Hi Vonskyfury,
Yes, you need to edit the config files in the font folders to activate/modify the special blade effects flame, unstable and rain. The effects are font specific.
If you are using a Windows computer you can make the edits in a simple text editor like wordpad or notepad.
Before you make any changes to any of your files, I HIGHLY recommend that you backup your default files so you can restore your saber to factory settings.
If you need help enabling the effects, let me know.