How to Create a Flame Text Effect in Adobe Photoshop

Learn to use the Flame Photoshop filter, along with some flame, smoke, and spark image textures as well as blending options, filters, and adjustment settings, to create a blazing, flaming text effect. You'll get it done in a matter of seconds! Let's get started.

This flaming text Photoshop effect was inspired by the fire effect Photoshop add-ons available on Envato Elements. For example, there is this awesome flame text effect action for Photoshop:

If you prefer to watch video tutorials to learn how to Photoshop fire into a picture or text, you're in luck! Watch this video from the Envato Tuts+ YouTube channel to make fire in Photoshop:

What You'll Learn in This Photoshop Flame Effect Tutorial

• How to create the background and text layers


• How to create a stroke path and layer


• How to use the flame Photoshop filter


• How to create a texture overlay layer


• How to create a texture using filters


• How to adjust a layer's blending options


• How to add flame images


• How to add smoke images


• How to add sparks


• How to create an outer glow


• How to add smoke to a background


• How to add a background texture


• How to apply final adjustments

What You'll Need to Create Fire in Photoshop

The following assets were used during the production of this Photoshop flaming text tutorial:

• 
  Aller Light font


• 
  Flames0032 Images


• 
  Flames0036 Images


• 
  Flames0043 Images


• 
  Smoke Images


• 
  Fireworks0023 Images


• 
  Fireworks0017 Image 2 - Medium

1. How to Create the Background and Text Layers for the Fire Photoshop Effect

Step 1

Let's begin the fire text effect tutorial. Create a new 1200 x 850 px document, click the Create new fill or adjustment layer icon at the bottom of the Layers panel, choose Solid Color, and use the Color #1e100c.

Step 2

Create the text in All Caps using the font Aller Light. Set the Size to 350 pt and the Tracking to 100.

2. How to Create a Stroke Path and Layer to Make a Fire Text Effect

Step 1

Moving on with this fire effect Photoshop tutorial, right-click the text layer and choose Create Work Path.

Step 2

Hide the text layer by clicking the eye icon next to it, and create a new layer with the name Stroke Flames.

3. How to Use the Flame Photoshop Filter

Step 1

Now, let's use a filter to make flame text. Go to Filter > Render > Flame, and click OK if you get a message telling you that the path is long.

Next, you'll be playing around with the different options and settings to stroke the path with flames until you get an outcome you like.

The values used here are:

Basic

• 
  Flame Type: 2. Multiple Flames Along Path


• 
  Length: 115


• Check the Randomize Length box.


• 
  Width: 35


• 
  Interval: 50


• Check the Adjust Interval for Loops box.


• 
  Quality: High (Slow)

Advanced

• 
  Turbulent: 35


• 
  Jag: 20


• 
  Opacity: 50


• 
  Flame Lines (Complexity): 29


• 
  Flame Bottom Alignment: 20


• 
  Flame Style: 2. Violent


• 
  Flame Shape: 5. Pointing


• Check the Randomize Shapes box.

Click OK to apply the filter. It might take some time, so just wait a little bit for it to be rendered.

Step 2

When you like the outcome, pick the Direct Selection Tool (A) and hit the Return key to get rid of the work path.

4. How to Create a Texture Overlay Layer for the Fire Effect in Photoshop

Step 1

Next up, create a texture overlay layer for a fantastic fire text effect. Create a new layer on top of the Stroke Flames layer, name it Flame Texture, and fill it with White.

Make sure to set the Foreground and Background Colors to Black and White.

Step 2

Right-click the Flame Texture layer and choose Convert to Smart Object.

Step 3

Right-click the Flame Texture layer again and choose Create Clipping Mask.

Step 4

Go to Filter > Render > Clouds.

5. How to Create a Texture Using Filters for a Flaming Text Effect

Step 1

Continuing with this flaming text tutorial, let's go to Filter > Filter Gallery to apply the following Filters:

Sketch > Bas Relief

• 
  Detail: 13


• 
  Smoothness: 3


• 
  Light: Bottom

Step 2

Click the New effect layer icon in the bottom right corner to add another filter, and apply Bas Relief with the same values again.

Step 3

Add another new effect layer.

Brush Strokes > Spatter

• 
  Spray Radius: 10


• 
  Smoothness: 5

Click OK when done.

6. How to Adjust a Layer's Blending Options to Create Flame Text

Step 1

Change the Flame Texture layer's Blend Mode to Soft Light.

Step 2

Double-click the Flame Texture layer to adjust its Blending Options. We are going to adjust the This Layer sliders under the Blend If section.

Press-hold the Option key, and click-drag the right slider to split it. As you move the slider's ends, you'll notice how the texture starts to blend better with the flames.

What this slider does is prevent the lighter areas of the texture from interacting with the content below it.

Step 3

Try different values until you like the outcome.

We will get back to the texture at the end of the tutorial to blur it, so you can also modify the values some more then.

7. How to Add Flame Images to Create Flaming Text

Step 1

We're about halfway there with this tutorial on how to create flame text. Use any of the flame images from the Flames0032, Flames0036, and Flames0043 sets to add to the text.

It is better to add the images as Smart Objects so that you can apply changes to them non-destructively.

To do so, go to File > Place Linked, and open the image you want to add.

Step 2

Change the image layer's Blend Mode to Screen.

Step 3

Press Command-T to enter the Free Transform Mode, and move, resize, and rotate the image to place it over a part of the text.

Hit the Return key to commit the changes.

Step 4

Go to Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation, and change the Hue to 3 and the Saturation to -35, or use any other values to match the color of the image's flame with the stroke's flame color.

8. How to Add More Flames in Photoshop

Step 1

Let's make things more exciting in your fire text effect! Place another flame image over another part of the text, change its layer's Blend Mode to Screen, and transform it as needed.

To duplicate the adjustments, expand the first flame image layer's filter list, press-hold the Option key, and click-drag the Smart Filters tab to the newly added image layer.

Step 2

Repeat the steps to add as many flame images as needed to the text.

Step 3

Place all the flame image layers in a group and name it Flames.

9. How to Add Light Smoke Images to Your Photoshop Fire Design

Step 1

You'll need more smoke in your flame text. Add any of the smoke images you like as a Smart Object, and change its layer's Blend Mode to Screen.

Place the smoke image over a part of the text, and transform it as needed.

Step 2

Press Command-U to adjust the Hue/Saturation. Check the Colorize box, and change the Hue to 215, the Saturation to 25, and the Lightness to -60.

Step 3

Double-click the smoke image layer to adjust its Blending Options. This time, we are going to adjust the Underlying Layer sliders under the Blend If section.

Press-hold the Option key, and click-drag the right slider to split it. As you move the slider's ends, you'll notice how the smoke image starts to blend better with the text and the background.

What this slider does is protect the lighter areas of the text from being affected by the smoke texture.

Step 4

Right-click the smoke image layer and choose Copy Layer Style.

Step 5

Add more smoke images to the text, and for each new image you add, right-click its layer and choose Paste Layer Style.

You can also duplicate the Hue/Saturation adjustments the same way you duplicated them for the flame images.

Double-click the Hue/Saturation tab under the Smart Filters list to use different values depending on the image you add and the effect you want.

Repeat the same steps until you like the outcome.

Step 6

Place all the smoke image layers in a group and name it Smoke, and change the group's Opacity to 85%, or any value you like.

10. How to Add Heavy Smoke Images to a Fire Photoshop Design

Step 1

We are going to add more smoke images to create more depth.

So add a new smoke image, change its layer's Blend Mode to Lighter Color, place it over any part of the text, and transform it as needed.

Step 2

Add a few more smoke images using the same Blend Mode, and keep them a little bit smaller than the lighter ones.

Step 3

Place all the new smoke image layers in a group and name it Smoke 02, and change the group's Opacity to 50%, or any value you like depending on the effect you want.

11. How to Add Sparks to Your Fire Text Effect

Step 1

Place one of the Fireworks0023 images over any part of the text, change its layer's Blend Mode to Linear Dodge (Add), and transform it as needed.

Step 2

Repeat the same steps to add more sparks all over the text.

Step 3

Place all the spark image layers in a group and name it Sparks.

12. How to Create an Outer Glow to Your Flaming Text

Step 1

Press-hold the Option key, and click-drag the Stroke Flames Photoshop layer downwards to create a copy below the original.

Step 2

Rename the copy layer to Glow, right-click it, and choose Convert to Smart Object.

Step 3

Go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur, and set the Radius to 25.

Step 4

Change the Glow layer's Blend Mode to Hard Light and its Opacity to 25%.

13. How to Add Smoke to a Background in This Fire Photoshop Design

Step 1

Place a new smoke image on top of all layers and change its layer's Blend Mode to Screen.

Resize the image to fill one side of the document.

Step 2

Press Command-U to adjust the Hue/Saturation. Check the Colorize box, and change the Hue to 215, the Saturation to 25, and the Lightness to -83.

Keep in mind that these values are the ones used in the tutorial, but you can always tweak them to suit your work and images.

Step 3

Go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur, and set the Radius to 6. The aim here is to create a subtle foggy effect all around the text.

Step 4

Repeat the same steps to add a couple more smoke images.

Step 5

You can also add some more behind the text.

14. How to Add a Background Texture to Your Photoshop Fire Design

Step 1

Place the Fireworks0017 - Image 2 texture on top of the Solid Color layer, and change its layer's Blend Mode to Linear Dodge (Add) and its Opacity to 50%.

Transform the texture as needed to fill the background.

Step 2

If you want to get rid of any parts of the texture, click the Add layer mask icon at the bottom of the Layers panel, and make sure to select the mask's thumbnail.

Step 3

Set the Foreground Color to Black, pick the Brush Tool, and choose a soft round tip. Paint over any areas you want to erase.

15. How to Apply Final Adjustments to Have a Cool Fire Effect in Photoshop

Step 1

We're almost done with this fire Photoshop tutorial! You're basically done learning how to Photoshop fire into a picture or text.

Click the Create new fill or adjustment layer icon at the bottom of the Layers panel and choose Color Lookup.

Choose FoggyNight.3DL from the 3DLUT File menu, and change the layer's Opacity to 10%.

Step 2

Select the Flame Texture layer, and go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur and set the Radius to 3 so that the texture is not as harsh.

Congratulations! Your Fire Text Effect Is Done

In this fire effect Photoshop tutorial, we created a text work path and stroked it with flames using the Photoshop Flame filter. Then, we added flame, smoke, and spark image textures to build up the fire text effect. We also used blending options, filters, and adjustments to better blend everything together in a fiery flame text. Finally, we added the background and some finishing touches to finish off the text with fire effect.

5 Top Photoshop Flaming Text Effects and Actions From Envato Elements

Now you know how to make fire in Photoshop and how to Photoshop fire into a picture or text. But, if you want to save some time next time you want to make a flame effect Photoshop design, you need top add-ons.

If you're an avid Photoshop user, you'll love Envato Elements. The subscription-based marketplace offers you unlimited Photoshop add-ons, Photoshop flame effects, premium fonts, stock photos, and more!

Here's our selection of the best flame text effect Photoshop actions, brushes and add-ons. Try them for your next project! 

1. Creative Fire Text Effect (PSD)

Want to create cool Photoshop flaming texts in minutes? Check out this add-on. The flame Photoshop download includes a PSD file with a holographic smart object in HD (4000x2500 pixels).

This Photoshop text fire effect is easy to use, non-destructive, and well-organized in layers. You can add a sizzling touch to your texts with fire.

2. Creative Flame Text Effect (PSD)

If you like to have more variety in your Photoshop flame text design, this download includes three styles. Just like the previous one, this is a Photoshop text fire effect worth having. The result is fully editable, and it's easy to use. You'll set your audience ablaze with this awesome text with fire.

3. Toxic Flame Text Effect (PSD)

What if you're looking for different types of Photoshop flame effects? Then this one is for you. 

This cool Photoshop flame text effect replicates fire with acid chemicals for a different look. You can adjust the colors as you wish: multicolor, monotone, gradients, or more! In a matter of seconds, you'll ignite the place with your text with fire.

4. Fire Effect Photoshop Brushes (ABR)

Sometimes you just need a realistic set of fire effect Photoshop brushes. This pack is perfect for creating digital art, photo effects, overlays, and more. Try these brushes for a realistic fire text effect!

Even if you aren't sure about how to Photoshop fire into a picture or text, you can create incredible designs with this fire effect Photoshop action.

5. Fire Effect Photoshop Action (ABR, ATN)

This Photoshop flame effect action is another great addition to your collection. It's really easy to use. You just need to brush over your design where you want the flame effect and play it. You could create awesome flaming text Photoshop designs with this pack of non-destructive actions and brushes!

Explore More Photoshop Tutorials and Resources

Looking to learn more? Check out these awesome fire effect and Photoshop tutorials:

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