could someone try to process the image with our beloved tool? I'd like to have a sort of test to understand how much I'm loosing of the image potential because of my poor experience
Here's my log, you might find it strange but this is the reason: my buddy knows NOTHING about image processing but as the right "eye" to identify what it is beautiful and what it is not, so I let him try any combination of startools modules (infinite monkey theorem ) and then I collect his logs and his result (which has always something that improves my attempts) and try to produce something with the right color balance and noise reduction
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StarTools 1.4.324
Sun Nov 13 18:31:46 2016
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File loaded [/Users/morsini/var/20161030_M31/20161030_M31.fts].
---
--- Auto Develop
Parameter [Ignore Fine Detail <] set to [Off]
Parameter [Outside ROI Influence] set to [15 %]
--- Crop
Parameter [X1] set to [158 pixels]
Parameter [Y1] set to [112 pixels]
Parameter [X2] set to [4784 pixels (-424)]
Parameter [Y2] set to [3030 pixels (-446)]
--- Bin
Parameter [Scale] set to [(scale/noise reduction 70.71%)/(200.00%)/(+1.00 bits)]
--- Wipe
Parameter [Mode] set to [Correct Color & Brightness]
Parameter [UNKNOWN] set to [No]
Parameter [Precision] set to [512 x 512 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 [70 %]
--- Develop
Parameter [White Calibration] set to [Use Stars]
Parameter [Gamma] set to [1.00]
Parameter [Skyglow] set to [0 %]
Parameter [Digital Development] set to [92.38 %]
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 [5 %]
Parameter [Dark Anomaly Filter] set to [Off]
--- Wipe
Parameter [Mode] set to [Correct Color & Brightness]
Parameter [UNKNOWN] set to [No]
Parameter [Precision] set to [1024 x 1024 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 [80 %]
--- Deconvolution
Parameter [Image Type] set to [Deep Space]
Parameter [Mask Behavior] set to [Normal]
Parameter [Radius] set to [1.5 pixels]
Parameter [Iterations] set to [12]
Parameter [Regularization] set to [1.00 (optimal noise and detail)]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [4.9 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 [83 %]
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 [Optimize Hard]
Parameter [Dark/Bright Response] set to [Full]
Parameter [Detail Size Range] set to [38 pixels]
Parameter [Strength] set to [2.4]
--- Wavelet Sharpen
Parameter [Intelligent Enhance] set to [Yes]
Parameter [Scale 1] set to [92 %]
Parameter [Scale 2] set to [93 %]
Parameter [Scale 3] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Scale 4] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Scale 5] set to [67 %]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [4.5 pixels]
Parameter [Amount] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Small Detail Bias] set to [75 %]
--- Color
Parameter [Cap Green] set to [No]
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 [2.00]
Parameter [Bright Saturation] set to [Full]
Parameter [Saturation Amount] set to [200 %]
Parameter [Blue Bias Reduce] set to [1.05]
Parameter [Green Bias Reduce] set to [1.00]
Parameter [Red Bias Reduce] set to [1.38]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [1.0 pixels]
--- Wavelet De-Noise
Parameter [Scale 1] set to [95 %]
Parameter [Scale 2] set to [95 %]
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 [3.5 pixels]
Parameter [Read Noise Compensation] set to [Off]
Parameter [Smoothness] set to [77 %]
File saved [/Users/morsini/var/20161030_M31/20161030_M31_4.tiff].
This is my version/interpretation of m31 using StarTools. It's not that different from yours. I used most of the modules but not "life", "flux". Afterwards I did some work on the stars but I don't feel I'm usually successful here. I also binned it to 50%.
There's something going on with dark anomalies in your data as I had some difficulty with wipe. Eventually I just cropped out the gradients on the right and bottom of the image.
Richard your elaboration is gorgeous! this is exactly how it should be!
Often, when I do my processing, I feel like something is missing, the final picture is not .... how can I say? bright, luminous ... I cannot even define the defect it has, but I know that others will do much better with same data ... and this is a confirmation that I have to work a lot in improving my processing skills!!
do you mind sending me the log file? so that I can compare it with mine and see which are the differences?
This is my version/interpretation of m31 using StarTools. It's not that different from yours. I used most of the modules but not "life", "flux". Afterwards I did some work on the stars but I don't feel I'm usually successful here. I also binned it to 50%.
There's something going on with dark anomalies in your data as I had some difficulty with wipe. Eventually I just cropped out the gradients on the right and bottom of the image.
Hi Richard,
I just looked at your processing and I'm wondering whether the many cyan (blue) stars are actually what they are "supposed" to look like. I have the same result as you, many cyan stars as well. I was wondering whether more processing is needed to get rid of the blue stars?
15003411_1172696356146943_8732922908974863428_o.jpg (281.35 KiB) Viewed 11434 times
This version of M31 was taken with a FSQ106, STF8300C, Hutech IDAS LPS filter and stacked (5min*8 = 40 min) on 05 Nov 2016 and processed in StarTools, of course .
Hi cytan299,
I noticed that if you push too much the noise reduction phase (smoothness param), stars get a colored component, in my case this is red, but maybe in yours is blue.
It is easy to get it, as soon as you go over 70-70% of smothness you should notice this change of color
micheleorsini wrote:Richard your elaboration is gorgeous! this is exactly how it should be!
Often, when I do my processing, I feel like something is missing, the final picture is not .... how can I say? bright, luminous ... I cannot even define the defect it has, but I know that others will do much better with same data ... and this is a confirmation that I have to work a lot in improving my processing skills!!
do you mind sending me the log file? so that I can compare it with mine and see which are the differences?
thank you again!
M.
Thank you for your praise. It takes a lot of time and patience to get to know a programme well. I joined a yahoo group, "dslr_astro_imaging" group and users supply their data for you to work on. Unfortunately there aren't many startools users there but then thank to this forum...
I'm not totally happy is my result but thanks very much. I located the log - keep in mind I tend to go back and forth with some modules so it may seem a bit disjunct.
File loaded [/home/rkonrad/Downloads/unprocessed_tif/20161030_M31.fts].
---
--- Bin
Parameter [Scale] set to [(scale/noise reduction 50.00%)/(400.00%)/(+2.00 bits)]
--- Auto Develop
Parameter [Ignore Fine Detail <] set to [Off]
Parameter [Outside ROI Influence] set to [15 %]
--- Crop
Parameter [X1] set to [48 pixels]
Parameter [Y1] set to [40 pixels]
Parameter [X2] set to [2581 pixels (-23)]
Parameter [Y2] set to [1669 pixels (-69)]
--- 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 [3 pixels]
Parameter [Drop Off Point] set to [0 %]
Parameter [Corner Aggressiveness] set to [100 %]
Parameter [Aggressiveness] set to [75 %]
--- 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 [4 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 [15 %]
--- Crop
Parameter [X1] set to [1 pixels]
Parameter [Y1] set to [9 pixels]
Parameter [X2] set to [2470 pixels (-63)]
Parameter [Y2] set to [1529 pixels (-100)]
--- Auto Develop
Parameter [Ignore Fine Detail <] set to [2.4 pixels]
Parameter [Outside ROI Influence] set to [15 %]
--- 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]
--- 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 [0 %]
Parameter [Blue Bias Reduce] set to [1.05]
Parameter [Green Bias Reduce] set to [1.00]
Parameter [Red Bias Reduce] set to [1.31]
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 [46 %]
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 [161 %]
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 Soft]
Parameter [Dark/Bright Response] set to [Full]
Parameter [Detail Size Range] set to [21 pixels]
Parameter [Noise Suppression] set to [14 %]
--- 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 [110 %]
Parameter [Blue Bias Reduce] set to [1.05]
Parameter [Green Bias Reduce] set to [1.00]
Parameter [Red Bias Reduce] set to [1.31]
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 [6.1 pixels]
Parameter [Read Noise Compensation] set to [Off]
Parameter [Smoothness] set to [81 %]
--- Magic
Parameter [Mode] set to [Tighten]
Parameter [Mask Grow] set to [1 pixels]
Parameter [Iterations] set to [2 pixels]
--- Magic
Parameter [Mode] set to [Shrink]
Parameter [Mask Grow] set to [1 pixels]
Parameter [Iterations] set to [1 pixels]
---
Parameter [Quality] set to [Medium]
Parameter [New Darker Than Old] set to [Yes]
Parameter [Grow Mask] set to [0 pixels]
Parameter [Neighbourhood Samples] set to [0]
Parameter [New Must Be Darker Than] set to [Off]
Parameter [Neighbourhood Area] set to [200 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 [135 %]
Parameter [Blue Bias Reduce] set to [1.01]
Parameter [Green Bias Reduce] set to [1.00]
Parameter [Red Bias Reduce] set to [1.01]
Parameter [Mask Fuzz] set to [1.0 pixels]
File saved [/home/rkonrad/Downloads/unprocessed_tif/tempm31/20161030_M31.tiff].
Just a note: I'm not sure it was necessary to bin as much as I did but it makes processing a lot faster obviously.. I'm not always sure how much to bin. In this case, I find it harder to control stars since when you reduce them they tend to become squares!
Thank you again Richard!
I will look at the log and try to understand what you did.
As for binning, there is another con to bin so hard: printing. I prefer to keep the image at least 6MP for having a 20x30 decent print quality in case I need. Anyways, binning reduces the noise so I have to try if the same result can be achieved by binning to 70%, which is my current standard
And yes, I have to subscribe to that yahoo group and make practice!
The ;scientific style" is the way we're suppost to use the colour module if you want colours to turn out as accurate as possible. I haven't had much time to re investigate the image brs. ug I do remember their were some dark anomolies/ unatural data which interfered with wipe which I couldn't find. This may account for the over bluish colours. I do recall that when the galaxy was the way I like it, the stars were too saturated - so I desaturated the star. I think ivo may have some words of wisdom.
) and then I collect his logs and his result (which has always something that improves my attempts) and try to produce something with the right color balance and noise reduction 
.