Hi all I’ve obly been using pixinsight for 6 months but I’ve really found a difference in my images, live it ! I’ve written down the process I use at the moment so if anyone could comment am I doing anything wrong (especially in the calibration stage). Any comments from you experienced guys would be very appreciated!
Process – Image integration
Add all bias frames, ignore format hints
Combination = average, Normalization = no normalization
Weights = don’t care, Scale estimator = meridian absolute deviation
Uncheck evaluate noise
Pixel rejection 1 = sigma clipping (no normalization)
Pixel rejection 2 = sigma low 3 sigma high 3
Execute and save master bias when complete (XISF or FITS)
Process – Image integration
Add all dark frames, Use the same settings as bias frames
Execute and save master dark when complete (XISF or FITS)
Process – Image calibration
Add all flat frames, ignore format hints
Specify output directory (create new folder for calibrated flat frames)
Output extension = .FIT Postfix = _c
Select master bias (uncheck calibrate)
Select master dark (check calibrate plus optimize)
Uncheck master flat, Execute
Process – Image integration
Press reset parameters (bottom right)
Add all calibrated flats _c
Combination = average, Normalization = multiplicative
Weights = don’t care, Scale estimator = (ignore) Interactive k-sigma biweight mid
Uncheck evaluate noise
Pixel rejection 1 = Sigma clipping – Normalization = Equalize fluxes
Pixel rejection 2 = sigma low 3 sigma high 3
Execute and save master flat when complete (XISF or FITS)
Process – Image calibration
Add all light frames, Keep the same settings as before but add master flat (don’t hit calibrate under master flat)
Process – Image registration – Star alignment
Select reference image “file”
Add all calibrated light frames, Change output directory
Execute and save as _r for registrar
Process – Image integration
Add registrar light frames _r Hit reset settings for standard settings
Combination = average, Normalization = additive with scaling
Weight = noise evaluation, Evaluate noise checked
Pixel rejection 1 = sigma clipping (normalization = scale + zero offset)
Pixel rejection 2 = sigma low 3 sigma high 3
Execute and save as integrated light
Process – Geometry – Dynamic crop
Click image first, click reset, move box to cover image, execute
Process – Background modelization – Automatic background extraction
Target image correction = subtraction Execute
Click on new preview mode and click on a dark area of the image creating a box (preview)
Process – Colour calibration – Colour calibration
Press reset, White reference – reference image = target image, Background reference = preview 1
Apply this and save as colour calibrated image
Press F12 and remove stretch
Process – Intensity transformation – Histogram transformation
Click real time preview, ensure 16 bit 64k
Middle slider to left and left slider slightly right trying to keep clipped pixels low, Apply and save as Histogram
Bottom left hand corner “zoom 1:1”
Click extract CIE L* component
Process – Intensity transformation – Invert
Click on tab and release on image, minimize mask keeping for later
(Remember white reveals, black conceals)
Click on icon “spying glass” to see image in real terms
Create new preview – encircle object (galaxy etc etc)
Process – Noise reduction – TGV denoise
Move edge protection until happy with details, Strength 5 ? Edge protection 3 ? Smoothness 2?
Click on image and apply, Save as TGV denoise
Remove mask
Process – Mask generation – Range selection
Preview, Click and drag, Lower limit – 0.240000 ? Smoothness – 75.5 ?
Close range selection , Apply mask to image
Preview – Process convolution – Unsharp mask
Open real time preview, click and drag middle slider until desired change
You can toggle on/off real time preview to see the difference
Apply to image and minimize mask
Process – Intensity transformation – Curves transformation
In “RGB/K” click two points of the curves line to tap down and move as desired
In “S” for colour transform move cursor to desired level and click apply
