This tutorial is aimed at beginners who haven't ever created fire text before. It is an extremely easy technique, which uses default photoshop tools.
Simply add your text, in white, to the document. For best results, use darker backgrounds.
I will be using #00000, also known as "True Black" for this text piece.
The general shape of the text you add doesn't matter, but try to avoid special fonts with too much going on. I used the font "Eras Bold ITC", as it is a clean-cut thick font.
You could also try fonts such as Arial Black, Verdana and Berlin Sans FB. Any thick font will work.
Add a color balance layer with the following settings.
Duplicate your font layer and rasterize the duplication. We are done with the original copy, but it is nice to keep a back up incase you make a mistake.
Take out your smudge tool and use the brush "Spatter 39 pixels", making sure both "Finger Painting" and "Use All Layers" are unchecked.
Spatter is a default brush, if you are currently using custom brushes simply hit "Reset Brushes" in the brush selection box.
You should smudge outwards from the text, keeping in mind the way fire would look if your text were in fact burning up.
It really does not matter where you begin using your smudge tool, just keep in mind that you should make short strokes with your mouse (or graphics tablet if available), in an out of the text.
Here is the start of my smudging.
As you get further through the text, you should vary the way you smudge.
Make simple left and right movements with your mouse as you are moving it up, to create the "wavy" parts of the fire. Do NOT simply click and drag up on every layer, it will look too uniform.
I've finished my smudging.
To add highlights or darker parts to your text, create a layer and move it above the color balance layer.
Using either white or black, brush using a soft brush and set the layers blend mode to "Overlay"; reducing the opacity if the effect is too strong.
Congratulations! You are done!
This is my final result, note the highlights I've added on the left side of the text.
Good Luck!
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