alrighty.. I didn't do that one by hand... but I have done lightning near that good without a filter I learned how to do it well in my digital imaging class
The teacher helped me with it.
its fairly easy.. BUT time consuming. IE all you do is have a bright white line... random jaggy and smooth draw it.
Follow up over it with another layer... a very faint white... with around 85% transparency set.
Follow down the original line.. make the width SLIGHTLY wider than the other.
On some of the bolts.. randomly use the smudge effect.
etc..etc..etc.
It is time consuming :lol
I'll scan in my "1st lightening attempt" so you all can see. no laughing though... I was a noob. I have perfected it a lot better now... but then I was an EXTREME noob.. and I just started editing graphics.