BoltBait's Render Flames Effect

BoltBait's Render Flames Effect is a Paint.net add-on you can use to apply a flaming effect to entire images or selected parts only. It can make the filter black and white, giving you the possibility to tinker with a couple of settings. The extension caters not only to skilled Paint.net users, but also beginners.

How to set up and use

To get this plugin up and running, you just have to download the DLL file and copy it to the installed directory of Paint.net, in the "Effects" subfolder. This works even if you have a portable version of the tool lying around on the computer or a USB flash drive.
In the following step, you can load an image, optionally make a selection, and access the new extension from the "Render" submenu of the "Effects" menu. It's accompanied by a small icon that looks like the piece of a puzzle, which acts as an indicator for all external add-ons.

Apply flames and customize preferences

To get better results, you can draw a gradient from black to white prior to using BoltBait's Render Flames Effect. It's possible to tweak the filter's scale and roughness by moving a couple of sliders, entering the numerical values in the dialog boxes, or increasing or decreasing this number by clicking on two arrow buttons.
The photo with the flames can be converted to black and white. Moreover, you can randomize the effect. Worth noting is that the image can be previewed while making the changes.

Evaluation and conclusion

Although no recent updates have been made to BoltBait's Render Flames Effect, it integrated with the newest edition of Paint.net without any issues in our tests. The graphic editing application remained stable throughout its runtime, without indicating any errors.