Stacking software

[thegableguy]

What stacking software does everyone use? I'm having my first experience with DeepSkyStacker right now and it's deeply frustrating. The results are quite amazing, far better than I had a right to expect, but the interface is pretty awful and very non-intuitive. For example, saving the file list after stacking completely erases the stack. Yes, my bad for not saving it first, but come on!

If this is the standard place to start then I'll figure it out eventually; just wondering if there's any alternatives that might annoy me less...?

[vlazg]

Nebulosity is ok, documentation is good, also you tube astronomy shed, there is a good tutorial.
CCDstack also good
Pixinsight is very difficult but the results can be great

[raymo]

There is also Auto Stakkert, although I personally find it less user friendly
than DSS.
raymo

[ZeroID]

DSS is not very friendly but once you have a workable system it's only a small part of the whole process and pretty easy to run. I just take the autosave.tif file into CS2 and go from there.

[bojan]

DSS...
I am saving result into tiff, then process in DPP (Canon).

[rustigsmed]

hmmm,
I don't mind DSS, maybe I have gotten used to it, not really sure others will be much 'better'.

I usually weed out bad subs prior to putting them into DSS. Drag the files from explorer directly into it. it will ask what type of files they are (eg dark or flat or lights).

I never bother saving the file stack, just the tiff at the end. It automatically saves details for each sub anyhow.

[thegableguy]

Thanks everyone.

I think I'll get used to DSS; it's a pretty ordinary interface but it certainly gets the job done. Might try some of the others the next cloudy night and see if any of them are more to my liking.

There's so much I don't understand about it for now, got lots of learning to do... LOTS of learning. For now just sticking with default values for everything at least gets me a result.

Any other processing tips for a brand noob welcome!

[bojan]

See here, I hope it will help:
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showpost.php?p=478944&postcount=37

[Cimitar]

Hi Chris, I tried DSS a handful of times and found the experience just as frustrating. I'm sure the software is fine, but like all things, sometimes it's just comes down to personal taste.

I moved straight to Nebulosity and have never looked back. I use it for capture, stacking and limited processing. Well worth the small price in my view. Stark Labs have free demo's of their products so no harm in trying.

PS. I have no affiliation with any company, just sharing my experience to date.

Cheers, Evan