Low Key M20

[gregbradley]

Looks good Peter. I see you are going over to the dark side with PI!
You certainly got those core stars nicely tamed. Shorter exposures for them?

I am in the process of updating my PI to version 1.8 as well. I am sure there are some nice modules in there. My only comment about PI images very generally (not yours here) is they often look overprocessed. As I learn more about it I am sure there are ways to tame it but the Photoshop opacity slider in layers sure is useful and hard to beat.

Greg.

[Paul Haese]

Looks 3D to me. Maybe a little too low key, but still having the appearance of layers of cloud.

[Peter Ward]

Originally Posted by Paul Haese

Looks 3D to me. Maybe a little too low key, but still having the appearance of layers of cloud.

Thanks Paul... I'll probably leave this data set alone....as frankly it needs a re-shoot, also I have no idea where the uncalibrated data...something PI can do magic with....happens to be.

Originally Posted by gregbradley

Looks good Peter. I see you are going over to the dark side with PI!
You certainly got those core stars nicely tamed. Shorter exposures for them?

I am in the process of updating my PI to version 1.8 as well. I am sure there are some nice modules in there. My only comment about PI images very generally (not yours here) is they often look overprocessed. As I learn more about it I am sure there are ways to tame it but the Photoshop opacity slider in layers sure is useful and hard to beat.

Greg.

Humm the dark side... I don't think it's PI.... maybe FLI

I use different tools at different stages of capture/processing. I *still* use CCDops for data capture as the AG routines are sublime and you just can't kill it with a stick (your ST-i usage has not gone un-noticed )

PI has superb reduction and registration routines. Photoshop however just flows with colour and contrast tweaks.

[gregbradley]

Humm the dark side... I don't think it's PI.... maybe FLI

I use different tools at different stages of capture/processing. I *still* use CCDops for data capture as the AG routines are sublime and you just can't kill it with a stick (your ST-i usage has not gone un-noticed )

PI has superb reduction and registration routines. Photoshop however just flows with colour and contrast tweaks.[/QUOTE]

Yes FLI is the work of the devil! I must say the latest incarnations of SBIG cameras are very nice and that AOX seems a really hot product. Its bit like Nikon versus Canon. Once you invest in glass its hard to change direction.

Yes you have mentioned that before about CCDOps. I should give it another go. I did use it when I very first used an ST2000XM. I'd like to see it in action compared to CCDsoft or TSX. STi is a superb guider and I really like it. Well built, the shutter is a godsend and besides I like the colour!

I am a bit unhappy with CCDStack in that it takes way too long to process a stack of 16803 images. It bogs down with more than about 10 1x1 images. Processing even 10 is super slow. Deconvolution takes ages.
Also I have trouble sometimes with callibration. Martin showed how PI gave the lowest FWHM increase over the average subs. So I intend checking it out for callibration, registration and RGB combine as well as gradient handling of which dynamic background extraction is a very good tool.

I'd love to see another epic Honders shot. Your Eta was divine.

Greg.