Creating Flaming Text with Photoshop

Step 1

Create a new document, 600×360 pixels (72 DPI).

Step 2

Set background layer to black (#000).

Step 3

Create text element using the word “Diablo”. I used AvQuest font at 94px. Of course you can use whatever font you would like.

Step 4

Make a new layer above the “Diablo” layer by clicking on the create new layer icon. Set layer name to “Fire”. Merge all viewed layers to the “Fire” layer with Cmd + Option + Shift + E for Mac or Ctrl + Alt + Shift + E for PC.

Go to Edit > Transform > Rotate 90 degrees CCW

Step 5

With “Fire” layer active go to Filter > Stylize > Wind. Leave the dialog set to defaults and click OK. Repeat this filtration one or two more times (Use Cmd + F or Ctrl + F to repeat).

Now go to Edit > Transform > Rotate 90 CW

Step 6

The wind filter is a bit to harsh, so we need to blur the effect a bit. With “Fire” layer active go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur. Set Radius 1.5 pixels and click OK.

Now for the cool part. Lets add some color :). Go to Image > Adjust > Hue/Saturation. Make sure Colorize is checked off, set Hue to 40, Saturation to 100 and click OK.

Step 7

Duplicate “Fire” layer by dragging it to the create new layer icon or with Cmd + J or Ctrl + J to create “Fire copy”.

With “Fire copy” active g to Image > Adjust > Hue/Saturation or Cmd + U or Ctrl + U. Set the Hue to -40 and click OK.

Set mode of “Fire copy” layer to the Mode Color Dodge and then merge the layer down onto “Fire” layer by going to Layer > Merge Down

Step 8

Now comes the tricky part. We will use Liquify filter to make the flames more realistic. This step will take some practice, so try to be as patient as possible.

With “Fire” layer active, use the following keyboard shortcut, Cmd + Shift + X (MAC) or Ctrl + Shift + X (PC), this will bring up the Liquify filter.

The Warp tool is selected by default. In the dialog box set the Brush Size to 50 and the Brush Pressure to 40. Now click-drag the initial flame shapes up from the edges of the white text areas. Wiggle the mouse as you drag up. This first run creates the major flame shapes.

For the second run, create smaller flames by reducing the Brush Size to 30 and the Brush Pressure to 35. Now you will need work each flame until you start seeing my results. This will require you to change brush sizes and really get in and work each flame. It will take some time and practice, but you can do it!

If you want to start over you can Reset back to the undistorted version by holding down Option for Mac or Alt for PC and clicking the Reset button that appears to replace the Cancel button. You can also use the Reconstruct tool to remove or rework your distortions. Once your happy with the results, click OK.

Step 9

Move the original “Diablo” text layer to the top of the layers.

Set to color of the text to black (#000)

You can choose to stop here if you want the original Diablo logo. Our next objective is to make the text look like it is all on fire and has been burning for a bit.

I want to give the appearance of cracks in the lettering, so we first need to raster the “Diablo” text layer. Zoom in a bit, select the Magic Lasso tool, and start making small random cuts into each letter. Examples below show start to finish cracks.

The black lettering is to dull, so we need to add some more color and texture. First, add a drop shadow to the “Diablo” layer. The Blend Mode for the shadow should be set to Multiply and the color to #b75c0b.

Add an Inner Bevel to the “Diablo” layer with a Highlight color of black (#000) and shadow #844600. Make sure to duplicate the settings below and then tweak from there.

Finally, add a Color Overlay with #f57300. This will give the illusion of the text blending in with the fire.

Step 10

Duplicate the “Fire” layer once again and place the layer “Fire copy” at the top of the layers.

Set the mode for “Fire copy” to Screen with Option + Shift + S. Then add a layer mask by clicking on the Add Layer Mask icon at the bottom of the Layers palette.

With the linear Gradient tool run a white to black, linear gradient from the top of the text area to the bottom.

Then use the Smudge tool or Shift to toggle, with a 65 pixel, soft edged brush at 70%, on the layer mask, dragging up and down to reveal or hide flames. I also used to the eraser tool on “Fire copy” layer because I felt the top of the flames were a bit too bright.

Phewwww, now we’re done Below is my finished product…

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