StarAlignment and GradientMergeMosaic issues...

[footbag]

Hi Guys,

I'm a bit confused as to what I'm doing wrong, but I've been having a few issues with StarAlignment & GraidentMergeMosaic.  I've done this before with success, but I didn't do it the way the tutorial shows. 

My main issue is the message "Error: Current image width differs from first image width."  I'm pretty sure I'm messing up the star alignment, but I cannot get StarAlignment to work the way the video tutorial is showing. 

I did generate a master mosaic with seams using Star Alignment.  But, the Register/Match only processes one frame and then stops.  It's not working for me like in the video tutorial. 

When I use Star Alignment, am I supposed to use Register/Match or Register/Union Separate?  I always thought it was register Union Separate.

If I use Register/Union Separate, and add one frame at a time, which registration image should I be using?  Is that what's causing the Image Width Error?  Using the wrong registration image?

If I select Register/Match Images and select my 4-panels, it seems to output the original registration image.

[pfile]

check this thread i started sometime back - same problem. i think register/union is actually wrong. union means, well, the union of multiple images, which will be a new image which is large enough to contain them all.

i think register/match is the right mode. i never really reported back in the thread but i think using register/union was incorrect.

http://pixinsight.com/forum/index.php?topic=6520.msg44222#msg44222

rob

[footbag]

Thanks Rob...

That seems to be the issue I'm running into.  But, when I use the Register/Match images it just gives me a copy of the image I'm registering against. 

I've read that Register/Match is the way to go, but I don't know what I'm doing wrong to get a copy of the registered image.  Previously, I used Register/Union separate and it worked a few times, but not every time. 

The error message about mismatched image width keeps getting me. 

Should I be using 2-D spline or Projective tranformation

[pfile]

are you trying to run SA in batch mode? i think you have to do them one-by-one... set the reference mosaic as the reference image, then drag the SA triangle onto each pane in turn. you should get a huge image (same size as the reference) with just the pane you are working on registered into it.

not sure about the spline/projective xformation, but i don't think that would change the problem you are having.

actually, with the MosaicByCoordinates script, i'd just solve all my master panes and use that script to generate the input to GMM. i think it works a lot better for situations where there is optical distortion or the overlap between panes is not great enough.

rob

[footbag]

Not in batch mode. 

Which image should I use as the reference after creating the seamed mosaic?  Should I be using the newly created images as the reference, or stick to the original seamed mosaic?

[pfile]

after you make the reference mosaic, then the reference mosaic should be the reference for the final alignments. i guess you're calling that the seamed mosaic, so yes, use the seamed one as the reference.

you're trying to make N images that are the same size as the reference mosaic, but mostly black. each has the current pane dropped in with black all around.

rob

[footbag]

Yeah.  I keep doing the same thing I've always done, but it just isn't working. 

When I use the "seamed" mosaic, one frame will not register to the registration frame.  When it does align, I get the above error when using GMM. 

I may have to walk away from this computer and try on my other.

[RickS]

You should set the reference image to be the initial mosaic you constructed (the "seamed mosaic"), set the working mode to Register/Match Images and then drop the new instance triangle from StarAlignment on each of your mosaic panels in turn to register them against the initial mosaic.  If registration fails or is very slow for some of the panels you may find it helpful to tick the Restrict to Previews box under Star Matching and place a preview on the initial mosaic matching the position of each panel as you go.

Hope that helps... I've done this recently and it worked for me.

Cheers,
Rick.

[footbag]

Duh... I was using batch mode.  That may get me through that error. 

I'm trying again...  Now hoping the preview will work. 

Yes!!!  Thanks guys!  Using batch mode in StarAlignment was my issue.

And the preview tip got me aligned where I got hung up before. 

[RickS]

Cool!  Look forward to seeing the results in the gallery