APP into PI

[Feock]

I am about to start the process of learning Pixinsight. I shoot with Nina and stack with APP with OSC. Could any one give me a heads up on scripts or a workflow to get me going? Thanks in advance. Ross

 

ps below is last nights image out of APP with a light tweak in Affinity so you can get an idea of my raw data.

Edited May 7, 2021 by Feock
typo

[AstronomyUkraine]

5 hours ago, Feock said:

I am about to start the process of learning Pixinsight. I shoot with Nina and stack with APP with OSC. Could any one give me a heads up on scripts or a workflow to get me going? Thanks in advance. Ross

You are going to bring your data already stacked into Pixinsight? If so, the first thing to do is use channel extraction to extract the RGB channels from your stack.

 

Next apply linear fit. Select the brightest channel in the stack, and use it as reference (usually red). Apply linear fit to the other two channels.

 

Now recombine the channels using Channel Combination. You now have a stack that should have most of the light pollution removed from it.

 

Next step is to apply Background Neutralization using a preview as the background reference.

 

After Background Neutralization, Color Calibration is applied, this time use two previews, one as the background reference, the other as the white reference. Selecting the galaxy with a preview will make a good white reference.

 

Finally, the image is ready to be stretched. There are many ways to stretch the image in Pixinsight, using histogram Transformation is probably the easiest way for now.

 

After stretching, the workflow is subjective to taste. Removing noise, using curves to get the colour you like, then sharpening.

[Feock]

Perfect!  thank you, a great place to start.  Ross

[MarkAR]

Have a look at Adam Block's Youtube Channel, really good series on WBPP for stacking in PI.

[Astroarg]

Learn the full process in PI, I did and it really doesn't take long.  You'll find it better to manage all of your data under one umbrella and can at least track back issues rather than have to scrap PI to head back into APP to re-run the full 6 processes as you missed a step (or a wrong setting)

 

however..I still use APP because I find it quicker (As I am use to it), but doubt I'll renew when it comes this year.

 

 

PI, there is a new WBPP coming, Adam Block has already given some tutorial videos:

WBPP (adamblockstudios.com)

 

I learnt to manually calibrate and integrate, with dark and flat masters created in PI.

 

The only bugbearer I have with PI, is it moans about fits and wants its own 32bit very large-sized file format to be used.  A nightmare when having many lights, flats, dark flats  (I have a cooled camera, so have my master darks already.. but have to import the FIT files into PI for it to convert to its own, although I ended up just creating new libraries of FIT subs and using PI to create a new master file)

 

[AstronomyUkraine]

8 minutes ago, Astroarg said:

I learnt to manually calibrate and integrate, with dark and flat masters created in PI.

I manually calibrate too. The WBPP is probably a great piece of software, but if it churns out a pile of rubbish at the end, where do you look for the problem? At least with manual calibration you have full control of all the processes.

[Dmack1]

I do as you are intending to do by using APP to stack then into PI. I have stacked in PI both manually and with WBPP and find very little (no real) difference in stacked images between the PI and APP. 

 

The reasons I continue to use APP are, 1) I got used to and prefer its interface (though WBPP 2.0 is better than before) 2) I like the extract Ha and Oiii algorithms in APP which I use on data from my l-eNhance. The blurb says these algorithms are designed to give better, less noisy output than a straight channel extraction and I have confirmed that by tests with my own data. 

 

As to what to do once you take it in to PI @AstronomyUkraine has pretty much defined it. I  have not done the channel extract - linear fit - recombine step but should give it a go.

 

I also use Photometric Colour Calibration which includes an option for background neutralisation.

 

I'd highly reccomend Warren kellers "Inside Pixinsight". I need it by my side to keep me straight on processes and settings.

 

Good luck.

[Feock]

spending the afternoon on this .... in between building another autofocuser and setting up the ``C11 for hyperstar .... lots to do...  but thanks to all as it gives me a start. PI must have the worst ui ever!  Ross

[peter shah]

A wonderful rendition...... PI is just about the best bit of software out there it gives you so much control its untrue ...I  use it along side Photoshop myself as there are some things in PS I find  less binarized and more user friendly. Spent the time on the pre-process with good calibration and stacking ....if you get foundations right then you have a strong starting point...

[Sonyme]

Feock, even without Pixinsight it's still a very nice image. 

 

Gary

[Gina]

I recommend the book "Inside PixInsight" by Warren A. Keller (Second Edition).  Patrick Moore Practical Astronomy Series.