Author Topic: DSLR-Raw option format Help Please  (Read 808 times)

Offline Carl O Beirnes

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DSLR-Raw option format Help Please
« on: 2019 February 04 09:31:35 »
Hi Guys,

I’ve a quick question if anyone can help me that would be fantastic. I’m very new to pixinsight but have been an astrophotoapher for several years using photoshop and other software.

Now I’m using canon 5D mark 3 and a 150 to 600mm Sport lens. So obviously I need to tell Pixinsight what censer my camera is using for everything to work properly within the software. I’ve been watching some beginner videos on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIXJJqew6rQ&t=171s

My first problem is there is no DLSR-Raw option in the format explorer dropdown menu.

So, I selected RAW /edit preferences / raw format preferences /pressed on pure raw and then hit OK.

Now anytime I open a file they are opening in grayscale. I’ve attached print screen image from my computer. I’m at a loss, the YouTube videos I’m looking at are older versions of pixinsight I’m using version 1.8.6.

I’m very sorry if this seems dumb question this software is so new to me its like starting all over again.

Clear Skies,
Carl.




Offline acmalko

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Re: DSLR-Raw option format Help Please
« Reply #1 on: 2019 February 04 09:37:59 »
Hi

As we always work with raw data at the preprocessing step (for astro work), "pure raw" is the good option and it's normal to see your pictures in grayscale.


Offline Carl O Beirnes

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Re: DSLR-Raw option format Help Please
« Reply #2 on: 2019 February 04 09:48:35 »
Hello,

Thanks very much for your reply. So when I register the lights, dark's, flats and bias and stack all the images does it return to an RGB image?

Clear Skies,

Carl.

Offline pfile

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Re: DSLR-Raw option format Help Please
« Reply #3 on: 2019 February 04 10:01:23 »
the flow for Raw DSLR images is:

calibrate -> debayer -> register -> integrate

the debayering is the step that takes you from raw (bayered CFA data) to RGB data.

rob

Offline Carl O Beirnes

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Re: DSLR-Raw option format Help Please
« Reply #4 on: 2019 February 04 10:25:47 »
Hi Rob,

Thanks very much for your reply at the moment I’m like a deer in the headlights I’ve no idea what that means 😂😂
Carl.

Offline dhb2206

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Re: DSLR-Raw option format Help Please
« Reply #5 on: 2019 February 04 13:00:34 »
Carl - I was in the same place last year. I'm much more confident now (though still a novice)! Have a search for LightVortexAstronomy. There are some good entry level tutorials on there.

Essentially your raw data comes in a format that Pixinsight can't use very well, so it needs to be converted; this is called debayering (using a one shot colour camera has the data in a colour filter array - a Bayer array, hence de-Bayer). I say "can't use very well", because it works, it is just that the results aren't very good at all. In fact, don't be disheartened when you come out beyond integration and have a green monstrosity staring back at you, this is normal! Mr Bayer again - because the sensor has two green pixels for every blue and red combination (i.e. RGGB), the green dominates somewhat (though I have seen red dominated images too). I'm using canon lenses so skip the calibration and darks and biases as they add nothing that I've found (I'm sure I'll be put right - I was probably just doing the wrong thing). Workflow to make the image pretty runs; debayer, register (star align), integrate, save! Then take a trip through the andromeda tutorial on light vortex, that shows the post process route pretty well.

Offline pfile

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Re: DSLR-Raw option format Help Please
« Reply #6 on: 2019 February 05 11:01:29 »
well, to be fair, bayered formats can't be used very well by any imaging application, not just PI.

rob