This pic:

http://www.renderosity.com/mod/gallery/index.php?image_id=1778138&user_id=7541&np&np

I made using an Alpha plane for the fire, with a light source near it, custom set up so it would work right (lot of tweaks need done ot get lights to work best at times)

The flames used a "fire" .psd I'd bought, think from Rendo store ages ago, one of a pack of many fire images with transparency,needed to tweak it though as the transparency wasn't set right (can be done in Photoshop, or using a filter in Vue itself to boost the clipping of the transparency)

I made a custom material for the sword to make it look "molten" on the edges

a mixed material, using original sword blade (which I'd tweaked anyway as I usually do wiith Poser imports)

then, I made a UV map of the sword blade, taking that, I made a mask for driving the distribution function of the Mixed Material, so the edge would have the firey material I made.
I.E, the mask was a black and white image, black being the parts of the blade I wished ot be molten.

:)

 

Also, you can use Wabe's "Fire Bugs" which is an ecosystem fire effect, or Monsoon's "Fire" pack, both of which I have and are excellent :)

it all depends on what you wish to ACHIEVE, as "fire" can be many things. I've also made fire in postwork, using plugins in Photoshop

Eye Candy has a fire filter, I have a free version of 3.1 but can't remember if it's on that, but I bought Textures, Nature and..oh forget name of other pack they have, "Fire" is in one of them...alas my art PC is dead so I can't check, sigh

Alternatively you can try "Particle Illusion", again I have it and it's VERY damn good :)

AND, you could make such fire effects using Photoshop or Particle Illusion, as a .psd or .png or .tif, and import into Vue as alpha planes! ;)

There's also a "fire" video in the tutirials of Vue, or was, that I've often used as well on a "billboard".

My work though is usually "stlyistic", not "photorealism". Can't explain it easily but I'm less concerned with 100% realism, mroe about "looking good for my taste/style"

My first attempt at fire in 3D, 10 years?? ago or so in Bryce, using a custom bryce material I made
http://www.silverblades-suitcase.com/artofadreamer/3d/orcsfortfireball.jpg

Few years later, made this in postwork, Paint Shop Pro and a "photoshop" plugin, then used hand painting etc to work it, I painted in the ogre's skirt and cloak, fyi ;) lol barley knew how ot work Poser back then

http://www.silverblades-suitcase.com/artofadreamer/3d/ogre1.jpg

Bit later, this fire elemental is again a custom bryce material

http://www.silverblades-suitcase.com/artofadreamer/3d_2/redorious3.jpg

First fiery material I made in Vue

http://www.silverblades-suitcase.com/vue1/the_duel1a.jpg

First "proper" fire I did in Vue, using alpha plane:

http://www.silverblades-suitcase.com/vue1/alfred_6.jpg
http://www.silverblades-suitcase.com/vue1/alfred_hdr1.jpg

Suign a "fire" mat in Bryce years ago, I changed it to make plasma...I dod the sma ein Vue, now for , scifi and fantasy effects

http://www.silverblades-suitcase.com/artofadreamer/3d/mech2_large.jpg

Cue cene with plasma

http://www.silverblades-suitcase.com/vue1/gunwing6.jpg

this isn't fire but is shown as examples, but using Brushes photoshop and Layer Styles/effects you cna make fiery/smoke effects

http://www.silverblades-suitcase.com/fantasy_2009/call_of_yeenoghu.jpg
http://www.silverblades-suitcase.com/fantasy_2010/forest_war_goblin_shaman2.jpg

 

Voronoi functions cna be used ot make nice fire

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