Messages

1

General / Re: Object oriented implementation of instances within PI?????

« on: 2013 January 27 23:21:20 »

For the Dynamic Crop tool, save the instance for the tool after you have set the crop for the first image but BEFORE you execute the first crop. Then execute and close the DC dialog and use the saved instance on any other images and it will work. Should you forget to save the instance before the first crop,  all is not lost. Just open the History Explorer for the cropped image and the Dynamic Crop executed on that image is listed. You can double click on it to open it, or drag it to the desk top to create a new instance, or drag it directly to an image to execute it on that image. Give it a try.

For me, familiarity with PI's user interface breeds lots of pleasure.

Steve

2

Gallery / Re: Ngc 253 From a PI newbie

« on: 2012 December 31 22:32:00 »

Hi Sal and welcome to the world of PI. Very nice first PI image, look forward to many more.

Steve

3

Gallery / Re: NGC 925

« on: 2012 December 22 23:39:59 »

Hi Andy,

Great to see an image from you, finally getting some time on your new CDK. It's a fine image, well done.

Steve

4

General / Re: CCDStack 2 DeBloom Images Will Not Calibrate in Pixinsight

« on: 2012 December 22 20:42:13 »

Hi Don and welcome to the forum. I believe this is an issue discussed in the past. See if this post from Juan helps:

http://pixinsight.com/forum/index.php?topic=4408.msg30888#msg30888

Steve

5

Tutorials and Processing Examples / Re: PixelMath Video Tutorial

« on: 2012 December 22 17:02:41 »

Gerald,

Thanks for that terrific PM tutorial. Your English is perfect. Hopefully we'll all be treated to many more.

Have a great Holiday season.

Steve

6

Announcements / Re: APOD of 31 Oct is for Stephen Leshin

« on: 2012 November 01 20:28:40 »

Dave, Harry, Steve, and Sean, thanks for your kind and encouraging comments.

Steve

7

Announcements / Re: APOD of 31 Oct is for Stephen Leshin

« on: 2012 October 31 16:31:49 »

Thanks Geert and Carlos.

Steve

8

General / Re: M27 - Deconvolution Issues

« on: 2012 October 30 18:24:55 »

In my experience, to control ringing you always need to lower the default  Global Dark setting. Try 0.03 or 0.04.

Steve

9

Announcements / Re: APOD For Carlos Milovic Oct 29

« on: 2012 October 30 18:03:14 »

Not only Carlos' beautiful image yesterday but today's is from Vicent and Jack Harvey. So, PI users are on a role. Congrats to all.

Steve

10

General / Re: Streak: What and why is this here?

« on: 2012 October 29 16:01:32 »

Hi Terry,

If the streak is in all the subs then it won't reject because in each sub all  the pixels that define the streak are bright and therefore no matter how many pixels are identified as outliers by the rejection algorithm, the remaining pixels are bright and the streak persists. This, of course, is different than an airplane trail, for example, where the bright pixel that defines the trail is in only one frame and is easily identified as an outlier and rejected.

I have seen similar steaks that have turned out to be do to a bright star just outside the field of view and positioned such that it caused a reflection. For me it happens very rarely and is a fluke of positioning that somehow presents bright enough light at a place where a reflection can occur. The star doesn't have to be extremely bright. I have had this with an eight mag star that was in the one position for my image train where a reflection was possible.  You can look in your planetarium program with your camera icon in place and see if there is a bright star adjacent to the field in line with the reflection. You can then get rid of the streak by rotating the camera and using a different guide star. If the streak is gone with repositioning then clearly a bright adjacent star was the problem.

Steve

11

General / Re: Processing Hubble Legacy Archive images

« on: 2012 October 08 23:37:07 »

Marek,

If you have access to back issues of Sky and Telescope, the July 2012 issue includes an article by Robert Gendler on "Processing your own Hubble Images".  A very nice summary article to help one get started with the HLA.

Steve

12

Workshops and Conferences / Re: AIC 2012

« on: 2012 July 18 16:37:37 »

Great news Ron. You are a gifted communicator and educator. Look forward to the workshop.

Steve

13

Workshops and Conferences / Re: AIC 2012

« on: 2012 July 05 15:11:31 »

Rogelio, I'm very disappointed that you won't be able to make it. I was really looking forward to seeing you and attending your workshop. I hope your family matters are resolved happily.

Steve

14

Wish List / Re: Bloom Removal

« on: 2012 June 26 22:21:48 »

In Section 2, he describes a new technique for integration of images that works in a multiscale fashion. The method described in this article will be implemented as a script in PixInsight, hopefully during this Summer, but it isn't difficult to implement manually. It is a nice solution for rejection of residual artifacts that are nearly impossible to remove using standard pixel rejection techniques without degrading the signal unacceptably. As Vicent says in the article, the key concept here is rejection of outlier structures, as opposed to rejection of outlier pixels.

Juan and Vicent,

I am currently processing an image and find that there is some residual of a dust shadow in the integrated master Luminance. I have good flats and the dust donut in question is in the flat but when blinking the calibrated individual Lum subs, one can see in many of the frames some, albeit minimal, residual of the dust shadow. Not all that obvious in any one frame but with integration, the dust shadow is obvious. I re-read Vicent's NGC 6914 processing example and in section 2 he does discuss removing such an artifact with a multiscale  image integration process. I'm afraid the description of the technique is not detailed enough for an old f#@t like me to follow and re-produce. Could you please provide a detail step by step description of the process so I might give it a try on this image. Juan, one of your fantastic mini tutorials would be perfect.

Steve

15

General / Re: A Radical Suggestion - Charge for Next Major PI Update

« on: 2012 June 15 16:50:22 »

I agree. The modest cost of software pales in comparison to what we all pay for our scopes, mounts, computers, etc. PI is a bargain to begin with and considering all the benefits we all get by having the developers active and available on the forums, the continuing development and improvement in the program all provided free, I think paying for the next major upgrade is appropriate. So, I hardily support Sean's suggestion.

Steve