NGC 7331

[stargazer]

hi folks,

I`m new to this group and wanna introduce myself with this image, that has been taken recently.
My name is Dietmar Hager, I`m an Austrian amateur astrophotographer.
http://mstecker.com/pages/apphager.htm

here is the data on the image:
Date: 13.+14.8.2007 - seeing 7-8/10; transp. 9/10
Scope: 9" TMB Apo f/6.8 using Astrophysics reducer
CCD: SXV M25C - 7.8 hours
Software: AstroArt4, Maxim DL, CCD sharp, Registax
Processing: postprocess. in PS CS2 and Pix InSight LE


further versions including crops of Stephan`s 5 and the Deer Lick group can be found here.

http://www.stargazer-observatory.com/7331.html

what brings me to this group is, I use Pix Insight LE Version 1.0/2004 for about one year now and I must say, it is a very powerful software! It was recommended to me by a friend of mine, and ever since I use it I recommend it to others...

I do hope to gather some useful ideas and tips for using the more recent software of Pix IS; AND - it is always most enjoyable to find new friends...

the features I appreciate and with that I am very familiar are the possibility to create a
- decent arteficial flat and the
- background smoothening function. (SGBNR)

I need a flat for some vignetting I have on my rather large sony chip: 24x16mm. even though the noise of this nice SX CCD is really low I do have some background noise and of course there is also noise in the fainter structures of the objects - particularly after processing them ... sometimes aggressivly... :lol:
to create a mask in this programme that allows to leave stars and objects untouched by the filters applied is really most adorable! Photoshop CS2 has some nice noise reduction features, but it is much more satisfying to do this with Pix IS. (even though there are quite a lot of steps to create this appropriate mask...)

I have also tried to do sharpening by creating a sharping mask in PS CS2, bringing this to Pix IS and apply wavelets there. well, I was not really very successful in that procedure.
I do sharpening with some other software like CCD sharp, Photoshop high pass filter and registax 4.0-wavelets.

so much for the beginning...
I do hope you like the images of NGC 7331 and Stephan`s quintet also.

have a great time under the night skies and
thanks for reading this!  8)

[Maxi]

Muy bueno ese conjunto, uno de los que tengo pendiente.

Lastima de no haber traductor en los dos sentidos, pues no creo que entiendas mucho castellano y yo el ingles, lo leo muy justito  :?

Por si alguno le vale si se coje la dirección del foro en el Google y se le pone traducir, más o menos se lee el ingles bastante bien.

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=es&sl=en&u=http://pleiades-astrophoto.com/forum/index.php&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=1&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dhttp://pleiades-astrophoto.com/forum/index.php%26hl%3Des

Saludos

[Carlos Milovic]

Hi Dietmar

Thank you very much for joining this group, and leave your comments

I'm sure you'll like our Standard Edition release. You'll find a free time-limited version on our downloads section. Among other new features/improvements, you'll see:

- A better implementation of the DynamicBackgroundProcess. Also there is a new process called AutomaticBackgroundExtractor, wich uses another kind of interpolation algorithm, wich is a good choise with relative easy targets, or when you need a rigid model (for example to model a linear gradient).

- New noise reduction tools. ACDNR is the sucessor of SGBNR, and really makes a difference. The edge detection algorithm is much more robust, and the current Luminance/Chrominance separation has proved to be the optimal for astronomical images. Also you'll find an implementation of the GREYCStoration noise reduction algorithm, wich is, IMHO, one of the bests algorithm for normal photography, and also works very well with stretched astronomical images. I strongly recommend to use both tools to process every image, benefiting from each strengths. And, to end this chapter, you'll find an improved SCNR algorithm.


Now, you menctioned that you want to sharper your images in PI. Well, we included the well known A Trous Wavelets and the UnSharpMask processes. But, what you'll surelly love are our implementation of deconvolution algorithms. Currently we released a process including the Wiener Filter, and another with regularized versions of the Richardson-Lucy and Van Cittern algorithms. Along with a powerfull and efective deringing capability, you'll find that the later can produce very good results.


Well, again, thank you very much for using our software, and sharing your results/impressions here. BTW, I really loved the field of your pic. Also you have very nice colors and definition. Congratulations.

[Jordi Gallego]

Very nice picture Dietmar, it definition is really great :wink:

I also recomend you to try the standard edition release

Regards
Jordi

[C. Sonnenstein]

Dietmar:

That's nice picture.

Welcome to PixInsight Forum!!

[Juan Conejero]

Hi Dietmar,

Welcome to PixInsight Forum.

A very nice image. Come on try out PixInsight Standard. Our new deconvolution routines would do marvels with that data.

[andyschlei]

Dietmar,

Great to see your work here!  I'll second everyone's comments -- use PixInsight Core.  It is a great tool.

--Andy

[stargazer]

...hi Maxi, Carlos M, Jordi, Calos S, Juan and Andy!

thanks a lot for this warm welcome and all your recmmendations.
I`ll head your call guys and download the new trial version and see what it does...  and see how I do with this one... 8)

Andy, it is alaos good to know that you are also a member of this group - nice to see you!

best wishes boys!
dietmar