Particular - Thick Smoky Edge?

Hi CC,

I've been learning Particular as much as I can in my spare time. From that, I've learned how awesome Photoshop is...Heh, go figure.

I've got a situation where I'm trying to emulate thick mysterious feathering from an "entity". It's not heavily whispy, it's more like quick wrapping flame tips but the whole thing is black, very silhouette.

I have a particular setup that is about halfway there. I've got the body smoking like they're on fire but two elements are missing:

1) the emitter stemming from the object isn't thick on the edge so there's no sense of residue or frothing from the edge

2) I need to shorten the life so that the curls coming from the emitter are short and sweet like flames.


What kind of particle recipe am I trying to put together?

I need to make my particle edge/surface thicker so it doesn't look like it's emitting from within the core of the layer and I need to tone and thicken the smoke factor.

Can anybody help point me in the right direction? I'd really appreciate any suggestions.

Thanks! :)

Attached are two images, one of the effect I'm working on, the second a primitive shape to more plainly point out the area I'm trying to increase thickness.

I have a smoke effect on the shadowy cut-out. However, I'm looking to tighten this effect and thicken it at the point of emission.

In the red primitive I've circled where I'm trying to create a thicker softer edge. Right now it's just a hard edge with pixels emitting.

Was wondering with controls I should alter to move in the direction.