Stacking BIG Files

[gbeal]

In keeping with my ASCOM MayDay, I could use a point in the right direction with stacking BIG files.
To date I have been using an ST2000XCM, giving 1600x1200 pixel images, and normally about 6-10 max. Calibration etc is all done in Maxim DL. While as many as 10 shots can cause a little bit of a chug from the decent desktop PC I use, it all works well, and fairly quickly.
So, last week when I shot 12 images with my Canon 20D and went to stack them it caused the PC to crash, many times. Even applying the dark caused me grief.
I tried an old copy of IP, but find the system "different" and I can't even get a mono image to become RGB easily. I know Maxim reasonably well, and would prefer to stick with this, but if file sizes are going to give me grief I either have to stick with the SBIG sized files or change, something.
Whatchyaalluse everyone?
Gary

[[1ponders]]

How olds the computer and how much RAM does it have Gary?

[gbeal]

I'll get back to you, when I check. It is normally pretty good, but these DSLR files are HUGE 45mb or so. Plus like a drongo I saved them in mono, so had to colour convert them as well.

[JohnG]

The current version of IP, Version 3, processes and calibrate SBig files, when I get the ST4K finally up and running, that is what I intend using.

Cheers

[Astrod00d]

I use Deep Sky Stacker with 10MP raws from my 400d. DSS has stacked up to 53 subs with no trouble, and would certainly do more.
The only time I had trouble was when I selected 'Bayer Drizzle' instead of standard debayering. Bayer Drizzle is meant for small, webcam-size frames, so asking it to drizzle process 10MP raw frames was a bit much really. :)
I run DSS on my laptop, it has 2GB ram and windows XP.

Cheers,

Rob

[gbeal]

Cheers team.
Rob, I'll try DSS.
Paul, the PC is a year or two old, so that can mean it is out of date of course.
Just checked, AMD 64 3500+ with 2.2GHz Processor, and 960Mb RAM.
Gary

[RB]

Beat me to it Paul.


Gary is it possible to get more RAM, it should help.

[gbeal]

RB. Of course. Anything in this game is possible, it is simply a case of money, LOL.
Astronomy is the black hole that sucks all my money at the moment.

[RB]

:confuse3: hmm, you may need a super nova; buy a lottery ticket and if you win, I'll take half your bundle off your hands. :whistle:

[[1ponders]]

Can't comment on using MaximDL Gary, but I'll let you know how IP goes with the bigger Raws sometime during the week. Nearly a gig of ram should be enough though one would think. It's not like PS :scared:

[gbeal]

Yeah, I agree, and while the above advice re ram is valid, there has been a major change in the way the PC works, SBIG Vs DSLR.

[RB]

Don't know what else to recommend apart from trying it on another computer Gary.

I process all my 20Da images using IP and registar and have no probs with them.

I've got a P3.2Ghz with 1.5Mb ram.

How much HD space have you got Gary?

[rogerg]

I use RegiStar for stacking my 8MP DSLR shots on my 2.6ghz P4. I have recently upgraded to 1.5gig of ram, but it doesn't get used.

Using RegiStar, no matter how many 8 megapixel shots I stack (have probably done up to about 30), I've never seen it go over 300mb memory usage, RegiStar is extremely efficient with it's file handling in my opinion.

It takes a little while to go through the process, but an appropriate amount of time in my experience, certainly no slower than CCDSoft and definitely faster than my experience with Deep Sky Stacker (but, deep sky stacker can do dark subtraction).

RegiStar won't do your dark subtraction, to my knowledge.

Roger.

[Terry B]

I process my 40D raws that convert to 19meg files with Iris on my computer. When they are converted to 48bit colour they are ~60meg. It's only a 2.4Ghx with 764meg of RAM. I have processed up to 15 frames at this size. Takes a few minutes to do the dark, flat etc and about a minute to combine the images. Not fast but gets there with no crashes.

[Alchemy]

pretty much ditto for me exept i convert them to 36 meg tifs first before stacking.

[gbeal]

Just tried to load DSS onto the PC, and it won't, so from this I suspect it needs SP2, which it isn't going to get, as I don't connect it to the internet. (I am a through and through Mac user, this is my one and only PC, and it is on borrowed time).
Andrew, 49Gb free, 27 or so used.
Thanks to all that replied, I'll persevere.

[Zuts]

Hi Gary,

When you get it working. I use Eric's tip and after DSS has finished save as a 16 bit TIFF without applying the DSS adjustments. It looks very dim in photoshop but can be brought to life with normal level and curve processing.

Paul