StarTools

Hello, I spent about 4.5 hours gathering data on IC348, a small bright nebula in the Constellation Perseus. I've tried about 10 times to extract what I know is there. Another person used his PixInsight to process my data, and basically got what I thought was there. My version, and other peoples, who used Star Tools came up well short. I am attaching a link to Google Drive https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6hwUm ... sp=sharing

I would be very interested if you can get the faint, dark nebula that surrounds the bright nebula, and almost fills the entire photos. If you could, would you please post your steps. This is the only way I am going to learn how to use Star Tools. I've been poking around the various modules for months, and really not improving a whole lot. There has to be something I am missing.

I forgot to add info that will help. I've already binned it 50 percent, and cropped all the edges off of it, then saved it as a TIFF

I also forgot to post what I processed. Caley

I got permission to show you the PixInsight version, which I think is awesome. I am just wondering if Star Tools can duplicate it. Caley

You mentioned you forgot to post the steps of processing you already performed. What did you mean by that? Someone tackling this may want to start from scratch. In that case they will need your file that has already been dark subtracted and flat field processed.

"I also forgot to post what I processed." Caley

What I meant was the process I used with Star Tools to get the image down to size so I could post it on Google Drive. I have very slow internet. It took 20 minutes to download 20 MB to Google Drive. The original 260 MB TIFF would have taken all day. So I pared things down with two steps using Star Tools, which I consider part of the processing process.

I posted my own fully processed photo to show what I managed. I consider it a very poor effort, and was hoping someone else who uses Star Tools would be able to get what Bill did with his version using PixInsight, also displayed here in this thread.

I know I have a lot of nebulosity prior to the use of the Life and Colour modules. For some reason, I always manage to lose that detail when using these two modules. I figure I must be missing something along the way to preserve the faint nebulosity, as it ends up becoming just a dark even background. What I end up with in all my processed photos is a Histogram that is a narrow spike, and pushed all the way to the left. I haven't figured out how to keep it where it shows in my original subs, which is usually 1/4 to 1/3 of the way from the left edge. It is possible I still do not have long enough exposure time on my subs. I am trying to correct that problem by experimenting.

But in the meantime, I am trying to get the most out of what I have, and failing miserably. Caley

hi had a go at your file new to startools heres my effort comments welcome
tarTools 1.3.5.289
Fri Nov 13 18:54:44 2015
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File loaded [C:\Users\Dave\Downloads\IC 348d.tiff].
---
--- 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 [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 [92.39 %]
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]
--- Color
Parameter [Cap Green] set to [No]
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 [1.29]
Parameter [Green Bias Reduce] set to [1.00]
Parameter [Red Bias Reduce] set to [3.17]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [1.0 pixels]
--- 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 [1 pixels]
Parameter [Aggressiveness] set to [75 %]
Parameter [Dark Anomaly Headroom] set to [15 %]
--- Color
Parameter [Cap Green] set to [To Yellow]
Parameter [Bias Slider Mode] set to [Sliders Reduce Color Bias]
Parameter [Style] set to [Artistic, Not Detail Aware]
Parameter [LRGB Method Emulation] set to [RGB Ratio, 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 [1.06]
Parameter [Green Bias Reduce] set to [1.05]
Parameter [Red Bias Reduce] set to [3.51]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [1.0 pixels]
--- HDR
Parameter [Small Detail Precision] set to [Max]
Parameter [Channels] set to [Brightness Only]
Parameter [Algorithm] set to [Tame Highlights]
Parameter [Dark/Bright Response] set to [Full]
Parameter [Detail Size Range] set to [64 pixels]
Parameter [Noise Suppression] set to [Off]
--- 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]
--- Develop
Parameter [White Calibration] set to [Use Stars]
Parameter [Gamma] set to [1.00]
Parameter [Skyglow] set to [0 %]
Parameter [Digital Development] set to [92.93 %]
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]
--- Bin
Parameter [Scale] set to [(scale/noise reduction 70.71%)/(200.00%)/(+1.00 bits)]
--- 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 [1 pixels]
Parameter [Aggressiveness] set to [75 %]
Parameter [Dark Anomaly Headroom] set to [15 %]
--- Fractal Flux
Parameter [Brightness Mask Mode] set to [Off]
Parameter [Algorithm] set to [Modulate Unsharp Mask]
Parameter [Negative Flux] set to [0 %]
Parameter [Positive Flux] set to [500 %]
Parameter [Detail Filter] set to [1.0 pixels]
Parameter [Filter Fuzz] set to [1.0 pixels]
Parameter [Filter Radius] set to [1.5 pixels]
Parameter [Filter Amount] set to [200 %]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [1.0 pixels]
Parameter [Brightness Mask Power] set to [1.00]
--- Fractal Flux
Parameter [Brightness Mask Mode] set to [Where fg is light, use bg]
Parameter [Algorithm] set to [Modulate MOMH]
Parameter [Negative Flux] set to [600 %]
Parameter [Positive Flux] set to [600 %]
Parameter [Detail Filter] set to [1.0 pixels]
Parameter [Filter Fuzz] set to [1.0 pixels]
Parameter [Filter Radius] set to [12.5 pixels]
Parameter [Filter Amount] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [1.0 pixels]
Parameter [Brightness Mask Power] set to [3.00]
--- 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 [3]
Parameter [Color Detail Loss] set to [12 %]
Parameter [Brightness Detail Loss] set to [12 %]
Parameter [Grain Size] set to [4.5 pixels]
Parameter [Read Noise Compensation] set to [2.00 %]
Parameter [Smoothness] set to [75 %]
--- 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 [1.0 pixels]
Parameter [Amount] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Small Detail Bias] set to [75 %]
File saved [C:\Users\Dave\Downloads\IC 348d.tiff].

Burly, You got about the same, though it surely is an improvement on my meager efforts. I've been concentrating on dimmer objects the past few nights. Then I attack them in Star Tools, and have been experimenting. I found the key module is the Contrast. Got to keep the aggressiveness very low. That makes the darker nebula pop out better. Thanks for giving it a try. I'll try to revisit my data and see if my newly found procedures improve on things. Caley

Hi Caley
Here's my result with your data. I tried to concentrate on bringing out the faint stuff. I'm not quite sure whats going on with some of your stars, having saturated red cores. And the bright star with the red ring but I did not spent much time trying to fix that. StarTools 1.4.297
Fri Nov 13 20:06:32 2015
-----------------------------------------------------------
File loaded [C:\Users\Che\Desktop\IC 348d.tiff].
---
--- Wipe
Parameter [Mode] set to [Correct Color & Brightness]
Parameter [UNKNOWN] set to [Yes]
Parameter [Precision] set to [256 x 256 pixels]
Parameter [Dark Anomaly Filter] set to [7 pixels]
Parameter [Drop Off Point] set to [100 %]
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 [32 %]
Undo.
--- Develop
Parameter [White Calibration] set to [Use Dark Anomaly Filter (May White Clip)]
Parameter [Gamma] set to [1.07]
Parameter [Skyglow] set to [0 %]
Parameter [Digital Development] set to [95.38 %]
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 [12 %]
Parameter [Dark Anomaly Filter] set to [1.6 pixels]
--- Deconvolution
Parameter [Image Type] set to [Deep Space]
Parameter [Mask Behavior] set to [De-ring Mask Gaps, Hide Result]
Parameter [Radius] set to [2.3 pixels]
Parameter [Iterations] set to [6]
Parameter [Regularization] set to [1.00 (optimal noise and detail)]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [8.0 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 [1.60]
Parameter [Bright Saturation] set to [3.70]
Parameter [Saturation Amount] set to [200 %]
Parameter [Blue Bias Reduce] set to [1.09]
Parameter [Green Bias Reduce] set to [1.05]
Parameter [Red Bias Reduce] set to [3.37]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [1.0 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]
--- 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 [3]
Parameter [Color Detail Loss] set to [12 %]
Parameter [Brightness Detail Loss] set to [12 %]
Parameter [Grain Size] set to [11.4 pixels]
Parameter [Read Noise Compensation] set to [10.00 %]
Parameter [Smoothness] set to [75 %]
--- Life
Parameter [Detail Preservation] set to [Min Distance to 1/2 Unity]
Parameter [Compositing Algorithm] set to [Screen]
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 [5 %]
Parameter [Detail Preservation Radius] set to [20.0 pixels]
Parameter [Saturation] set to [50 %]
Parameter [Strength] set to [112 %]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [1.0 pixels]
--- Magic
Parameter [Mode] set to [Tighten]
Parameter [Mask Grow] set to [1 pixels]
Parameter [Iterations] set to [2 pixels]
--- Color
Parameter [Cap Green] set to [No]
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 [9.90]
Parameter [Bright Saturation] set to [9.90]
Parameter [Saturation Amount] set to [147 %]
Parameter [Blue Bias Reduce] set to [1.00]
Parameter [Green Bias Reduce] set to [1.00]
Parameter [Red Bias Reduce] set to [1.00]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [1.0 pixels]
File saved [C:\Users\Che\Desktop\IC 348d.jpg].

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StarTools 1.4.297
Fri Nov 13 21:28:46 2015
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Cheman, I had one of the Astronomy Forum members suggest a fix in the stacking phase of DSS, which may be the problem with the red rings on the very bright stars. The suggestion was working in the cosmetic module of DSS. I am going to try that when I no longer have nice nights to photograph. It's been so long since we've had a nice stretch of weather, I don't want to miss the opportunity to gather data.

Thanks for giving things a go. I hope it isn't the RAW data. I hope it is a product of DSS not having the proper settings. At least that can be adjusted. Caley