Trouble Processing M33 Data

[dhellis59]

Hi,

I'm not only new to StarTools but image processing also. I am not that experienced at AP either. However, that being as it may, I have been trying to process the following image consisting of several 4 minute exposures of M33. I believe this stack consists of darks, flats and bias, but I can't be sure since I took it over a month ago, and my file saving skills require further organization.

I have been trying to get a decent image out of it but can't seem to separate the noise and/or light pollution. I was hoping to get some help making some use of it.

Here is a link to the fts file: http://1drv.ms/1NZf9Kz.

The best image I have gotten to date is:

[Cheman]

Hi dhellis59
i wasn't able to view your attachment so do not know what you came up with. Here is what I got and the log of my processing. Hope it helps. Che

DHE M33 (Medium).jpg (108.6 KiB) Viewed 10074 times

File loaded [C:\Users\Che\Desktop\DHE M33 Autosave.fts].
---
--- Crop
Parameter [X1] set to [147 pixels]
Parameter [Y1] set to [247 pixels]
Parameter [X2] set to [4048 pixels (-242)]
Parameter [Y2] set to [2574 pixels (-282)]
--- 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 [1 pixels]
Parameter [Drop Off Point] set to [0 %]
Parameter [Corner Aggressiveness] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Aggressiveness] set to [71 %]
--- Develop
Parameter [White Calibration] set to [Use Stars]
Parameter [Gamma] set to [1.00]
Parameter [Skyglow] set to [0 %]
Parameter [Digital Development] set to [85.33 %]
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 50.00%)/(400.00%)/(+2.00 bits)]
--- 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 [62 %]
Parameter [Strength] set to [49 %]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [13.6 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 %]
--- 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 [100 %]
Parameter [Small Detail Bias] 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 [82.34 %]
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]
--- 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 [1.0 pixels]
--- Color
Parameter [Cap Green] set to [To Yellow]
Parameter [Bias Slider Mode] set to [Sliders Increase 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 Increase] set to [1.52]
Parameter [Green Bias Increase] set to [1.33]
Parameter [Red Bias Increase] set to [1.00]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [1.0 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 [85.83 %]
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]
--- 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 [5.0 pixels]
Parameter [Read Noise Compensation] set to [Off]
Parameter [Smoothness] set to [75 %]
Undo.
Redo.
--- 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]
--- Repair
Parameter [Radial Samples] set to [32]
Parameter [Sub Sampling] set to [4x]
Parameter [Algorithm] set to [Redistribute, Core Is Brightest Pixel]
Parameter [Grow Mask] set to [0 pixels]
--- Magic
Parameter [Mode] set to [Tighten]
Parameter [Mask Grow] set to [1 pixels]
Parameter [Iterations] set to [1 pixels]
Undo.
Redo.
File saved [C:\Users\Che\Desktop\DHE M33.jpg].

[dhellis59]

Upon further research I realized that I did not stack any darks, flats, or bias frames with this image.

I will restack and try with the calibration files. I will also share them with anyone interested in processing the data and share their workflow.

On another note, how do I share my workflow?

Thanks,

Darryl

[dhellis59]

[quote="Cheman"]Hi dhellis59
i wasn't able to view your attachment so do not know what you came up with. Here is what I got and the log of my processing. Hope it helps. Che

Che,

Thank you very much! You did exactly what I was hoping. You got a dark background and got a lot more detail out of the image than I was able to.

How do you find and post your workflow?

I will attempt to repost my image solely so you and others can see how much better yours is.

I will study your workflow and attempt to emulate it. I was beginning to think the files were useless!

Thank you very much.

Darryl

[dhellis59]

Here is the image I originally tried to post.




Thanks,

Darryl

[dhellis59]

Ok, I figured out how to get to my logs.

I went ahead and created a desktop shortcut so I can get to it easier for the future.

Thanks,

Darryl

[Cheman]

Hi Darryl
glad you are sorting things out. Please do post a link to your calibrated image. I would like to try it again and see the difference.
Che

[dhellis59]

Hi All,

Here goes the link to the calibrated file: http://1drv.ms/1ZLkXg3

It consists of 1 hour and 40 mins of 4 min lights, roughly a dozen each of darks, flats, and bias frames.

I would love to see what can be done with this file.

Please provide any suggestions for improvement of my image capturing/equipment as well.

By the way I am imaging with an unmodded Canon 450 via a Celestron C80ed refractor on a Skywatcher EQ3 Pro...very modest equipment to say the least, but it's mine, lol. Also, I am guiding using a Mallincam Skyraider AGc via an Orion 50mm guidescope. I use Astrophotography Tool for capturing; Deep Sky Stacker for stacking, and StarTools for processing.

Thanks in advance,

Darryl

[Packen]

G'day Darryl,

I had a quick look at your data, the result can be seen here:-
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/733 ... 01_lzn.jpg
I noticed some evidence of star movement, maybe a little more rejection in DSS would help.

Clear Skies
Ken

[dhellis59]

G'day Darryl,

I had a quick look at your data, the result can be seen here:-
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/733 ... 01_lzn.jpg
I noticed some evidence of star movement, maybe a little more rejection in DSS would help.

Clear Skies
Ken

Ken,

Thanks. That is excellent. By a little more rejection, do you mean where it ask what percentage of the frames I should use? I left it at 100%, but I will go back and try 95% and 90%.

Can you share your workflow if you get a chance? I really struggle with getting a dark background.

Thanks again.

Darryl