StarTools

Good day Ivo,

Please check this image, it is the first image that I have taken with my freshly self modded EOS1100D (yesterday night with the full moon.
On the center/right side of the image there are a sort of diagonal streaks, I don't know if they are caused by moon, or by a to much stretched image, or if they are just streaks on the camera sensor that has not been cleaned properly during modding (I did a wet clean on it with Isopropil alcohol +distilled water).
32 x180sec ISO 1600

Any suggestions about what could have caused them? and how to get rid of them?
This is the work flow used.

File loaded [C:\Users\Marco\Pictures\1-Telescope\Canon\APT\Camera_1\2014-12-06\heartnebula\Lights\Autosave001.fts].
---
--- Auto Develop
Parameter [Ignore Fine Detail <] set to [Off]
Parameter [Outside ROI Influence] set to [15 %]
--- Crop
Parameter [X1] set to [70 pixels]
Parameter [Y1] set to [48 pixels]
Parameter [X2] set to [4220 pixels (-70)]
Parameter [Y2] set to [2771 pixels (-85)]
--- 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 %]
--- Wipe
Parameter [Mode] set to [Correct Color & Brightness]
Parameter [UNKNOWN] set to [No]
Parameter [Precision] set to [256 x 256 pixels]
Parameter [Dark Anomaly Filter] set to [4 pixels]
Parameter [Drop Off Point] set to [0 %]
Parameter [Corner Aggressiveness] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Aggressiveness] set to [75 %]
--- Auto Develop
Parameter [Ignore Fine Detail <] set to [Off]
Parameter [Outside ROI Influence] set to [0 %]
--- Wavelet Sharpen
Parameter [Intelligent Enhance] set to [Yes]
Parameter [Scale 1] set to [31 %]
Parameter [Scale 2] set to [39 %]
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 [363 %]
Parameter [Small Detail Bias] set to [99 %]
--- Contrast
Parameter [Expose Dark Areas] set to [No]
Parameter [Compensate Gamma] set to [No]
Parameter [Precision] set to [256 x 256 pixels]
Parameter [Dark Anomaly Filter] set to [4 pixels]
Parameter [Aggressiveness] set to [75 %]
Parameter [Dark Anomaly Headroom] set to [15 %]
--- HDR
Parameter [Small Detail Precision] set to [Max]
Parameter [Channels] set to [Brightness Only]
Parameter [Algorithm] set to [Reveal DSO Core]
Parameter [Dark/Bright Response] set to [Full]
Parameter [Detail Size Range] set to [64 pixels]
Parameter [Noise Suppression] set to [Off]
--- Color
Parameter [Cap Green] set to [To Yellow]
Parameter [Bias Slider Mode] set to [Sliders Reduce Color Bias]
Parameter [Style] set to [Artistic, Detail Aware]
Parameter [LRGB Method Emulation] set to [Straight CIELab Luminance Retention]
Parameter [Dark Saturation] set to [7.30]
Parameter [Bright Saturation] set to [3.40]
Parameter [Saturation Amount] set to [242 %]
Parameter [Blue Bias Reduce] set to [1.05]
Parameter [Green Bias Reduce] set to [1.23]
Parameter [Red Bias Reduce] set to [1.26]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [1.0 pixels]
--- Wavelet De-Noise
Parameter [Scale 1] set to [98 %]
Parameter [Scale 2] set to [98 %]
Parameter [Scale 3] set to [94 %]
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 [1]
Parameter [Color Detail Loss] set to [12 %]
Parameter [Brightness Detail Loss] set to [7 %]
Parameter [Grain Size] set to [2.8 pixels]
Parameter [Read Noise Compensation] set to [13.94 %]
Parameter [Smoothness] set to [80 %]
--- Repair
Parameter [Radial Samples] set to [32]
Parameter [Sub Sampling] set to [4x]
Parameter [Algorithm] set to [Warp]
Parameter [Grow Mask] set to [0 pixels]
--- Filter
Parameter [Filter Mode] set to [Reject]
Parameter [Sampling Method] set to [3x3 Average]
Parameter [Filter Width] set to [5]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [1.0 pixels]
--- Filter
Parameter [Filter Mode] set to [Nudge (Screen)]
Parameter [Sampling Method] set to [3x3 Average]
Parameter [Filter Width] set to [5]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [5.0 pixels]
--- Filter
Parameter [Filter Mode] set to [Reject]
Parameter [Sampling Method] set to [3x3 Average]
Parameter [Filter Width] set to [5]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [8.3 pixels]
--- Life
Parameter [Detail Preservation] set to [Min Distance to 1/2 Unity]
Parameter [Compositing Algorithm] set to [Power of Inverse]
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 [12 %]
Parameter [Detail Preservation Radius] set to [20.0 pixels]
Parameter [Saturation] set to [50 %]
Parameter [Strength] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [1.0 pixels]
--- Life
Parameter [Detail Preservation] set to [Min Distance to 1/2 Unity]
Parameter [Compositing Algorithm] set to [Power of Inverse]
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 [12 %]
Parameter [Detail Preservation Radius] set to [20.0 pixels]
Parameter [Saturation] set to [50 %]
Parameter [Strength] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [1.0 pixels]
File saved [C:\Users\Marco\Pictures\1-Telescope\Canon\APT\Camera_1\2014-12-06\heartnebula\Lights\Autosave001.tiff].

Marco.

32 x 180 seconds at iso1600 should show much more detail. It should pop! The data looks clipped/ truncated, which usually occurs during preprocessing. StarTools does not clip your data. It might be easier to tell if you post a single sub, stretched.

Hi Rowland,
Thanks for your mail.

The light frames were just CR2 files stacked in DSS, and the resulting autosave file opened in ST no preprocessing done.
The EOS was attached to a Meade LS6" SCT FR 6.3

I don't know where the truncating/clipping could have happened.
Could the full moon have something to do with it?

This is a single CR2 frame, it is converted to 16bit tiff and stretched with autodev in ST.

Hi Marco,

I don't think the data is clipped looking at its histogram, but it's hard to tell what more can be gotten from the data without having it here.
From the processed CR2 you attached, it appears there are a number of challenges, particularly the lack of flats.
The streaking may be caused by failing to dither between frames; a 'stripy' pattern will develop.

Does this help?

Hi Ivo,
Thanks for your response.
The CR2 attached in the previous post does not have flats subtracted, Rowland just asked for a single stretched image.

The set of CR2 were taken with APT and guided with PHD2, and the dithering was done without any errors reported from APT.

I have uploaded in Google drive the DSS stacked set of Light, darks, flats, and bias

Here is the link.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6oGP3 ... sp=sharing

Do you agree with Rowland statement that 32 x 180 seconds at iso1600 should show much more detail?

Thanks for checking!

MarcoS wrote:Hi Ivo,
Thanks for your response.
The CR2 attached in the previous post does not have flats subtracted, Rowland just asked for a single stretched image.

Ah You didn't mention them in your acquisition details.

The set of CR2 were taken with APT and guided with PHD2, and the dithering was done without any errors reported from APT.

Interesting... It really *looks* like PHD2 failed to dither, but I could be wrong.
Would you be able to confirm the streaks go into the direction the image was drifting at the night?

I have uploaded in Google drive the DSS stacked set of Light, darks, flats, and bias

Many thanks - having a look now...

Do you agree with Rowland statement that 32 x 180 seconds at iso1600 should show much more detail?

I'd have to agree that for 96 minutes, going by the atached result, there is a disappointing amount of signal there...

Ok, It appears to me the flats have been applied incorrectly...
Beyond that, if the left over data is pushed hard, the streaking can be seen, which would either be due to the lack of dithering or the incorrect application of bias or darks.
How does your stack look if you just stack the lights, nothing else? Is it much easier to process? Does it still exhibit the same problems?

Good day Ivo,

I have checked the PHD logs again, and it looks the dithering was done. correctly after each frame: here two sample extracts:

INFO: SET LOCK POSITION, new lock pos = 635.725, 475.230
INFO: DITHER by 0.088, 0.191, new lock pos = 635.829, 475.413
#####
INFO: SET LOCK POSITION, new lock pos = 635.829, 475.413
INFO: DITHER by 0.338, 0.226, new lock pos = 636.186, 475.608

And in APT There was a delay between finishing dithering and starting a new light frame.

I have uploaded the stack with light frames only, I will make a stack with light and flats, ans see if I can isolate the problem..

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6oGP3 ... sp=sharing

Got to go to work now....
have a nice day/night

Thanks Marco,

It's some incredibly challenging data and I'm not sure the flats have made the data better or worse...
The streaking doesn't seem to be detectable in the lights-only stack though.
I'm not sure what to tell you... Something really strange is going on, but I don't know what!

Marco.

DSS may have preprocessed your files by subtracting the master bias from the light frames and the dark frames. This will almost certainly clip your light frames.

I find this method superior;

Turn off pixel rejection and scaling when creating the master bias and master dark, is best.

Create a master bias.

Calibrate the flats ONLY with the master bias, when making your master flat.

Do NOT calibrate dark frames with the master bias.

Create a master dark.

Do NOT calibrate the light frames with the master bias

Next -

Calibrate the light frames with the master dark and master flat ONLY.

It is better not to scale DSLR data as you would 16bit CCD data.

In summary, do not touch the dark frames or light frames with a bias frame. Leave the bias in the dark. The dark noise and bias will be subtracted all at once from the light frame.

This method will assure as much data retention as is possible with DSLR RAW data.

When you make your master flat use the DSS default setting, if it will let you make a master flat only. I use Pixinsight for preprocessing only and so I am not completely familiar with DSS.