LRGB & Ha workflow processes

[astrochaser]

Hello all,
I'm new to PixInsight using the trial for almost a week now   I have been using APT for some time now to generate my images but found a few short-comings in APT and wanted to graduate to PixInsight. So far, I like the power of what PI can do. It may be pricey, but to me, the power of this program is worth investing the money in an Astro-specific application to process astronomy images.

I have reviewed several hours of videos by PI users and PI team members so far but I am having problems pinning down specific processes to move forward with PI processing workflow. Everything I have done so far has been what I learned from the PI training videos and so far I believe I am on track. Here is where I am now.

Workflow completed to this point.

1. Blinked all my LRGBHa images (a great and quick reliable tool to weed out poor images)
2. Ran the  SubFrameSelector on all the images after setting up the parameters (love this tool)
3. Ran the script BatchProcessing to generate my bias, dark, flat and LRGBHa greyscale image file sets in their respective folders. (Powerful tool)

Now I have a folder with all my master calibration files and LRGBHa greyscale FITS images

1. What I am having trouble with is what process or batch file should I move onto to combine/integrate my greyscale RGB images?
2. When do I convert the greyscale into color and which process/batch file should I be using?
3. When/how/ and what process should I be using to add the L & Ha layers to my RGB?

Once I know the basic steps for the three questions I believe I can move forward with the rest of the workflows to bring out color, reduce noise, etc to finish the image. Combining/integrating te LRGB &Ha is where I am now and could use some guideance where to go from here. BTW, I have been trying to work this out for the past couple of days. I have reviewed videos for the OSC and how to combine them which appears to be easy but the combining of the LRGBHa in PixInsight into a composite is where I am stumped. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Richard

[pfile]

did BPP register the files? if so use ImageIntegration to integrate the _c_r.xisf files for each filter, then use ChannelCombination to create an RGB image from your 3 greyscale masters.

merging L into RGB can be done with LRGBCombination - there are a lot of resources out there talking about this tool.

Ha into LRGB is a little more involved and there are a lot of methods and a couple of scripts which can help with this. Check the NBRGBCombination script. there's also a script from the AIP group which is (i think) being distributed separately from PI now. it used to be packaged with PI but i think it needed to be updated and juan removed it rather than try to hack on it himself.

rob

[astrochaser]

Hi Rob,
Thanks for the information. It was just what I was looking for to get me over the hump.
Yes, I had a successful registration of all the files using the BPP tool  I will work with the other tools as I move forward with the process. So far, everything is looking good.
As for the AIG  SHO tool I saw another user on YouTube using it and asked where he got it and said the same as you that I'll have to go to AIG group to find it if its still available 

Richard

[pfile]

no problem, glad to help. for me the NBRGB script has been good enough to do Ha merges into R. there are also some manual ways to do it - i think Harry has a flow on harry's astro shed; i have used that before as well.

rob

[astrochaser]

Hi Rob,
Last night I ran my files through ImageIntegration for each filter as you suggested and used ChannelCombination to create the RGB image and converted them from greyscale to color. Worked great!   I went as far to do the DynamicCrop too.

After I work through the image I'll add the luminance and Ha data. All-in-all so far looking good. I'll be converting trial into purchase when my trial is up. Liking this tool a bunch!

-Richard

[macnmotion]

While my overall process has since been modified, I found the tutorials on Light Vortex Astronomy to be a great way to become familiar with workflows (for different situations) and to gain an understanding of how various processes work. Really for the first year or so I followed the routines learned there. Once I reached a point where I understood more of the underlying math and principles, I began to develop my own workflows, and can more easily modify them on the fly as the image requires. Here is the site:

http://www.lightvortexastronomy.com/tutorials.html

One note. In my workflow I use subframe selector after I calibrate my image files. I see you do it before calibration.

Andy