Really simple things. But fun to do.

Lesson 1: Flame making:

First, open GIMP.

Next, Click "File"

Then "New"

Then set the dimensions to whatever you want.
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Now, click "Layer" in the new image's window.

Next, click "New Layer"

Select the "Foreground" bubble next to foreground, then click "Ok"

Now, Select the brush tool. I advise scale "0.70" for accurate flames.

Under "Pressure Sensitivity" in the main window where the brush is, but in the control box at the bottom where you see all the brush's options, uncheck "opacity" and check "color".

Now, draw zig zag lines that appear in white with the brush:


Draw 4 horizontal lines at most, and 2 minimum.

Make sure the distance between lines is the same as the white line's thickness.

Now, select the "smudge tool" Opacity: 100% is what opacity should be.

Now, Smudge up like a flame from middle to top, then bottom to top, in a way that makes white-and-black smudged flames be recognizable. You must not be able to recognize zig-zag lines!

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Now, after smudging a flame-related fashion to your heart's content,

Select "colors" in your new image's window and select "color balance"

Set the top bar "Cyan red" to 100 (slide all the way to right)

Then set the bottom bar "Yellow blue to -100 (slide all the way to left)

Repeat the above 3 entries until you believe your flames look like real red flames.



REMEMBER! there is such a thing as over-doing the color balance! Just hit Ctrl-Z/Command-Z if you think you made it too red!

This is my flame over-done (15 abouts times doing the Color Balance)



Then you're done!

Extra: Colored Flames

Option A:

Instead of doing Color Balance, select "Colorize" under "Colors" in the image window.

Then select color of your choice by using the bars.

Option B:

Do Color Balance about 4-5 times.

Select "Colorize" under "Colors"

Select the color you want using the bars
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You're done!

Lesson 2: Flame Text

Seeing "Flame Lesson 2" you should of already made your blank image black.

Then, type some text, I advise a short name, in a thick font in white.

The text can be any kind, though let's start with Normal, Plain, text.

For beginners, we're starting the usual flame way.

Now, use the smudge tool to smudge in a flame related fashion off the top of each letter.

NOTE: Due to the text tool, you may have to save your image as .PNG then close the window, then Open that image again with GIMP before you do flame smudging

If the letter is like a G, smudge all the top.

Draw an imaginary line across the middle of the G or curved letter.

Then smudge like there's flames above that horizontal line.

That's the easiest way to explain it.

Now, you should know where Color Balance is and keep doing the flame colored Color balance until your text appears to flame.

Note: You can use any font color, just white is a good starter.

Now your text should look flamey:



Transparent Background Text

Start with your new image. It should be white.

Select "Layers" (you should know where it is by now)

Select "Delete Layer"

Now, make a "New Layer" in the same window. It should be white.

Now, make another layer, this one Transparent

Now, put your text tool and click and type w/e you want.

Make the font w/e size you want, select a font, etc.

After you have the text you want and where you want it:

Under "Layer" select "Stack"

Then select "Select bottom layer"

Then select "Delete Layer" and your text will have the transparent background, background

Now save your image the following way, unless you think otherwise:



Here was my result:



Questions, comments, concerns, reply here. You can also PM me.

Nice.
Really looking forward to your stay here.