Newbie starter question please

[normcatalunya]

Hi,,New to both astrophotography and Pixinsight,sooo ..I am using a camera 450d full spectrum modded so the initail raw camera images have the RGB misaligned..In PS this is the first thing I correct,
I am following Harry's Tuts stage by stage (first 3 to date) where he regs/integs and crops etc.
Of course my image at this stage after integration (I think) still shows colour misaligned (not a greyish image),When in the process do I align?
Sorry for such a basic question,,but I think (after struggling with photoshop) the more "automated approach" and user friendliness of Pixinsight ,might prove just what I'm after.
I am determined to persevere with Pixinsight to get all the process steps in place,so any guidance warmly welcomed.

Thanks in advance
Norm...a silver surfer(PC not Hawaii!!)

[Cleon_Wells]

Norm

After Calibration you have to DeBayer the _c.fit files, then you do Image Registration/Star Alignment. I would suggest starting with three subs that are not Calibrated, convert the raw CR2 files to .fit files with BatchFormatConvert (make sure you change the file format to .fit , it defaults to .jpg extension.), then DeBayer, then StarAlign, then Integrate.
Check this link out..

http://www.drakevisual.com/pixinsight-links/

We have the grandchildren this weekend so I’m sure others will help you get the basics behind you.
Cleon

[David Raphael]

You can also use the alignment tool for your 3 different color channels if they are already stacked...

Check out star alignment

[normcatalunya]

Thanks for  the pointers ,,I am a little confused how and where  to inject a set of dark subs..
I am only handling only these 2 sets of subs..sooo

Convert raw (lights/darks ) cr2 into  fits .... OK
Create master dark from darks above ..... OK

Calibrate subs  using ImageCalibration Tool ..  by...

Light frames added as target frames ?
I added the master dark here..Correct?
Should the calibrate or optimise box be checked ..please advise ?


The output _c files are then debayered  / registered / integrated..... etc etc.

From the above the master dark only gets used the one time during calibration..is this correct please?
Thanks in advance
Norm

[David Raphael]

Have you looked at this thread - http://pixinsight.com/forum/index.php?topic=1911.0

[normcatalunya]

Thanks David..good article for me and allays  at least some of my concerns but not the one concerning overall use of the master dark and its input  into the  ImageCalibration Tool ...and boxes to be checked?
Thanks

[David Raphael]

It depends on how you built your dark  - if you bias subtracted your dark before stacking it, then you don't want to calibrate the dark.  If you just stacked raw darks and you are using a bias as well, then you would want to calibrate.  Calibration simply means that you are subtracting a BIAS from the DARK during the calibration process. 

Optimize is useful if you have darks that aren't perfectly matched up with your lights.  If your darks were shot with the same duration and temperature as your lights, then you should leave this unchecked.  However, I would try it both ways and see which looks better for you.