IMAGE
We are going to making the lightning effect using a graveyard image which can be found over here.


STEPS
1.) Make a selection around the center of the image using the Marquee Tool. Go up to Image>Crop.



2.) Now Go up to Image>Image Size and make the length and the width both 100px. (100X100). If your image is too dark go up to Image>Adjust>Brightness/Contrast.



Result





3.) Duplicate the graveyard layer and set it's Blend Mode to 'Overlay' at '100%' Opacity. After that Go up to Filter>Sharpen>Sharpen.



Result





4.) Create a New Layer and set it's Blend Mode to 'Overlay' at '100%' Opacity. Put the texture below, into that layer.



Texture





Result





5.) Create another New Layer and set it's Blend Mode to 'Soft Light' at '100% Opacity. Fill That layer with the color White (#FFFFFF).



Result





6.) Make another New Layer and set it's Blend Mode to 'Color' at '100%' Opacity. Fill that layer with the color Black (#000000).



Result





7.) Now it's time for some Text. Take the Type Tool and click wherever you want the text to be on the image. The text I used had these settings:


Text Settings:
Type: Jurassic
Size: 10 pts
Color: White (#000000)
Anti-Alias: Smooth
Faux Bold



8.) I typed in the words Graveyard Horror and set the Text Layer's Blend Mode to 'Overlay' at '100%' Opacity. (Make sure that the text layer is behind the layer filled with white.) Now we're going to give the text some Outer Glow settings.

Settings:
Mode: Screen
Opacity: 97%
Blur: 5 Pixels
Intensity: 0%


Result





9.) Next I created a New Layer and used small text but I made it into a brush for you guys so you won't have to do it. (If you would like to know the settings for the small text then ask me, and also make sure that this layer is also under the white filled layer.j) Use the brush/text in the color White (#FFFFFF).



Brush





Result





10.) Make another New Layer. Use the border brush found below in the color Black (#000000).



Brush





Result





11.) Once again, New Layer. I'm going to give you a lightning texture that I made, if you would like to know how to make one then eave a comment stating so and I'll tell you. Anyways, place the texture into the new layer and set it's Blend Mode to 'Lighten' at '100%' Opacity. (Even though I didn't, I suggest that you put the lightning texture underneath the border layer.)



Texture





Result





12.) This is the last of our New Layer's, so make one final one. Leave it's Blend Mode and it's Opacity alone, and just fill it up with the color Black (#000000).



Result





13.) Go to File>Save As and save it as '1'. Now open up whatever program you use for animations, I use Imageready.



14.) Once you get your animation program started up, open up the file that you just saved. (File>Open>1)



15.) On the Animation Palette, duplicate the frame you see. Now select the Duplicated Frame and turn off the Visibility for the black-filled layer in the Layer's Palette.





16.) Now duplicate the Second Frame on the Animation Palette and this time turn off the Visibility for the lightning layer in the Layer's Palette. (Keep the Visibility off for the black-filled layer too.)



17.) Create another frame by Duplicating your Third Frame. Turn the Visibility back on for the lightning layer. Down below should tell how each frame should have it's layers.

First Frame: All Layers on
Second Frame: Black Layer off
Third Frame: Black and lightning layer off
Fourth Frame: Black layer off, lightning layer on

18. Now make sure your fourth frame is selected. Click the small arrow that appears on the right side of the Animation palette and select Tween.


Make sure
1.)You leave the Position, Opacity, and Effects on
2.)You tween with the First frame
3.)You have 3 tweened frames. (Or frames to add)



19.) Final step. Set the speed for each layer for a certain time. The speeds I used are below.


Speeds
First Frame: 1.5 Seconds
Second Frame: 0.1 Seconds
Third Frame: 0.15 Seconds
Fourth Frame: 0.15 Seconds
The Rest: No Delay



Final Result




Program
This tutorial was made using Adobe Photoshop 5.5 and Imageready 2.0 so it should easily translate into other programs.

NOTE
The icons used for this effect are black and white so it goes with the lightning texture I gave you very well. If you're using color in your icon then you might have to experiment with the blend mode of the lightning or change it's color. Also the lightning in the animation has an outer glow to it, you can do that to yours if you like.

My Comments
If you have any questions then please ask me. ^_^