This tutorial was written by me and any resemblance to other tutorials is purely coincidental. PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE this tutorial from LHD PSP & Graphics without my permission. This tutorial was written exclusively for members of LHD PSP & Graphics.
~FUN WITH FILTERS - SQIRLZ WATER REFLECT~ This week we'll be playing around with the Stand Alone Filter "Sqirlz" When we say stand alone we mean that this filter doesn't get installed into your PSP program, but installed separately into your Program Files as you would any other program. You can download the filter HERE If you'd like to use my photograph you can download it HERE I have written a tutorial for you on now to use the filter if anyone needs reference. I find with this filter it's more a matter of playing with it to learn. FIRST INSTALL THE FILTER BEFORE YOU START THE TUTORIAL OPEN ANIMATION SHOP GO TO File ~ Preferences ~ File Format Associations ~ make sure you have "Video for Windows (*avi) checked.
LET'S GET STARTED 1. Open your jpg image in Sqirlz Draw a line around the area where the reflection is to appear. You do this by clicking on the "start creating outline" icon on the left toolbar. This is the red circle. See print screen below. To draw the outline click the left hand mouse at points around the area you want to reflect When you have completed doing the outline right click on your mouse and it will close in the area. I'm using a picture of my own in the sample below and you can see dashed black and white line in the picture where I've outlined the water. 
3. To view what the water movement will look like, click on the yellow arrow (Run Animation) which is found along the top tool bar. (see print screen below) When you want to stop the animation after viewing it just left click anywhere over the image and the original still image will appear. 
4. The button with the wavy blue lines lets you change the way the waves move. You will find this along the top tool bar with the icon of 3 blue wave lines (see print screen below). Click on this button then a pop up box will appear (Set reflection parameters) Play around with the different settings until you get the water moving the way you would like. You can view each different setting you have tried by by contining to hit the yellow arrow to see until you have it how you like it.
5. Once you have the reflection just as you want it, it's time to save it.
6. First you need to click on the "Period of animation" icon which you'll find along the top toolbar to the right of your "open" icon. (see print screen below). After you click on period of animation a box will appear (Animation Period). This indicates the frames per cycle. Anything from 15-30 shows nice results however 15 frames is usally the best. Anything too much higher and it will result in a large file.
6. Now you save your image as an "avi" file. You do this by clicking on the "avi" icon that is on your top toolbar (see printscreen below).
You will get the following things pop up.
First name your new file
AVI Frame Rate - 15
Fullframes...compressed". - ok
its saves it and tells you the size ..ok
7. Open up your newly saved avi file in Animation Shop
You will get the pop up as shown in the print screen below. Choose the settings I Have shown in the print screen.
8. Now resave your image as a GIF File.
MAKE SURE YOU DON'T SAVE IT AS A AVI FILE, BUT SAVE IT AS A GIF.
YOU'RE ALL DONE!!!
Here's my result
**NOTE**
If you are using an image where there are different parts to it you want a reflection you have to do a bit at a time. For example if there are 3 different parts you want to animate you have to do squirlz 3 times for the three areas. So what you are doing is outlining one section get your settings straighted for the water and save as an AVI file. Re-open in sqirlz, outline your second area, save as and AVI file, then re-open again, outline your third section then save as an avi file. Then take it into animation shop and continue.
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