Create a Burning Vector Match Using Gradient Meshes

Final product image — What You’ll Be Creating

If you
want to create vector flames in Illustrator, in this tutorial I will
show you how to create an illustration of a burning match using a
fire gradient. You’ll learn how to make a realistic match flame
that is also fully scalable.

And if you need some vector flames, but you want to save time, you can always download these realistic vector fire graphics from Envato Elements:

fire graphic vector

What You’ll Learn in This Vector Flames Illustrator Tutorial

How to create a burning match in Illustrator
How to create a vector fire graphic
How to create a fire gradient mesh
How to create vector flames in Illustrator

Follow along with us over on our Envato Tuts+ YouTube channel:

1. How to Create a Vector Matchstick

Step 1

Create a new document in the RGB color mode. Take the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a black rectangle. This will be our background. Lock this layer.

draw black rectangle

Step 2

Create a New Layer. Take the Rectangle Tool (M) again and draw a rectangle in the shape of a matchstick. Now fill it with a linear gradient of various shades of brown to convey the light distribution at the edges of the match. Here are the shades I used:

#482217
#efd195
#994521

add brown gradient

create gradient match stick

Step 3

Copy this rectangle and paste it in front with Control-F. Now slightly reduce the height of the rectangle and fill it with a new linear gradient. The shades of brown on this rectangle should be darker than the ones on the bottom rectangle. Here are the values I used:

#310901
#996148
#782803

add another gradient

brown gradient applied

Step 4

Select both rectangles and go to Object > Blend > Make. Then go to Object > Blend > Blend Options and set the Spacing to Specified Steps, 50.

create blend transition

blend two gradients

Step 5

Create another rectangle of the same width as the previous one. Add a Gradient Fill as shown here. The values I used are:

#340900
#984420
#792702

create another gradient

gradient result

Step 6

Set the Opacity to 0%.

set opacity to 0

Step 7

Copy the rectangle and paste it in front (Control-F). Then resize it to make it very thin, and set its Opacity back to 100%.

make the rectangle thinner

Step 8

Select the last two rectangles and go to Object > Blend > Make.

blend the rectangles

2. How to Create a Vector Match Head

Step 1

Take the Ellipse Tool (L) and create a red circle (#e20612) aligned to the horizontal axis of the matchstick.

draw red circle

Step 2

Take the Direct Selection Tool (A) and double-click the point on the left. Hold Shift an drag it to the left. Then take the Pen Tool (P) and add a new anchor point at each intersection of the head and the matchstick.

reshape the circle

Step 3

Hold Alt and click both new anchor points to cut their handles. Then take the Direct Selection Tool (A) and drag the point between them towards the head.

add anchor points

pull the anchor point back

Step 4

Fill the match head with a radial gradient that goes from dark brown to its light shades. Here are the shades I used:

#210900
#994521
#f1ce94

add new gradient

add graient to match head

Step 5

Copy and paste the shape of the head to the back with Control-B. Fill the copy with a solid dark-brown color (#340900) and shift it slightly to the left.

add shadow to match head

Step 6

Take the Pen Tool (P) and create a place where the wood is burnt. Fill these areas with a linear gradient composed of dark shades of brown color. Here are my shades:

#492117
#240700

Move these two objects below the match head layers.

add brurned wood effect

Step 7

Time to create pores on the match head. Take the Ellipse Tool (L) and draw an ellipse. Take the Eyedropper Tool (I) and hold Shift to pick the color from the area to the right.

add a small ellipse

Step 8

Copy and paste the ellipse in front (Control-F), reduce its size, and fill it with a solid dark brown (the same as the shadow under the match head).

copy the ellipse

Step 9

Use this technique to create more pores on the match head.

create pores in match head

3. How to Create a Vector Match Flame

Step 1

Now I’ll show you how to create the match flame. Lock this layer and create a new one. Drag it under the previous layer. Take the Ellipse Tool (L) and draw a big red circle (#e20612). Using the Direct Selection Tool (A), pull the top anchor point up.

create flame shape

Step 2

Select the shape of the flame, and go to Object > Create Gradient Mesh. Set the number of rows and columns in the dialog box.

create gradient mesh

Step 3

Use the Direct Selection Tool (A) to distort the grid a little. Every flame is different, so you don’t have to copy me directly.

warp the gradient mesh

Step 4

Select the gradient mesh with the Selection Tool (V) and fill it with black. Set its Blend Mode to Screen.

change blend mode to screen

Step 5

Now you can color the flame. Select the grid nodes and apply yellow and red colors to them. Nodes that lie beyond the borders of the gradient mesh should remain black, otherwise we would get the sharp edges of the flame, which looks wrong.

Here are the colors I used for the flame:

#fff38d
#d14507

add colors to gradient mesh

Step 6

Lock this layer and create a new one on top. Take the Pen Tool (P) and draw a similar shape. Turn it into a Gradient Mesh with 4 Rows and Columns, and add colors to it with the same technique. The colors I used are:

#faeda7
#d7651e
#e78c43

draw fire shape

add gradient mesh

color the flame with gradient mesh

Step 7

Set its Blend Mode to Screen.

change blend mode

Step 8

Now create two more feathers of the flame with the same technique of creating a fire gradient.

create new flame shape

add colors to new flame shape

duplicate the flame

flame finished

4. How to Create Vector Smoke

Step 1

There is no smoke without fire, and vice versa, so let’s add some smoke. Lock the previous layer and create a new one. Take the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a rectangle filled with black. Set its Blend Mode to Screen.

draw black rectangle

Step 2

Keep the rectangle selected, and create a Gradient Mesh with 2 Rows and 3 Columns.

create gradient mesh

Step 3

Make the two bottom points blue (#7ba9ca).

add blue points

Step 4

Now we need to bend the rectangle shape into the shape of a smoke stream. Place the rectangle close to the flame, and then take the Lasso Tool (Q) and select all the nodes of the grid on the right.

select part of the mesh

Step 5

Take the Rotate Tool (R) and set the center rotation at the middle point of the left side. Then rotate the selection to bend the rectangle.

rotate the mesh to bend it

Step 6

Select the right half of the shape now.

select half of the mesh

Step 7

Bend this selection by placing the center of the rotation in this spot:

rotate the mesh again

Step 8

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

bend the mesh

Step 9

Move the smoke layer under all the other layers. Create a few more streams of smoke using the same technique. Feel free to use different shades of blue. You can also hide the flame layers to see the smoke better.

create another streak of smoke

create subtle smoke

create bent smoke

create complex smoke effect

smoke and flame

5. How to Create the Final Composition

Step 1

When working with gradients, it’s easier if an object is placed vertically or horizontally. But this composition looks pretty boring. So now unlock all the layers except the background and rotate the whole burning match for a more interesting composition. At this point, you can also resize the background to fit the composition better.

rotate all layers

Step 2

Copy the background rectangle, select the top layer, and paste it in front (Control-F). Select All (Control-A), and then go to Object > Clipping Mask > Make.

create clipping mask

Conclusion

Having mastered the techniques described in this tutorial, you can create realistic vector flames, lighters, or torches. Who knows, you might want to make a fire! And give it some heat!

vector flames illustrator

Do you want to try other tutorials about creating vector effects? Check out our recommendations: