Problem with saving files

[cdesselles]

First I am running Windows 7 Professional...  My problem is as follows:

1) I routinely convert files to 32bit floating point TIFF for work in PI.
2) After completion of all processing, both linear and non-linear I routinely save as 32bit FP TIFF, PNG, and JPEG.
3) When I go to view them in other software they appear very dark, almost as if I had not worked on them.
4) If I try to convert them to 16bit integer TIFF and then save them as above I still get the same problem.
5) If I import the 16 bit TIFF into Photoshop - Change mode to either 8 bit or 32 bit the problem remains.
6) If I import the 32 bit TIFF into Photoshop - Change mode from 32bit to 16 bit, the problem seems to be solved.
 
I don't feel I should have to resort to Photoshop to view files I've spent so much time working on in PixInsight.  Further, This problem only manifested itself recently, after a recent update to Java runtime (Version 8 Update 25).  I'm hoping that it is something that you gentlemen can remedy for me without too much trouble.

[oldwexi]

Hi!
PI calculates and saves the Pixel values in normalized Format. with values between 0.00000000000000 and
1.0000000000000000.
If you transfer a PI normalized image to other Software (why?)  all Pixel values are for example between 0.00000000000025... and 0.8687123456789...
If the other Software does not support normalized data you simply can save the image with 32-Bit unsigned integer instead of Floating Point.
Or you multiply the image in the "other" Software for example with 100000.
Better Dont use sw which cant understand normalized data and FITS format.

However, first you get the images in fits, stay in FITS Floating Point format. the FITS Header keeps a lot of informations - what happened to this
Image - which are gone when you convert to TIF.

I dont know what you want to achieve in a painting program like PS which has not a single astrophoto function builtin as Standard.
PI supports all astrofunctions from Calibration until final Framing and Annotation.
For me personally - i dont trust images gone through PS because the images do not represent real data, they look like  what
the user thinks they should look like. I trust images calculated and processed  100% with PI.

Gerald

[cdesselles]

Gerald:

I'm sorry, but you seem to miss the crux of my problem.  It has nothing whatsoever to do with FITS vs. TIF etc. My issue is that once I save my work from Pixinsight into another format for posting on Astrobin, Facebook, Photobucket, Windows Photoviewer, etc. none of these would open them properly.  The images simply cannot be viewed as they were after PI.  They are VERY dark.

The ONLY reason for importing them into Photoshop was to convert them into something that could be viewed again.  If it weren't for this issue Photoshop would remain demoted to family vacation photos never to see astrophotos again.

Further, as I stated above, this is a VERY recent problem only occurring after a recent JAVA runtime upgrade.

To get to the point, forget about Photoshop.  It was a temporary "workaround" only used as an emergency measure.  The issue is with PI and saving files so they can be utilized after processing.

[msmythers]

I'm running Windows 7 and have no issues at all with saving files in any other file format. I save in PNG for screensavers on my computers, jpg for my tablet, phone and Astrobin. The occasional tiff for transfer to friends, never an issue.

What you might want to check is that you are absolutely turning off or resetting STF once you are in the linear phase, after stretching. You can process a complete image with STF active and not realize it. When you go to save it the file will be dark.

It's just a guess.


Mike

[cdesselles]

I'm pretty sure STF was off, but it's worth a try, Mike.  After all, what could I lose?
I'll let you know if that worked.

[oldwexi]

cdesseles!
Did you try my help about saving the Image instead in Floating Point in 32-Bit integer.
I can save in 32-bit Floating Point, this gets me the normalized Image very dark (but with all info) for example in Astroart.
I can save in 32-Bit Integer this gets me the Image immediately visible in such programs...

32-Bit integer does not save the Pixels in values 0.00000000 - 1.0000000 as Floating Point does.


Gerald

[cdesselles]

Mike: 

I need to buy you a beer!   
STF still engaged was indeed the problem!
Thanks for being a great help! 

I feel ashamed I didn't think of looking for that. 
Getting older and losing cognitive ability sux.   

And to think I was blaming a poor Java update for my troubles.  I guess I owe apologies... 

[cdesselles]

Thanks, Gerald! 

Mike's tip about checking the STF engaged/disengaged worked! 

After that I did indeed try your points above.  They work now also!

I guess I owe both of you a beer!