Fire Suggestions

I need advice about creating/photographing fire for a studio shot I'm setting up. I thought about using alcohol as the fuel, but I think that will produce more of a blue flame if I remember my high school science correctly.

I really need an orange flame like the kind you get in a fireplace or a candle. However, I would like to a) be able to change the shape of the flame's footprint (the shape of the burning area), b) not see anything but flame (i.e. not have a wick, a piece of wood, etc. in the way) The ideal scenario would be to have a liquid/gel that I could spread in a particular shape on a piece of glass (lying horizontally) and then ignite the flame when I'm ready to shoot.

Does anyone know what I could use as a fuel that would produce this effect?

Many thanks.

I have no idea, but i'll research it a bit and try to find out. What a cool idea.


Erika

Charcoal starter will give a nice orange flame. I used a flame as a logo many years ago and had a heck of a time getting it right. The biggest problem I had was that it was easy to get too much heat generated making a "vortex" effect and the shape of the flame wanted to be a column. What I ended up doing was to soak a piece of cotton rope in the starter fluid (kerosene will work also) (gasoline is way too dangerous) and then laid it out in a straight line. Shot from a low angle the rope was not visible but the flame appears to be a "wall".
If I remember correctly, I used a 1/10th sec shutter speed @ f/22.
This was with 4X5 format.
Have fun....