Author Topic: Extention .FIT as a RAW image format after Calibration process  (Read 2649 times)

Offline freddy1

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I recently buyed a ZWO AISI1600 MC cooler (Color) and I planning to use a Sequence Generator Pro as a capture Soft for DSO. Apparently this sofware only bring a .FIT extention...

My questions:

1- Before start the calibration process:  How is the configuration at FORMAT EXPLORER that I must to choice? and also How is the confirguration in Edit preference that I have to use for this kind of files (RAW .FIT)?

2. Do I have to convert, previously start calibration, the RAW files .FIT to another extention?

Honestly I don´t understand How is this .FIT extention.... I can't follow in any kind of extention availables to RAW files....

I appreciate comments. 

Thanks 
Federico
   

Offline Niall Saunders

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Re: Extention .FIT as a RAW image format after Calibration process
« Reply #1 on: 2017 April 09 08:32:25 »
Hi Freddy,

Do not worry too much  :)

The FIT file extension is very much a universal standard - PixInsight will most likely read your unprocessed image files without any issue. I say 'most likely', because there are some manufacturers (of capture software) who use a very slightly different format when they create their FIT files during the capture process (and sometines you may even encounter this if you perform any software processing outwith PixInsight).

But, the important thing is that PixInsight has the power and flexibility to read these formats (yes, you 'may' need to experiment with some conficuration settings, but once you have done this you will not need to repeat things thereafter).

Then, as you work through your PixInsight processing, the choice of how you save any further data is up to you. Many choose to use the XISF format - it is a PixInsight-prorietary format, but the details of the format are extremely well documented, and have been made available for all software vendors to include in their programs.

Alternatively, you can simply choose to save the images in FITS format - if you have some reason to continue processing outwith PixInsight itself, or (perhaps more likely) if you with to share images with other image processors who have not yet made the move to PixInsight.

Obviously, you might also wish to save a duplicated copy of images (especially your final images) in web-friendly formats such as PNG or JPG. All of this can be very easily achieved without having to leave PixInsight.

On the subject of XISF images again - why would you save in this format? Well, the XISF format is more flexible and more efficient than the FITS format. The FITS format is now several decades old and, although it is a very capable data storage format, XISF has shown that there was room for improvement. It would seem quite possible that XISF may yet take over from where FITS stands today.

When I image, I am capturing the data in FITS format, reading the image data into PixInsight without any issues or concerns, then processing the data thereafter and saving all interim, and final, images in XISF format. I create a JPEG version of my final result as required, and would - for example - email either the JPEG or a transformation of XISF back to FITS if I needed to pass my data to anybody else.

I hope this helps to clarify the matter.
Cheers,
Niall Saunders
Clinterty Observatories
Aberdeen, UK

Altair Astro GSO 10" f/8 Ritchey Chrétien CF OTA on EQ8 mount with homebrew 3D Balance and Pier
Moonfish ED80 APO & Celestron Omni XLT 120
QHY10 CCD & QHY5L-II Colour
9mm TS-OAG and Meade DSI-IIC

Offline freddy1

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Re: Extention .FIT as a RAW image format after Calibration process
« Reply #2 on: 2017 April 09 19:15:21 »
Thanks very much Niall !!
your answer is clear and complete

I appreciate if you have any commnets about the point #1

1- Before start the calibration process:  How is the configuration at FORMAT EXPLORER that I must to choice? and also How is the confirguration in Edit preference that I have to use for this kind of files (RAW .FIT)?


Thanks best regards

Federico 

Offline bulrichl

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Re: Extention .FIT as a RAW image format after Calibration process
« Reply #3 on: 2017 April 10 04:05:41 »
Hi Frederico,

as I don't use SGP, I don't know whether SGP does something special when writing FIT files.

In order to start from default settings, reset the 'Edit preferences' of Format Explorer/FITS by pressing the 'Reset' button. Load a light frame (FIT format generated by SGP) into PixInsight and apply STF Auto Stretch. Then carefully look at the image: If the image is reversed (flipped vertically), the setting in PixInsight's Format Explorer/FITS/Coordinate Origin has to be toggled. The other default settings should be OK.

Bernd

Offline freddy1

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Re: Extention .FIT as a RAW image format after Calibration process
« Reply #4 on: 2017 April 12 16:32:38 »
Excellent Bernd !!. Very clear
many Thanks !!
Federico