Gradient Meshes to Make a Burning Vector Match (Part 4)

 

4. Creating Vector Smoke

Step 1

Fire and smoke go hand in hand; thus, let's add some smoke. Make a new layer and lock the previous one. Make a rectangle out of black using the Rectangle Tool (M). Make Screen the Blend Mode for it.

Step 2

A Gradient Mesh with 2 Rows and 3 Columns should be created while keeping the rectangle chosen.

Step 3

Put the color #7ba9ca on the two bottom points.

Step 4

The rectangle must now be bent into the form of a smoke stream. After positioning the rectangle near the flame, use the Lasso Tool (Q) to select each node in the grid on the right.

Step 5

Set the center rotation of the Rotate Tool (R) in the center of the left side. The rectangle will then be bent by rotating the selection.

Step 6

Now choose the shape's right side.

Step 7

Put the rotation's center at this location to bend this choice:

Step 8

Additionally, to have more control over the final shape, you can move certain nodes using the Direct Selection Tool (A).

Step 9

Place the smoke layer underneath every other layer. Use the same method to produce a couple more jets of smoke. Feel free to utilize a variety of blue hues. To see the smoke more clearly, you can also conceal the flame layers.