How to Air Brush Flames

Bright flames.

Airbrushing flames is a challenge. Use graphics software airbrush tools to re-create their glow and soft gradations. Layers capabilities enhance flexibility in airbrush work. Work on a copy of your original and preserve the background in case you make a mistake. Airbrushing on separate levels also frees the artist to blend discreet colors and layer effects on top of ongoing work. Flames have life. They move and glow. Use your powers of observation as a reference; photographs help too, but remember that the way flames look depends on their backgrounds. Flames against black look different than flames lit against a bright sky.

Things You'll Need

• Graphics tablet
• Graphics pen
• Graphics software
• Digital flames photographs
• Background image
• Digital printer

Instructions

1. 

   Tablet and pen.

   Open your graphics software package on your computer. Upload or scan in your background image. Use a landscape, an interior or even a cartoon drawing. Scan or upload the image at the highest resolution possible

2. Choose the "Layers" menu. Select "New Layer" from the pull-down menu. Highlight the second layer; click on the new layer on your "Layers" display window.

3. Choose bright yellow from your "Color Palette" or "Color Wheel." Choose "Edit" and "Fill" or the "Bucket-fill" icon. Tap your pen on the image area to cover your entire layer with the yellow color.

4. Choose the "Layers" menu and select "Layer Mattes" or "Create Layer Mask". Choose "Hide All" from the sub menu option. Notice the black square that now appears next to your image icon on the "Layers Window" display. This black square represents your mask image.

5. Click on the "Layering Options" menu on the "Layers" window. This option menu determines the algorithm used when compositing your layer on top of the background image. Notice that the default selection is "Normal" or "Blend." Choose "Screen" or "Additive" instead.

6. Click on the black box icon in your "Layers" window. Open your "Color Palette" options menu or your "Color Wheel" window. Select pure white as a color. Choose the "Brush" icon from you "Tools" menu. Click on the "Brush Options" menu or icon and select "Airbrush" from the options available. Adjust the airbrush tool so that it is very soft. Adjust the size of your brush to at least 60 pixels. Adjust the transparency of the brush to 90 percent.

7. 

   Curved soft lines.

   Gently sweep your pen on the tablet. Notice how your are airbrushing a luminous yellow glow on top your background. Airbrush in the shape of your flames. keep the brushstrokes curved and soft.

8. Choose "New Layer" from the "Layers" menu. Choose a bright orange from the "Palette" menu and "Edit" and "Fill" to cover your layer image with the color. Create a layer mask and choose to "Hide All" as you did for the previous layer. Choose "Overlay" in the "Layering Options" pull-down menus.

9. Highlight the black mask icon. Choose white from the "Palette Menu" and paint a smaller flame shape inside the perimeter of the first flame layer. The color intensifies and shades the previous layer but does not obliterate it. The flame has an outer bright, but pale area and an inner area with more chroma.

10. Repeat the third layer steps for your fourth, final layer. Choose bright red. Paint a small shape at the bottom center of the flame. Adjust the size and softness of this red inner flame until you are satisfied with the result.

11. Choose the "Layers" menu. Select "Flatten Image" or "Merge Visible". Your image is now one layer. Save your image as a JPEG or TIFF file. Print out your picture on your printer.

Tips & Warnings

• Customize your airbrush tool to tie opacity to pen pressure.

• Play with Layers opacity and Algorithm options to finesse the best look for your image.

• Always save your work as you go; if your computer crashes you will lose your work.

References

• "Bold Visions; A Digital Painting Bible"; Gary Tonge; 2008

Resources

• VFXPro For the Visual Effects Community: Forums