Beginners Question on Importing One Shot Color Data

[Skygazer2013]

Hi Folks,

  I'm relatively new to PI and fast becoming a big fan.  I wonder if someone can help me with one annoying issue please?  I have an SBIG camera and use CCDSoft V5 to capture my images, the camera is the STF-8300C One Shot Colour (OSC) camera.  When I export my FITS files to PI, it reads them in as greyscale even though it is an RGB image.  Up to now, I have got around this by splitting my images in LRGB in CCDSoft.  But i think this is adding needless noise to my images. 

  I am assuming based on other posts here this is an issue with the FITS header, but I can't figure out what is causing this.  I know I can edit the FITS header file in CCDSoft, but I don't know which parameter to adjust...assuming that is how I proceed.  Can some one point me in the right direction to enable OSC FITS files please?


Many thanks


Dave

[NKV]

Hi Dave.

I don't have STF-8300C and I don't have CCDSoft. So, I can't help you, because I don't know whats you doing wrong.
But, if you share one your FITS file, I and other PixInsight user can help you very fast.

BR,
Nikolay.

[msmythers]

Dave,

It sounds like you need to use the Debayer tool.


Mike

[Skygazer2013]

Hi Mike, Nikolay,

  Many thanks for your inputs.  I tried to attach a FITS files for Nikolay, but the system limits me.  So instead I tried the Debayer tool and it worked a treat.  I've started importing and calibrating files, the results are already much improved over what I had achieved before now!

  One question, I have noticed that the new file does have some noisy pixels which are red, green or blue and none of the noise reduction algorithms seem to make any impact (ACNR or TGV).  I never saw this before and I wonder if this is an artefact caused by me...I would appreciate any suggestions people might have.


Thanks again for the help guys...I am really pleased with the results!


Dave

[msmythers]

Dave,

Now that we have established that there is no problem with Pixinsight understanding your data, it sounds like you need to start from the beginning. Debayering would normally happen after calibration but before star alignment during the image stacking process. The noisy pixels you are seeing are probably hot pixels. Again something that is taken care of with calibration and image integration.

I would recommend looking at different websites for beginners tutorials. A good place to start is http://pixinsight.com.ar/en/. Also the links listed in the other resource section http://pixinsight.com.ar/en/info/links/2/other-resources-links.html.



Mike
 

[Skygazer2013]

Hi Mike,

  Once again, you put me on the right track.  I used the resources and more specifically Harry's Tutorial videos & workflow to start from scratch.  The result is far better than I could have expected.  I reckon, with some tweaking I can pull more detail, but I'm still delighted with the result and itching to get out and get more imaging done.  Thanks both of you for your help.


Dave

p.s You can see the results of your advice at this link http://www.astrobin.com/168813/

[msmythers]

No problem Dave. Now it's just practice and new gray hairs!


Mike