Step 1. Open our photo of wheel. You can download it from here.
Step 2. Copy "background" layer by pressing Ctrl + J on keyboard. Name that layer "wheel_copy". Create new layer, name it "black" and put it below "wheel_copy" layer. Delete "background" layer.
Step 3. Now we have to remove white background from wheel. Pick Magic Wand tool (W) and click on the white on "wheel_copy" layer. Press DEL on keyboard to delete selection. Now we have only contour of wheel.
Step 4. Press Ctrl + Alt + C to change canvas size. Enter these values,
click OK and fill "black" layer with black color.
Step 5. Create new layer, name it "fire" and put it below "wheel_copy" layer. Press Ctrl and click on "wheel_copy" to select the wheel. Go to Select - Modify - Contract and enter value of 25px.
Change the opacity of "wheel_copy" so we can see what we are doing behind the wheel. Click back on "fire" layer and start drawing something like I did on the photo below.
For the gray colors I used this values H:0 S:0 B:60 and H:0 S:0 B:85 . Deselect selection.
Step 6. Click on "fire" layer if it's not selected. Go to the Create new adjustment layer and select Color Balance. Set values as I did.
Step 7. Pick Smudge tool (R), select brush, set the strenght to 80% and start making flames.
Step 8. Click on "wheel_copy" layer and change opacity back to 100%. Now press and hold Ctrl and click on this layer. This will select wheel. Go to the Filter - Blur - Radial Blur and enter value of 15 and best method (you can experiment with these values).
Click OK.
Step 9. You can size down image if you need to use it for your sig or avatar.
See you!
