Introduction and hello!

[Nigel Ball]

Hi all

I'v ebeen imaging seriously for about a year nowand have used most of software packages out there

I've recently downloaded PI v1.6 trial and inital impressions are that it is a powerful package with a steep learning curve. It reminds me of oen of our own rela time contorl packages - 'the answers is yes, now what did you want to do?'

I'm really into narrowband and am interested in using the wavelet technology to extract additional information. After one day I've managed to stack and combine my wide field Ha images and then completely screw it up with the ATrousWavelet  

Anyway I'm sure I'll need your help along the way

I have a website at http://nigelaball.zenfolio.com/

Nigel

PS Does anybody offer online tutorials - I found this was a great way to learn packages quickly and efficiently?

[Niall Saunders]

Hi Nigel, and welcome aboard.

I'm not too clear on what you mean by 'offline tutorials' - can you clarify that?

Harry has some excellent Video Tutorials on his website (see the Tutorials section of the Forum), and the main website also refers to several tutorials, both 'written' and 'video'

To date there are no CDs/DVDs available - not that I am aware of, anyway.

Although my personal PI skills are limited, I am always happy to offer an introductory 'driving lesson' if you are willing to download the free TeamViewer remote control package onto your PC (and if I have the free time available ) - but it sounds as if you might not need that

Bear in mind though, that the best place to ask ANY questions is here on the Forum.

Cheers,

[Nigel Ball]

Niall

Thanks for the quick response

I've watched all of Harry's Beginners video tutorial and they have been a great help

The 'driving lesson' is exactly what I'm referring to although I've used LogMeIn and Skype for audio in the past - over the pond!

As there are no manuals of instructional DVD's available yet I think this would be the most efficient way of getting up to speed.

I'm really interested in investigating the use of the Wavelet technology on my images as I believe I have acquired some good data over the past few months

Nigel

[Jack Harvey]

Nigel  I am no wavelet expert but have managed to get enhanced resolution with the Atrous Wavelet tool (check Thor's Helmet here http://www.noao.edu/astronomers.php)  Here is something to try.  First make a fair sized preview of part of the image you wish to enhance and be sure to include some stars so you can see if your tool is causing star damage (if so make a star mask and invert it and apply to protect the stars)  Use the defaults except for on the first layer select a bias of 0.1 to 0.2 for a start.  add generous amount of noise reduction by checking the box and slider to .8 or so.  FOr the second layer of wavelts try .15 - .25 and less noise redction say .4.  Have deringing checked for both levels.  Using the Live preview enabled you can see the changes on your preview live.  SO you may want to play a bit with bias settings and then apply to the preview to evaluate further and then to the image.

You could also apply the HDR wavelets by experimenting with Luminance only and w or w/o a Lum mask at the defaults.  Again a inverted star mask can save destructive changes to the stars.  Good Luck

[Nigel Ball]

Nigel  I am no wavelet expert but have managed to get enhanced resolution with the Atrous Wavelet tool (check Thor's Helmet here http://www.noao.edu/astronomers.php)  Here is something to try.  First make a fair sized preview of part of the image you wish to enhance and be sure to include some stars so you can see if your tool is causing star damage (if so make a star mask and invert it and apply to protect the stars)  Use the defaults except for on the first layer select a bias of 0.1 to 0.2 for a start.  add generous amount of noise reduction by checking the box and slider to .8 or so.  FOr the second layer of wavelts try .15 - .25 and less noise redction say .4.  Have deringing checked for both levels.  Using the Live preview enabled you can see the changes on your preview live.  SO you may want to play a bit with bias settings and then apply to the preview to evaluate further and then to the image.

You could also apply the HDR wavelets by experimenting with Luminance only and w or w/o a Lum mask at the defaults.  Again a inverted star mask can save destructive changes to the stars.  Good Luck

Thanks Jack

The RealTime Preview clinched it

I've managed to produce a half decent image

Thanks 

[Niall Saunders]

The 'driving lesson' is exactly what I'm referring to

Well, I would be happy to help. TeamViewer is all I use nowadays, plus Skype for general A/V 'chat'

A driving lesson can help you get up to speed with all the little time-saving shortcuts - which are often present in various video tutoria;s, but not necessarily 'explained' or 'mentioned'. Even now, after year's of use, I still learn new shortcuts watching others at work!!

Cheers,

[Nocturnal]

Hi Nigel,

welcome to the PI forums! I've not yet become comfortable with Atrous either and I've used PI for quite a while. So don't feel bad about being a bit in the dark there. I think it's one of the more complex processes PI offers. In my experience HDRWaveletTransform is much easier to get a handle on. No RTP but with a few previews it's easy to experiment and find the combination you like. See my articles in Astro Photo Insights for a complete walkthrough of a PI process flow. I need to talk to Al and see if I can publish those articles on my own site but at the same time I think that an API subscription is well worth the few $$ it costs, even when I exclude my own articles

[Nigel Ball]

Hi Nigel,

welcome to the PI forums! I've not yet become comfortable with Atrous either and I've used PI for quite a while. So don't feel bad about being a bit in the dark there. I think it's one of the more complex processes PI offers. In my experience HDRWaveletTransform is much easier to get a handle on. No RTP but with a few previews it's easy to experiment and find the combination you like. See my articles in Astro Photo Insights for a complete walkthrough of a PI process flow. I need to talk to Al and see if I can publish those articles on my own site but at the same time I think that an API subscription is well worth the few $$ it costs, even when I exclude my own articles

Thanks Sander, I do subscribe to AstroPhotoInsight and will look a the appropriate issues

Nigel

[Nocturnal]

Excellent! Let me know what you think of them.

[Harry page]

Hi Nigel

( yes another brit  )

It seems that there is a call for more info / videos past my newbie ones   

So I need to get my act together and do some , just been a bit bust work wise sorry

Anyway welcome and ask away

Harry

[Nigel Ball]

Thanks Harry

I see you are in Stamford - the home of Blackstone 

[Harry page]

Hi

Yes now sadly no longer exists    My farther was a electrical engine tester there for 35 years !

For non stamford people it used to make big engines


Harry

[ammcdavid]

The 'driving lesson' is exactly what I'm referring to

Well, I would be happy to help. TeamViewer is all I use nowadays, plus Skype for general A/V 'chat'

A driving lesson can help you get up to speed with all the little time-saving shortcuts - which are often present in various video tutoria;s, but not necessarily 'explained' or 'mentioned'. Even now, after year's of use, I still learn new shortcuts watching others at work!!

Cheers,

Just thought I would throw this out......you may already know this.....my brother informed me that Skype has desktop sharing too.....he helped my dad with some problem he was having with his computer that way.

[ammcdavid]

Hi Nigel,

 See my articles in Astro Photo Insights for a complete walkthrough of a PI process flow. I need to talk to Al and see if I can publish those articles on my own site but at the same time I think that an API subscription is well worth the few $$ it costs, even when I exclude my own articles

Already this forum is paying dividends and I haven't even used PI yet......I had been considering subscribing to API for a year or more......if your process flow is pretty detailed.....that would be worth it right there.

[Nigel Ball]

Already this forum is paying dividends and I haven't even used PI yet......I had been considering subscribing to API for a year or more......if your process flow is pretty detailed.....that would be worth it right there.

Hi David(?)

AstroPhotoInsight is a great magazine.

I've found the articles by Sander and they do indeed give a workflow. The articles exist in the following issues

Jun 2009 Vol 5, issue 3 Pg 12-20 Processing by Example Part 1
Aug 2009 Vol 5, issue 4. Pg 13-21 Processing by Example Part 2
Feb 2010 Vol 6, issue 1 Pg 15-23 Processing by Example Part 3

As a newbie or 4 days on PI I found the articles very interesting and informative with lots of labelled screenshots - thoroughly recommended

HTH

Nigel