Hi Friends,
I don't have any place to upload a formal tutorial. But I stumbled upon a couple of neat tricks, that I want to share.

This one quickly creates the look of a partially burned piece of paper. Although it may still need some tweaking, if you want it to look exactly like the real thing. Also, I don't know if someone else has maybe reported on this trick elsewhere, and if so, I don't mean to take credit away from them.

Step 1 -- Draw a sheet of paper. The dimensions aren't terribly important, although you may find skewing the rectangle slightly, to be helpful later. Change Object to Path. Here's a sample of Step 1.


Step 2 -- Effects menu > Modify Path > Fractalize. In this sample, I used Subdivisions = 8 and Smoothness = 2.6 You will have to experiment with different values, until you find a combination that gives you results you like. Note that every time you click the Live Preview checkbox, a different shape results, even if you use the exact same values each time. Sample of Step 2:


Step 3 -- Effects > Modify Path > Edge 3D. There are a number of variables in this dialog. I found satisfactory results using the default values. But there's lots of room for experimenting, if you want. Here's a sample of the finished result:

As you can see the burned effect is strongest along the left edges, while on the right, is the expected 3D effect. I'm not sure why this is, except maybe it's a result of the flatness of paper. So obviously a little more tweaking will be necessary, to have the right edges look burned as well, if that's what you want. The shape of the edges, created with the Fractalize tool, already suggests curling. But you'll probably want to add some shading and highlights, to make the paper look curled, as burned paper sometimes looks. You could even add some red along the edge, wisp of smoke, and a couple of spark-looking things, to make it look like the flame just went out!

I hope this info will be helpful
Brynn

Using the 3D effect probably isn't be best one to use for burnt paper. The fractalise tip is a great one, however. This is what I made -

I agree, the fractalise idea is great. Something I thought might help for colouring the edges is the gradient to path tutorial: http://needcoffee.deviantart.com/art/Gr ... h-78650259

You could modify that to make it paper colour at the inside fading to brown around the edges.

Oh wow, jude, thanks for posting the link to the gradient path tutorial! That technique could have SO many uses, besides abstract art, as the tut suggests. I haven't tried it yet, but I think it's going to solve a problem I'm having with shading in an image.

microUgly, how did you make the burned gradient?

Basically, draw a fully burnt peice of paper, then make a copy that is unburnt colour above the burnt one. Use inset to make the unburnt paper smaller then apply a blur so the burnt paper show around the edges. Use a clip so the blur doesn't extend past the papers edge.