[New User] Help needed - not sure where though

[drjhawk2000]

Just downloaded StarTools and I've been trying to work through a stack of M51 I took a few weeks ago. I am feeling completely lost right now. As I move through any of the basic workflows, my image seems to get worse and worse.

First, here is my stacked TIFF file: https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=2 ... hoto%2cTIF

It is taken from my backyard, so I know there is a light pollution issue. There were 29 subs @ 300 sec (ISO 400) stacked in DSS. I did use flats, darks, and bias frames as well. I think I had the settings in DSS as they were supposed to be, but this is possibly an issue.

When I run AutoDev, I get an image that has a bright red background with the stars and my DSO bright yellow. Running any of the Wipe features from there leaves me with a noisy looking multi-colored mess. Not even sure where to go from there.

I have been able to get reasonable results using the same data with some other processing software (link: https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=2 ... hoto%2cjpg).

I assume I am having problems with setting DSS correctly, or not running some of the StarTools features correctly. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[almcl]

I've had a go at your image, and it seems all right although might have been some cloud present and there may be some things I've missed.
See what you think and if it's of interest I'll post the logfile?

[drjhawk2000]

Thanks. Please do post the log file. That is way better than what I was able to accomplish.

[almcl]

Here you go.

I wonder how much of a crop you used in your work flow? It took me a while to discover that this can be crucial before using the wipe module and if in doubt, crop more rather than less.

-----------------------------------------------------------
StarTools 1.4.316
Wed Apr 27 17:53:37 2016
-----------------------------------------------------------
File loaded [E:\Astronomy\someone elses files\M51_DSS_2x_StarTools.TIF].
---
--- Bin
Parameter [Scale] set to [(scale/noise reduction 35.38%)/(798.89%)/(+3.00 bits)]
--- Auto Develop
Parameter [Ignore Fine Detail <] set to [Off]
Parameter [Outside ROI Influence] set to [15 %]
--- Crop
Parameter [X1] set to [58 pixels]
Parameter [Y1] set to [34 pixels]
Parameter [X2] set to [1641 pixels (-46)]
Parameter [Y2] set to [1085 pixels (-39)]
--- Wipe
Parameter [Mode] set to [Correct Color & Brightness]
Parameter [UNKNOWN] set to [Yes]
Parameter [Precision] set to [128 x 128 pixels]
Parameter [Dark Anomaly Filter] set to [1 pixels]
Parameter [Drop Off Point] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Corner Aggressiveness] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Aggressiveness] set to [75 %]
--- Develop
Parameter [White Calibration] set to [Use Stars]
Parameter [Gamma] set to [1.00]
Parameter [Skyglow] set to [0 %]
Parameter [Digital Development] set to [85.25 %]
Parameter [Blue Luminance Contrib.] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Green Luminance Contrib.] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Red Luminance Contrib.] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Dark Anomaly Headroom] set to [5 %]
Parameter [Dark Anomaly Filter] set to [7.4 pixels]
--- Deconvolution
Parameter [Image Type] set to [Deep Space]
Parameter [Mask Behavior] set to [De-ring Mask Gaps, Hide Result]
Parameter [Radius] set to [1.5 pixels]
Parameter [Iterations] set to [6]
Parameter [Regularization] set to [1.00 (optimal noise and detail)]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [8.0 pixels]
--- Wavelet Sharpen
Parameter [Intelligent Enhance] set to [Yes]
Parameter [Scale 1] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Scale 2] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Scale 3] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Scale 4] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Scale 5] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [8.0 pixels]
Parameter [Amount] set to [562 %]
Parameter [Small Detail Bias] set to [75 %]
--- HDR
Parameter [Small Detail Precision] set to [Max]
Parameter [Channels] set to [Brightness Only]
Parameter [Algorithm] set to [Optimize Hard]
Parameter [Dark/Bright Response] set to [Full]
Parameter [Detail Size Range] set to [21 pixels]
Parameter [Strength] set to [1.0]
--- Contrast
Parameter [Expose Dark Areas] set to [No]
Parameter [Compensate Gamma] set to [No]
Parameter [Precision] set to [128 x 128 pixels]
Parameter [Dark Anomaly Filter] set to [1 pixels]
Parameter [Aggressiveness] set to [75 %]
Parameter [Dark Anomaly Headroom] set to [15 %]
--- Life
Parameter [Detail Preservation] set to [Linear Brightness Mask]
Parameter [Compositing Algorithm] set to [Multiply, Gamma Correct]
Parameter [Inherit Brightness, Color] set to [Off]
Parameter [Output Glow Only] set to [No]
Parameter [Airy Disk Sampling] set to [128 x 128 pixels]
Parameter [Airy Disk Radius] set to [8 pixels]
Parameter [Glow Threshold] set to [0 %]
Parameter [Detail Preservation Radius] set to [20.0 pixels]
Parameter [Saturation] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Strength] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [40.0 pixels]
--- Color
Parameter [Cap Green] set to [To Yellow]
Parameter [Bias Slider Mode] set to [Sliders Reduce Color Bias]
Parameter [Style] set to [Scientific (Color Constancy)]
Parameter [LRGB Method Emulation] set to [Straight CIELab Luminance Retention]
Parameter [Dark Saturation] set to [2.00]
Parameter [Bright Saturation] set to [Full]
Parameter [Saturation Amount] set to [200 %]
Parameter [Blue Bias Reduce] set to [2.01]
Parameter [Green Bias Reduce] set to [1.00]
Parameter [Red Bias Reduce] set to [2.82]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [1.0 pixels]
--- Develop
Parameter [White Calibration] set to [Use Stars]
Parameter [Gamma] set to [1.24]
Parameter [Skyglow] set to [0 %]
Parameter [Digital Development] set to [Off]
Parameter [Blue Luminance Contrib.] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Green Luminance Contrib.] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Red Luminance Contrib.] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Dark Anomaly Headroom] set to [5 %]
Parameter [Dark Anomaly Filter] set to [Off]
File saved [E:\Astronomy\someone elses files\M51_DSS.jpg].
--- Wavelet De-Noise
Parameter [Scale 1] set to [90 %]
Parameter [Scale 2] set to [90 %]
Parameter [Scale 3] set to [90 %]
Parameter [Scale 4] set to [90 %]
Parameter [Scale 5] set to [0 %]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [1.0 pixels]
Parameter [Scale Correlation] set to [6]
Parameter [Color Detail Loss] set to [12 %]
Parameter [Brightness Detail Loss] set to [12 %]
Parameter [Grain Size] set to [11.3 pixels]
Parameter [Read Noise Compensation] set to [Off]
Parameter [Smoothness] set to [75 %]
File saved [E:\Astronomy\someone elses files\M51_DSS[2].jpg].

[drjhawk2000]

Thanks. A few questions on this:

1. Do you use an ROI when you do the initial AutoDev?
2. Do you redo your stretch each time you develop?
3. Which steps do you use masks for?
4. And, what parts of the image do you mask/unmask?

Thanks again for the help!

[almcl]

I didn't use an ROI on the initial autodev as I wanted to see all the issues. This is will be undone when Develop is used after the Wipe with the 'redo global stretch' option.

The last develop was just to lighten the background so was used 'stretch as is'

A star mask was used for Decon and Sharp. I often use one with the isolate setting in the Life module, but didn't on this occasion, using isolate without a mask. It can take quite a while to set up a suitable mask on a galaxy and setting the mask fuzz to maximum is often advisable, too.

[drjhawk2000]

Thanks again for the help. Now at least I feel like I am starting from a good point on my data.