
After a few test shots, I added the reflecting umbrella to keep the light from spilling out onto the backdrop. I found this to be the best position to illuminate the smoke without interfering with its movement. The light is positioned behind the wick, off to one side, and pointing upwards.

I have a black backdrop hung across the back wall of the room. Set the pan somewhere with a very dark background and a controllable light source. This way, any scorching that happens will be on the bottom of the pan, and won't make our cakes taste funny! Step 4 Pinch the clean end of the cotton swab in the clothespin to hold it vertically. The petroleum jelly will create a very hot flame that will be sustained for much longer than just a match. Take a cotton swab and coat one end with the petroleum jelly. A small but flameproof surface, like a metal cake pan.The materials for this project are very simple and probably already found in your house: Keep a cup of water nearby to douse the lit matches and a fire extinguisher at hand too, just in case!

The most important thing to remember during this project is safety! Open flames are dangerous, and you should take every precaution to be able to extinguish the fire if things get out of control. Create Custom Smoke Brushes in Photoshop: Creating the Smoke Effect (Part 1)
