Trick Photoshop

Step 1 : I will be using this free stock image, which you can download here.  It has been taken from http://www.deviantart.com/#

You will also have to download some flame and smoke brushes. You will find them here, here and here. You can also find other brushes too.

Step 2 : Press CTRL+J to duplicate the Background. Then press CTRL+L to bring up the Levels dialogue box. I have dragged the Black slider at the left to 70 to darken the image. Click OK.

This is how the Layers palette looks like after duplicating the Background layer.

The image has darkened after applying the Levels.

Step 3 : In the Layers palette click the New Layers icon and  a new Layer 2 forms.

Step 4 : Make sure that the Foreground Color is set to Black and Background to White, which is the default settings. If it is not press 'x' and then 'd' on your keyboard.

Step 5 : Press CTRL+Backspace. Layer 1 fills with Black. Your image is also filled with Black.

Step 6 : Go to Layer>Layer Mask>Hide All.

Step 7 : Look in the Layers palette. You will find a Black Layer Mask forming beside the layer thumbnail on Layer 2.

The photo also becomes visible.

Step 8 : Click the small bent arrow (green arrow) over the Foreground/Background Colors to switch them.

Make the Foreground White.

Step 9 : Click the Brush Tool.

Step 10 : Click where the green arrow points in the top panel to open the Brushes dialogue box. Set the Hardness to 0 and Master Diameter suitably. I am using a very high resolution photo and am setting it at 300px. But you may need to increase and decrease the size of the Brush as you paint. To increase the size of the brush tip press ] (right bracket) and to make it small [ (left bracket). This a shortcut you should remember.

Step 11 : I have used the Brush to paint out the Background.

Step 12 : Click the New Layer icon in the Layers palette and a new  Layer 3 forms.We will now begin to add the flames and smoke.

The last tool clicked was the Brush. It is therefore still selected.

Step 13 : Look at the top panel at right. You will find this icon. Click it.

Step 14 : When the Brush dialogue box open click the tiny black arrow that the red arrow points to.

Step 15 : As soon as you click the Brushes available in Photoshop are displayed. I have some extra brushes that I have downloaded. I am first going to use a Smoke Brush.

This is the Brush I will use.

Step 16 : As soon as you click on any Brush this dialogue box opens. Click OK.

Step 17 : This dialogue box opens. I have clicked on a Brush (red arrow), then clicked on Brush Tip Shape (gr arrow). Lastly drag the Spacing slider (mauve arrow) t the right till the brush tip separates as shown just below it.

Step 18 : I have clicked thrice with the Brush in the open palms.

Step 19 : I have zoomed into the image. Look at the arrows. The flat bottom of the smoke does not look correct.

Step 20 : Click the Add Layer Mask button (mauve arrow) and a Layer Mask forms next to the layer thumbnail on Layer 3. Unlike the other Layer Mask on the Layer 2, this Layer Mask is White.

Step 21 : Switch the Foreground Color to Black.

Step 22 : Click the Brush Tool.

Step 23 : Click the Brush icon in the top panel.

Step 24 : Click the tiny arrow the red arrow points to.

Step 25 : The Brushes available opens again. You will find Reset Brushes. Click it.

Step 26 : This dialogue box pops up. Click OK.

Step 27 : The Brushes palette has been reset. Click the double arrows at the top to make the palette go away.

Step 28 : Use the Brush to paint away the flat edges of the smoke where the arrow points to. Should you make a mistake and wipe away a bit more than you wanted, change the Foreground Color to White and paint it back.

This is how the image looks so far after zooming back.

Step 29 : Click the New Layer icon and a new Layer 4 forms.

Step 30 : Click the Foreground Color. The Color Picker opens. The column of color in the middle is the Spectrum. There a pair of tiny white sliders at the bottom. You can drag the sliders up or down to change the color in the preview pane at the left. Here I have not dragged the sliders. I have just clicked on a shade of Red. Click OK in the Color Picker.

The Foreground Color changes to the Color picked.

Step 31 : Click the Brush Tool.

Step 32 : Click on the Brush icon in the top panel to bring up the Brushes dialogue box. Then click the tiny black arrow at the top right to bring up the Brushes.

Step 33 : When the Brushes open, I have clicked on this Brush.

Step 34 : I have clicked on Brush 2000, then the Brush Tip Shape and lastly dragged the Spacing slider  to the right to separate the brush tip.

This is how the image after I have made the Brush large and clicked twice at the bottom.

Step 35 : Change the Foreground Color to Yellow as in Step 30.

Step 36 : Click the New Layer icon and a new Layer 5 forms.

Step 37 : I have clicked twice with a large brush tip at the bottom. This is the secret. Get as many smoke and flame/fire brushes. Make a new layer for each brush. Change the Foreground Color before clicking with the Brush, till you are satisfied with your effect.

And this is how my finished flame effect looks like.

Other Photoshop tutorials are here.