Can't resist ... if not one more random flame in the program need my Apop fix somehows. :oP

Ok then ... most apropriate title and flame.

Good dimensionality, and if I may ... your reply ... wait, did this before ... *turns up contrast/brightness settings on monitor*


Hmmm, got it ... great lighting on your abstract here. And a bit of a segue for me to some thoughts if you don't mind ...

Offset placement ... add in some text ... and you got a nice greeting card/wallpaper.

A good rendition of a Poinsettia. Nice eye to have seen this and/or finished the flame this way. Interesting spiral too as it elevates ... never saw that before. (Just getting into the 3D hack version off and on here.)

Going to throw this out at you too ... more as an experiment as I am unsure of the resulting effect. My experience has been that in adding a low value of 'Rectangles' ... in the neighbourhood of .005 + or - a bit ... to the second transform? I can't quite recall ... will help delineate your flame to a degree.

Plus, once you do recognize which flames it works with ... well, here ya go. A tutorial by nestalgica from deviant art. Pretty basic, still good though.

http://nestalgica.deviantart.com/art/Using-Rectangle-and-Curl-47813401

Are you rendering larger ... doing your post work and then resizing for posting/uploading? Another way to preserve/enhance/delineate your flame somewhat more.

Ok, you got a book to read here. :oP

And hey ... Merry Christmas to you and yours as well. Nice contribution methinks. A few more tweaks? Perhaps?

As always ... just some thoughts.

Good work Shawn.

Interesting color choice. I like the spiral, but the back parts are too dark for my tastes. Reminds me more of feathers than a poinsettia. Better than average.

Poinsettia? What poinsettia? I like the spiral effect; like Pistos, I think there is too much of the dark background.

I think it should be cropped in from the left and a little from the top as well.
It has a beautiful range of tones, but they need to be seen. A touch of contrast and significant +Gamma adjustment does a great job with this. You'll be amazed at the abundance of soft tones in the central image. I"ll send you a copy.