Deep Sky Stacker Problem

mick pinner · #1 05-01-2010, 11:56 AM

when stacking is complete it saves to original folder but when l try to open the image it says image does not contain a bitmap and will not open.
it saves as a paint shop pro image, can this be changed and could this be the problem, any help appreciated.

Tandum (Robin) · #2 05-01-2010, 12:31 PM

It saves as something like 'autosave.tif'. That is a 32bit image and most image software can't open 32bit images, they just think they can open it cos it has .tif on the end. After DSS is done, you need to select 'save picture to file' and save it as a 16bit image. You can also open the 32bit image you already have in DSS and then save it as 16bit. Does that help?

mick pinner · #3 05-01-2010, 01:20 PM

thanks Robin, certainly does thank you.

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #4 05-01-2010, 01:35 PM

Have you tried dragging and dropping the file into the application?
CS3 won't open DSS autosave files conventionally, only by drag and drop. Then I save it as a 16 bit file and go from there.

mick pinner · #5 05-01-2010, 01:43 PM

l tried loading the file straight into CS3 in the conventional method and mine does open, l then save as 16 bit. thanks Jeanette.

mill (Martin) · #6 05-01-2010, 01:52 PM

You can open the file in CS3 and then goto "image -->>mode-->>16bit"
then also the histogram will be visible.
From then on you will be working with a 16bit image, this way you dont have to save it first as an 16bit image and then open it again.

wasyoungonce (Brendan) · #7 05-01-2010, 05:32 PM

Hi Mick/Martin/jjjnette... Just to plough into the issue.

I'm having lots of trouble opening DSS "saved picture to file" tiffs (or any DSS tiff format) with Adobe CS3 but my "Autosaved" tiffs are ok. This is happening on my main computer. Yet on another computer, a Lappy, I can open "saved picture to file" tiffs (from DSS) with CS3 no problems.

.

Funny thing I can "copy current picture to clipboard" from DSS & past it into CS3 ok...but I cannot open "saved picture to file" tiffs on this computer.

I know from the DSS forum that there are a few other users who have the same issue and others who have the opposite issue to me.

It appears to me that DSS is corrupting my "saved picture to file" tiff images (on my main computer) as I cannot open these on other computers as well.

Removal & re-installs of DSS & CS3 did not cure the issue.

Sigh...I've been trying to work this out for some time.

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #8 05-01-2010, 06:11 PM

You should only be using the autosave.tif files for processing anyway.
This is the image in it's purest form.
The "saved to file" tifs will have compression artefacts.

wasyoungonce (Brendan) · #9 05-01-2010, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjjnettie

You should only be using the autosave.tif files for processing anyway.
This is the image in it's purest form.
The "saved to file" tifs will have compression artefacts.

Ahhhh didn't know "autosaved" tiffs were 32 bit...just looked.

Problem is I should be able to do some processing IN DSS and "saved picture to file" tiff (32 bit) image.

Sometimes I can get better processing this way.

bojan · #10 05-01-2010, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjjnettie

You should only be using the autosave.tif files for processing anyway.
This is the image in it's purest form.
The "saved to file" tifs will have compression artefacts.

This should not be the case..
Especially if the original image was from 12-bit ADC cameras.
The only possible loss of information would be lower dynamic range, but only if the original image was taken with cameras using 16-bit ADC, which are still rare (my Canon for example has 12 bit ADC)
I will check..

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #11 05-01-2010, 07:42 PM

We experimented quite thoroughly, processing the same image using both methods.
The autosave.tif came out on top each time.

bojan · #12 05-01-2010, 07:49 PM

Hmm
Do you have some example of artefacts (like small crop) to compare?
Because I experimented as well quite a lot and my conclusion was there was no significant difference.

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #13 05-01-2010, 08:28 PM

Ponders knows more about this than I do. Maybe if you pm him for more details.
I only kept the best images and deleted the others.

Tandum (Robin) · #14 06-01-2010, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjjnettie

You should only be using the autosave.tif files for processing anyway.
This is the image in it's purest form.
The "saved to file" tifs will have compression artefacts.

You should select the 'No Compression' option when saving.

DSS works with 32bit rational numbers, ie: they have decimal points. 16bit images use whole numbers, integers, so there should be no difference converting to 16bit in DSS or PS. I'd imagine both just round up the decimal points.