Fig 1

1. Create a new image:  
    RGB,
    100% Black background,
    400x400 pixels,
    300 dpi

2. Select the Text tool
    and create the text ‘FIRE’ as an object,
    Size = 32 points,
    Colour = white,
    in a fairly thick font. ( I used Book Antiqua )

    Centre the text object 
    Object > Arrange > Align and Distribute > To Center of Document > OK 
    

Fig 2

3. Create a mask from the text Object 
    Mask > Create from Object/s or CTRL+M
    

4. Switch to Paint on Mask (POM) mode  
    Mask > Paint on Mask or CTRL+K
    
 

Fig 3

5. Apply a Gaussian Blur:  
    Effects > Blur > Gaussian

    Radius = 3
 

Fig 4

6. Apply a Wind Effect using the following parameters:  
    Effects > Distort > Wind

    Strength = 90,
    Opacity = 100,
    Angle = 90.

Fig 5

7. Repeat the Wind Effect  
    Changing Angle = 93.

8. Adjust the Levels of the mask image   
by applying a Contrast Enhancement adjustment
Image > Adjust > Contrast Enhancement

Change the

lower Input Value Clipping marker = 70

and the

upper Input Value Clipping marker = 120
 

Fig 7

9. Return from POM mode  
    uncheck Mask > Paint on Mask, or use the CTRL+K toggle

    then save this mask as a channel called ‘base’
    Mask > Save > Save As Channel

10. Create a new object  
      Object > Create > New Object, or use the icon on the Object Docker

      then drag the new object below the text object in the Object Docker.

      Make sure this new object is selected - there should be a red box
      around the thumbnail in the Object Docker.

      Rename this object ‘Real Fire’ by double-clicking
      on its name in the Object Docker.
 

Fig 8

11.  Feather the current mask:
      Mask > Mask Outline > Feather (vers 11+) or
      Mask > Shape > Feather (vers 8-10),
      Width = 16,
      Direction = Outside,
      Edges = Linear.

12. RIGHT-click on the Red colour swatch in the Palette
       to change the FILL colour to Red.

      Click on the Fill Tool  
      then left-click inside the mask to fill it with Red.

Fig 9

13. Remove the mask  
      Mask > Remove, CTRL+SHIFT+R

      then load the base mask again  
      Mask > Load > base

14. Feather the mask:  
      Width = 8,
      Direction = Outside,
      Edges = Linear.

      Right-click the Yellow colour swatch to change the fill colour to yellow
      then select the Fill Tool and fill the masked area with yellow.
 

Fig 10

15. Remove the mask and load the base mask again.

Change the fill colour to white then fill this mask with white
(this time use Edit > Fill and make sure Current Fill is selected).

Remove the mask.

Fig 11

16. Select the text in the Object Docker then double-click on the text tool to enter text edit mode.

Drag to select all of the text then left-click on the 100% black colour swatch to change the colour of the text to black.

Select the Object Picker tool  
to apply the change.
 

17. Select the ‘Real Fire’ object,
      then apply a Whirlpool Effect  
      Effects > Distort > Whirlpool

      In this dialogue, first:
      click the Reset button,
      choose the Default Style and
      change Streak Detail = 14.

18. Now save the image as a CPT file so you
       can retrieve it later for editing if you like.

      You can also Export it as a JPG or GIF.



      You could also alter it further as follows:

1. Select the text object, and duplicate it (CTRL+D)

2. With the upper text object selected, Lock the object’s Transparency (use the ... button either on the Mask/Object Toolbar or on the Object Docker.

3. From The Edit menu choose Fill, then click the Fountain Fill icon and then the Edit button in this dialogue to open the Fountain Fill dialogue.

From the drop down list of presets, choose ‘Cylinder - 22', then click OK twice to fill the upper text object with this fill.

Fig 15

4. Unlock the Object Transparency  
(this icon is a toggle for this function so just press it again to turn it off).

Select the lower text object then click the eye icon on the upper text object to render the upper text object invisible, so you can see and work with the lower text object.

5. Create a mask from the lower text object and then invert the mask .

       ,  

6. Apply a Glass Effect  
Effects > 3D Effects > Glass

using the settings shown here:

Fig 17

7. Remove the mask  
to arrive at the image here:

Fig 18

8. Now select the upper text object
    and change its Merge Mode = Hard Light.

Fig 19

1. Red Hot Metal #2:
Swap the positions of the two text objects from Step 8 then change the merge modes so that

the top (darker) object = Color Burn

the lower text object = Normal

Fig 20

2. Cooling Metal:
Swap the positions of the two text objects from Step 8, then change the merge modes so that

the top (darker) object = Texturize

and the lower (red gradient) object = Color.

Fig 21

3. Blue Fire:
Create a new object and position it directly above the background then fill it with white.

Change the merge mode of the Real Fire object (which is directly above the new white object) to Invert.

The dark text object above this has a merge mode of Normal

while the uppermost (orange gradient) text object has a merge mode of Divide.