We are going to make some homemade candles sig tags. I made them with DIP10, but if you know your program you can do them with any version of DIP/PI. Here is what we are going to make

You want to start with a 200x200 new project. You do this by clicking FILE/NEW. Then going to FORMAT/RESIZE CANVAS, and type in 200 in both boxes

Now go to INSERT/SHAPE, choose the circle (you can make any shape candle you want).

You want to take the border off by clicking

Then choose

At this time, you need to make your candle (circle) as big as you want it, because once you add the color, if you make it bigger it will become blurred. You need room at the top for the flame animation and if you want something at the bottom, then leave room. You can move it around later, but not make it bigger. To reize it now, just grab one of the corners... usually the lower righthand one, then click and drag. Once you have it the size you want it, we will add gradient color. Go to EFFECTS/FILL WITH TEXTURE OR COLOR, choose

I find this filter gives a more shaded look

When applied should look like this

You want to click CTRL+d and duplicate your gradient circle and squash it upward

to make your top hole of your candle. You will also need to push the sides toward the middle, to make it sit on top of your first circle.

Now I want to recolor my candle...the yellow orange is quite eye blazing...LOL! I find in DIP10, the easiest way to do this is to change both the top hole and base part to sepia, you can do this by clicking on each one and going to EFFECTS/FILTERS in the small list of filters here, you will see SEPIA you can click that or you can click ALL FILTERS and find this

Now my candle looks pretty blah...LOL!

Now go to TOUCHUP/COLOR & SATURATION, and I play with the levers till I find a color I like. I haven't really gotten control of these yet, so no secrets for getting a nice color (actually this new lever system is the only part of DIP10 I dont care for). This is what I have

And this is what it looks like.

Now for the flame. I INSERT another circle

And squash it

Remove the border, like before and then fill with gradient

Place your frame on your candle. I put it about half way in the candle

Make sure you select the flame and now I go to EFFECTS/TRANSPARENCY/TRANSPARENCY BRUSH and I choose these settings

And I erase the bottom part of the flame

I want the hole on my candle darker so I choose that part and go to TOUCHUP/EXPOSURE & LIGHTING and choose these settings

Now you can add your name or text as you like, decorating it as you like, choosing the font you like. I do find that since my candles are all small, that you may have to resize your text smaller that it will allow in the drop down menu, so what you do is choose your font and text, click CTRL+d and make a copy, now click on the first layer click and hold CTRL and click the 2nd layer and lock the lock at the bottom of your text in the work area. Now you can use the sizer balls to resize it down. And you can then unlock the layers, and delete the duplicate and then change it text any way you like!

I add some catus flowers I took photos of and add them around the bottom of my candle, you can use anything you want or leave it plain

Now to animate the flame. Stop now and click FILE/SAVE AS and name your candle c1, this will be your first frame. Click on the flame and go to EFFECST/DISTORT and choose this fliter

Again click FILE/SAVE AS and name it c2. Click UNDO

Again you want to click

But change the number to 20. Save and name c3. Click UNDO, and go back in this time moving the lever to the -40

Save, name c4, click undo and once more go in and change the number to -20

Save, name c5. Now close all your open projects. And you want to click FILE/OPEN and find your frames, open them all in order. Go to TOOLS/FLIPBOOK on your top toolbar. The first 2 options click NEXT, you don't need to change anything. Then you will see the sizes, click CUSTOM and type in 200 in the first box

Click next, now choose your speed, I like

Finally click next and see what your candle animation looks like!

Here are some others I made using this type of method!