.

4. Select the ‘AirBrush’ tool in the Tool Panel and adjust the Tool Size (found in the menu beneath the Tools) to 7.0.

5. At the first frame where there is space between the subjects hands, use the airbrush tool (by moving your Wacom stylus or trackball) to draw the lightning. You will be drawing the lightning on the Anim Layer but will be looking through this layer to see the video scene below.

6. Advance to the next frame (you can most easily use the right cursor arrow with a connected keyboard or can click on the II> key under the Project Window) and draw lightning between the fingers/hands once again. Repeat this process until you have drawn on all successive frames (some variation creates a more authentic looking electrical bolt of lightning)

7. Now we will add some colored glow effect to the lightning. Click on 'Effects', scroll down to ‘Stylize’ and over to 'Glow'. This brings up the FX Stack with the Glow effect variables. Select a Horizontal and vertical size of ‘20’. And select a red color.

8. Select all frames. Click on ‘Apply FX’ and it will add the glow effect to the selected duration of your lightning.

Have fun in experimenting with this effect! Think of all the science fiction and space type film effects you can now create…

VH