Colorful Lighting effect in photoshop, super, simple and exciting.

Lets Begin.

STEP 1:
Go to FILE>OPEN and search your computer for a nice photo that you can work on. I purchased this one from Istockphoto: http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-photo-10148575-fiber-optical.php

Any photo that you choose will be ok.  Here are a couple photos I suggest trying this effect on:

• A photo with lights on a dark background
• A photo with White smoke on a dark background.

STEP 2:

Go to LAYER>NEW FILL LAYER>and select GRADIENT.

STEP 3:

• Give this layer a name. I used the name “color”.
• Put a check in the “Use previous layer to Create Clipping Mask” checkbox.
• change the “Mode” to “color”
• click OK.

STEP4:

Keep all properties the same as you see them in the image above.  Click once on the “Gradient” Bar for the next window to pop up. 

STEP 5:

From top to bottom:

• Choose the “Foreground to Transparent” Preset. Remember you can chose anyone one really. I chose the transparent so one side would be a very subtle effect. 
• Gradient Type: Solid
• Smoothness: 100%
• Click once on the left “stop”box located right below the Gradient Strip. (In my image it is yellow. You can use whatever color you want.)
• Be Creative (-:
• Now you can move lower to the “Stops” section and click on the box next to where it says: “Color:”this will bring up the window for you to choose your desired color.

SOME INTERESTING POINTS YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW:

• To add “stops” along the strip you simply click right below the gradient strip with your mouse and it will add one for you.
• To get rid of an extra color “stop” you simply grab on to one box and drag it downward.  Poof it’s gone!

So once you chose your colors and are happy with the gradient colors, CLICK OK.

And you’re done. You should have something looking like this. Super simple. But super cool too. ENJOY!