OK, Here's the thing.
When I started imaging, I had no idea what I was doing. In a period of 3 months I learned I need to take many images, flat, darks, bias. Started to understand this, and then start hearing about "flat darks, and other names so same things.
My point is with me I dove right into this, realizing I had be doing it all wrong. So I joined a Yahoo group, where people taught me all this about taking many different types of subs. That was daunting enough.( especially flats, still is). After I had a few images, maybe only 4 or 5 subjects, I used DSS to do all the ( everything it does to get the final stacked image). I read the documentation, but really did not get all of what was really going on. Just knew if I setup with these parameters, It turned out pretty good. I fight a lot of LP. After using DSS ( which is a great product by the way ) for a couple months, I started to hear about other products, mainly "Images Plus" and "Pixinsight". After corresponding with several users of both, I decided to go with PI. (Dang glad I did too).
For me, either one would be a learning curve. But I was particularly interested in the DBE and other noise reduction features. Did not know how they worked just heard they do.
OK, All this being said, I had no experience, in what integrating, calibrating, stacking, aligning, etc. really was all about. Remember DSS just did it. No real understanding of what an image consisted of.
But I was up for a challenge. So Before I took the trial, I went to Harry's sight ,and you tube, and watched a lot of videos. I was very impressed. So I started the trial.
The problem was nowhere in the videos, did it ever really explain, if you use a DLSR, this is how the image science behind that works. ( meaning bayering-debayering, RAW format, etc). What integrating, calibrating, aligning, stacking, etc. really does. For PI this is needed info.
So once I had it, I started reading all the forums, but I have to say, I was lost most of the time, because I just could not follow the conversations.
But, over the last few months, I have received invaluable info, from those like ( pfile rob, and others). I am sure he has figured out, I did not know much about imaging at all when I started this. But his patience has really helped to try to grasp this.
This is new stuff, a science in itself, and I have to say PI does not pull any punches.
As far a the basic questions, this is to be expected, because we just don't all start out as intermediate imagers and processers.
But I can certainly say, that using PI, will educate you pretty fast. But there is so much to learn.
A good example is Pixel Math (what I see as one very powerful tool), but if you are not an engineer( and I don't see why you need to be to be an astrophotographer), then you may be taken aback by the scripting language needed to use it.
I am barely a scripter, so I at least understand a formula when I see it, But I still cannot, look at my screen and say I want to do this , using this and this, and know what formula to put in the command line to get it.
I think for me, the lack of immediate local documentation is an issue. But I have learned to find it on other sites by now.
Everyone is different, in the knowledge base, and everyone will have different questions that need to be answered.
I cannot even begin to comprehend some of this yet.
It would have helped me to of had much more imaging experience before I began this, but I am not one to back away from a challenge.
But Georg, there is just no way for many of us to know what you and others already know and take for granted about this science.
As far as your above issues, I have read the documentation on a lot of it, but if I don't understand the science behind much of it ie: correct RAW settings, how am I going to know what works for me? Another is linear vs non-linear, I knew the difference, but did not really know why a process would or would not work with it. That's just the way it is.
This is why the questions are asked.
One thing I will mention, is many times I try to use the search to see if I can find a previous thread on a subject, but I have to say for me the search has not been helpful on many instances. So I find myself just asking a question.
I do not have an advanced setup to work with, but that is how I want it for now.
This software has allowed me to create images I never thought I could ever achieve.
And I know there is a whole lot more I can do with them, I just need time to learn them and experiment with them.
I have only been doing this since this last April. And using PI since last July.
Most sites that encourage PI, mention , a steep learning curve. No kidding!!!!.
Scott
