Step 4: Edit the Direction of the Flame

So you’ve painted all the flames that are scorching Mike Ant on his run cycle. But do they look convincing? Do they look natural? Not really, if you ask me. Usually a flame will change color at the edges, not just in a straight line from the source.

In this step, you will use the Edit Texture tool to change the position and length of the flame gradient.

To edit the flame in the painted zone:

1. Select the Edit Texture tool from the Drawing Tools toolbar.

2. With the Edit Texture tool, click the flame gradient in one of the Mike Ant drawings. The Edit Gradient frame appears.

3. Grab the handles to rotate the gradient or change its length. You want to create an effect that looks more natural, so experiment with the Edit Texture tool.

For ideas about how to create a flame effect that changes as Mike runs, check out the Painting_Final animation set to see how the gradient looks in each frame.