Used 3 programs.
Inkscape->AI->GIMP combo work
Hope, I won't get bashed for using AI.
Left side of the image made with tutorial.
Lately I made a lot of stuff like this, some with tutorials, but mostly without.
It just didn't feel right to post them here. No GIMP filters involved, only 'handwork', if I may say so.

They are excellent. I love the way you did that smoke.

k1tesseraena: that's very nice work and i think many people here on gc post things made with other software as well. what does the chinese signature stand for - phonetically closest equivalent of "k1tesseraena" or something else?

Thanks molly, Anmal!
Those are Japanese for K1te, if I wasn't fooled. But I have a real sumi-e seal with my real name on it. Sumi-e used to be my hobby. Still do some stuff when I get inspiration and don't mind to get ink all over my hands. BTW, always used homemade inks, rice paper and natural brushes. For me it's really easy to get obsessed when it comes to Oriental Culture.

the matches were made in Inkscape as well as the lower part of flame, upper part of the flame and smoke with gradient mesh in AI. Smoke on the burnt match is actually gimp smoke brush. Also added some noise and blur in GIMP.

Ohhh K1TesseraEna did you use IA (Joke)

Great!
Fantastic! Nice visual

Really nice work.

Beautiful work. The smoke is excellent.

k1tesseraena: oh, it's japanese and not chinese . i just assumed chinese because i have a jade stamp with my name in chinese and it looks much like your signature.

Thank you, Akros, he4rty, Erisian!



H-mmm... maybe we share the same real names, AnMal?

really impressive K1te !
i guess you made the smoke and all of that again on your own, like you did with the reflection of the looking glass ?
i really adore your skill



and btw, same name as AnMal ? i thought you are a man.... (now i feel like a sexist)

Thank you, Esper!
Not all of that, left match is made with tutorial with some deviations on my own, right match is my 'work'.




No, I was just kidding. You thought right.

k1tesseraena: i was referring to the general character of the signs and stamp - i really don't think my name would suit you. (in fact it doesn't suit anyone, not even me, but that's another matter.)