Qhyccd8l

[jenchris]

Got a loaner for a while and had a play this evening - took some pics in APT and they came out greyscale.
Can't find a switch to make the camera image in colour.
Do I have to use sharpcap or is it possible to use APT which I like and am fairly proficient with?:help:

[Atmos]

If you bin it will be greyscale. With your image files, do their size reflect that there is other channels there?

[jenchris]

I didn't bin and the file size is 12.8mb per image - so I guess there's info there but it comes up grayscale 16 bit fits.

[Atmos]

Sounds like it is actually saving as greyscale, image should be 3x that size. Have you tried using EZCap? QHY software package.

[jenchris]

I had a look at it last night, part of the learning curve - so I shall use it next time I have a go.
I just thought I'd be able to use APT as it is partnered with CCD and recognised the hardware.
It showed up in the live view as colour but it wasn't til later that I realised it was greyscale.

[Atmos]

At least it is recognising it as being a colour camera, not sure why it would be saving it greyscale though, never used APT. Perhaps it is in a setting somewhere :)

[Camelopardalis]

Have you debayered the image for viewing?

[jenchris]

No - it comes into DSS as a greyscale image (fits 16 bit)- not sure about the debayering as I've never used it

[Atmos]

With it being ~12mb it doesn't sound like there is any colour data. When FITS images are saved it treats every colour channel as being an image of its own. When I save my Nikon .NEF files as 16 bit FITS they are 73 mb.

[jenchris]

Right thanks for that - I shall use sharpcap tonight and see the difference
Here's what I got in 300 secs

[Atmos]

Looks good so far and with some nice framing. It'll be great when you can tame the camera and get it to save in colour :)

[Camelopardalis]

12MB sounds about right for a 16-bit RGB fits file.

In the CCD settings in DSS, check the dropdown menu for the camera model or select one of th Bayer patterns. If nothing else, you should be able to get it by trial and error, there are only 4 different combinations ;) My hunch would be to try RGGB first.

[billdan]

Hi Jen'

Dunk is correct refer to screen cap below.

Bill

[astronobob]

Agree, The fits file out of qhy is grey scale, need to interpolate in DSS and and the Auto Save tiff file should be near 100MB color,

[jenchris]

Thanks guys

[Ross G]

Hello Jen,

I've been using a QHY8L ccd for about 4 years.

What you are doing is correct and your file sizes are also correct.

The captured FITS files will look monochrome.

You will only see the colour after you have put your files through DSS which will debayer, align and stack them.

Make sure you have entered the correct bayer matrix pattern in DSS.
Do not use the drop down selection for QHY8. This refers to the older model.
For your QHY8L, use GENERIC GBRG.

Good luck.
Ross.

[jenchris]

Yes good people it works.
Thanks a heap.

[jenchris]

OKAY!!!
Here' the above greyscale image of 500 seconds stretched to seriousl idiotic proportions to see how much info was in there.

[ZeroID]

Heaps by the look of it, nice one !

[Camelopardalis]

That's more like it :thumbsup:

[astronobob]

Way to GO Jenny :thumbsup: :thumbsup: