Help Please... Strange objects showing up after reg/cal/int

[AstroMatt]

Hello everyone,  I've spent the last year and especially the last two weeks pouring through these threads trying to find some direction on this one.  I usually am fine to lurk, but I've managed to change a setting that is killing me in post. I believe it has to do with how noise is handled on the import???!!!???

I'm getting strange noise introduced after the reg/cal/int process (all done through batch or separate process.)  I know a picture is worth 1000 words so here is the issue. Please forgive the horrible editing, I just wanted to highlight the issue so it could be seen from a small image.

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated!

m

Data before stack


Problem after stack

[sreilly]

I'm assuming here that you are referring to reg as registering, cal as calibration, and int as integration? What do you mean on import?

I guess it wouldn't hurt to know what camera you are using? Are you using master darks and flats for your images?

If it's any help the steps I take is making my master calibration frames in PI using these directions: http://www.pixinsight.com/tutorials/master-frames/index.html

Next it's calibrating the light frames. If you are using a dSLR camera then you need to follow a process of debayering the images and I'm not familiar with that. Then I align the images and cull the images for the best data eliminating the images that are not good. After making the master Red, Blue, and Green images I create the RGB image. And so on from there.

-Steve

[AstroMatt]

Thanks Steve!

I am not debarring... could that be the issue here?  I'm noticed this in my CCD editing as well???

The images in question above are DSLR images.  I am indeed referring to reg as registering and so forth... calibration and integration.

I am using a 60D with an Ha mod.

So you are basically creating an LRGB image form the data found in the color DSLR image?

I've not thought of that with DSLR in Pixinsight.  I've been using it as a stack from the integration tool once I did the registration, calibration (with master flats and darks) and integration.

I'm also a bit confused on the way I capture flats... I've been taking around 20 flat frames before imaging with the CCD and Telescope pointed at the waning light of dusk... I expose these for 1 second each.  Is this sufficient or should I do it another way?

Thanks for your response and help.

[sreilly]

I have absolutely no experience with the dSLR camera processing technique in any program. I was just going on what I've heard in previous postings. Try http://pixinsight.com/forum/index.php?topic=6126.msg41616#msg41616 and see if it sheds any light. What you really need is a dSLR workflow chart to guide you. Not sure if there is one floating around the forum or not.

-Steve

[sreilly]

You may also want to check this out http://lightvortexastronomy.blogspot.com/2013/12/tutorial-post-processing-pixinsight.html

-Steve

[sreilly]

And here http://pixinsight.com/forum/index.php?topic=2570.0

[AstroMatt]

Thank you Steve!  Reading through them all now.

I will respond back if one of them solves my issue.

I figured with the noise so pronounced someone out there would look at it and say, "HEY, that's blah, blah, blah... "   

Thanks again for your help and time! 

Clear Skies!

[AstroMatt]

Well I've just read through those tutorials to no avail.  Anyone else have any ideas?  I keep thinking it's something simple I've missed.

[Alejandro Tombolini]

Hi AstroMatt

It seems that your images have not been correctly calibrated. You may want to try calibrating them with Batch Preprocessing script. Follow the BBP sequence of videos.

It could be also useful to see this processing example.

Saludos, Alejandro.

[msmythers]

Here's my suggestion. Since you say you changed a setting somewhere I would try the following. For the Batch PreProcessing script do a reset of all parameters to factory preset. I would also do a reset of the parameters in the StarAlign tool. Also do a reset of the ImageIntergration tool along with clearing the caches. The arrow in the lower right opens the cache preferences.

At least if it still is happening after the resets you have a baseline to trace your steps.



Mike

[AstroMatt]

Going back through it.  Thanks guys!

[Carlos Milovic]

This is a problem with the darks. Probably, you deactivated the automatic rescalation, or you are not using them. Also a more restrictive pixel rejection in image integration would help.