I've been tinkering with this effect for about a week now and it's getting close to where I want it. The fire effect started as a particle layer. I then rendered the fire (quicktime/png/millions color+). I then delete the particle layer and import the fire movie. In the image tab of the mov. layer, I check the loop movie option and the playback frame rate to 1/2 of the original rate. This makes the flames move slower and look better. I duplicated the mov. layer 2 more times and used layer rotate,translate, and scale to very the different layers. I also used the sequencer to shift the 3 layers to different spots in the playback( remember loop movie option is on so they will all play at the same time but at different spots in the movie). I rendered this again same setting as before. Now I have my fire sequence which I applied to my scene and added a smoke movie I made the same way as the flame. I really like working with these movie layers like this way. I now have re-usable fire and smoke movies that can be layered like this or even rigged with bones for more variety. The initial rendering of the particle layer takes the longest but after that it' much quicker when you use the movies.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDg_uyvoipc
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