A newbie with a 1st problem...of many to come...:-)

[pmesquita]

Hello all,

I'm Paulo Mesquita, from Portugal and I started DS AP only last week witha C11 Edge at F2 with  Hyperstar, EQ6 Pro, modded Canon 600D and Backyard EOS for capture. I have now quite a few lights and darks of M31, M42, M45, M77, M78 and the Horsehead (made the best out of some clear nights...now it's raining again).

I also was very impressed with Harry's video tutorials to a point where I went and bought Pixinsight. Now...I have a newbie problem. There seem to be quite a shortage of the basic tutorials or even manuals for newbies. I see that I can "fish" some help here form advanced members but it's not the same thing. And a newbie like me can be a real pain in the a** asking the same "post-processing for dummies" questions over and over after other have asked them too in the past.

So I have a question...and and an obseration:

1 - Question: is there a logic database, user manual or other form of step-by-step learning document for newbies who dished out €200 for this amazing program?...besides the excellent Harry videos?...

2 - Observation: Pixinsight seems to be an outstanding post-production software. A top market creation with completely new and unfamilar user interface of very high techincal complexity. And it costs more than most AP post-production softwares. It seems a bit strange that there is no user manual for this software with such a long and hard learning curve as if it was never destined for newbies like me.
I can understand that Pixinsight is for Big Boys in AP, and I've seen some brilliant work from Pixinsight clients (thus my choice of this program) but now that I've bought it and that I want to start using it, I find out that some basic command and initial operation manuals are needed (newbie's point of view and professional biased opinion from a marketing and advertising 52 year old and unemployed guy).
This is a complex, outstanding and elaborate program with a very different (but very nice) interface from what we're used to with the Photoshops of this world...so a User manual - from A to Z - would be an extremely usefull tool, and one that would help selling even more copies of Pixinsight. (the advertiser talking here).
One of the obstacles I read about most on Pixinsight on other sites is that it is hard to get used to so they opt for other simpler software. Well...a good and complete user manual - that includes dummies like me - would help to change people's minds.

just my 2 cents....

cheers
Paulo Mesquita

[Nocturnal]

Hi Paulo,

the problem is that you're climbing two mountains at the same time. You probably know very little about astro photography and you don't know PI yet. I was in the same boat 5 years ago or so. I just started taking astro photos and started playing with PixInsight. I could operate PI pretty quickly but I didn't know what to do with it to make my pictures look good.

I solved this by reading Ron Wodaski's photoshop centric 'zone system' book and applying his methods to PI where possible. I also watched all of the tutorials (this is BH, Before Harry) that Juan put on line. They helped me understand how DBE, HT and ACDNR played together for example.

I wrote a series of articles for Astro Photo Insight a few years ago that shows my basic workflow from beginning to end, not including stacking. The company is about to shut down but back issues are still available. Consider that as an option.

I still use DeepSkyStacker for, well, stacking. You can consider that as a means to skip one part of the PI learning curve.

[Raymond]

Hello Paulo

For learning PI, I started with Harry's videos. I watched them several times, as each time I discoverd new details in his descriptions. They are really invaluable!! Have also a look at the following site:
http://www.drakevisual.com/pixinsight-links
Here you can find many other links.

Following the different subjects in the forum helps me understanding PI each time better. I made a list for myself with detailed descriptions of image processings published in the forum. I attached the list as pdf document.

I hope this can help you.

[pmesquita]

Hi Sander,

I don't have much practical AP experience but I'm fairly acquainted with many techniques from very good AP friends (hoping to make some more here). But you are right I'm climbing two mountains at the same time. However, I'm quite handy with the hardware, for before I decided for this setup I tested quite a bit of equipment (i won't mention how much...it's embarassing) to see which setup fitted my volatile personality.

... and 11" at F2...is me!

I went to Astrophoto Insight and registered but couldn't find which newsletter had your articles. And it seems that the website is really ready to shut down in a months time. I just bought all the back issues until March/April 2012. This way I can get a very good database on PI.

As for Ron's The NewAstro Zone System for Astro Imaging...it's virtually gone. Nowhere to be sold, used or new...

anyway you have been a great help. thanks

Hi Paulo,

the problem is that you're climbing two mountains at the same time. You probably know very little about astro photography and you don't know PI yet. I was in the same boat 5 years ago or so. I just started taking astro photos and started playing with PixInsight. I could operate PI pretty quickly but I didn't know what to do with it to make my pictures look good.

I solved this by reading Ron Wodaski's photoshop centric 'zone system' book and applying his methods to PI where possible. I also watched all of the tutorials (this is BH, Before Harry) that Juan put on line. They helped me understand how DBE, HT and ACDNR played together for example.

I wrote a series of articles for Astro Photo Insight a few years ago that shows my basic workflow from beginning to end, not including stacking. The company is about to shut down but back issues are still available. Consider that as an option.

I still use DeepSkyStacker for, well, stacking. You can consider that as a means to skip one part of the PI learning curve.

[pmesquita]

Hi Raymond,

thanks for the pdf and the list...they are as precious to me as an Oasis in the middle of the Sahara after abondoning my dead camel. NOW I have some more material to study. It was very kind of you...I was feeling a bit discouraged with the absence of visually accessible reading materials.

I'm also doing what you're doing, viewing and reviewing Harry's videos. Things start to sink in and hopefully in time I'll be able to work the post-production more easily.

thanks a million
Paulo

Hello Paulo

For learning PI, I started with Harry's videos. I watched them several times, as each time I discoverd new details in his descriptions. They are really invaluable!! Have also a look at the following site:
http://www.drakevisual.com/pixinsight-links
Here you can find many other links.

Following the different subjects in the forum helps me understanding PI each time better. I made a list for myself with detailed descriptions of image processings published in the forum. I attached the list as pdf document.

I hope this can help you.