1st attempt processing with PixInsight

[shahgazer (Shah)]

Hi All,

These images were among the first to be processed in Pixinsight. I think I can already get a consistent workflow, but still need to get used to the numerous settings for each module.

These are also among my first serious DSLR images (I'm more on CCD), and was quiet happy with the results, despite short 30-sec subs, and under a severe light polluted (3rd mag limited) sky.

Final tweak in brightness and contrast in PS. Cropped to about 50% from original frame, the gradient at the edges were really ugly!

Comments are most welcome.

[alocky (Andrew lockwood)]

Nice start- it's not the easiest bit of software to jump into. The background modelling tools in PI are really effective, and I'd have a look at using the Morphological transform tools to help your M22 a little. The histogram and curves tools are also useful, you can pretty much dispense with photoshop once you get the hang of the PI version.
There's quite a few video tutorials on the PI homepage, I found these absolutely invaluable just to learn the 'feel' of the interface.
Mind you, my family is planning an intervention shortly to drag me away from it!
Cheers,
Andrew.

[RickS (Rick)]

As Andrew said, PI has some great tools for removing gradients. There are some helpful tutorials here if you haven't found them already:
http://www.harrysastroshed.com/pixinsighthome.html

Cheers,
Rick.

[shahgazer (Shah)]

Thank you.. Andrew, Rick,

Yes, Harry's tutorial was the main source of getting to know the steps in PI. Certainly a great help.

Will look back into my old data sets and see how different will it look as compared to using MaxIM and PS.

[pvelez (Pete)]

Originally Posted by shahgazer

Will look back into my old data sets and see how different will it look as compared to using MaxIM and PS.

I've had a similar experience recently. Many of my images have been plagued with colour gradient - partly a function of pushing the data too hard and partly from LP and combining data from different nights.

I found that DBE worked a treat to clean this up so the old images look quite crisp. I found sometimes it needed several iterations - as many as 5 or 6 - to get the background right. Its such a step up from PS once you get the hang of it

Keep plugging away at it

Pete

[shahgazer (Shah)]

Originally Posted by pvelez

I found that DBE worked a treat to clean this up so the old images look quite crisp. I found sometimes it needed several iterations - as many as 5 or 6 - to get the background right. Its such a step up from PS once you get the hang of it

Keep plugging away at it

Pete

Thank Pete,

I never thought of doing DBE several times. I spent most of the time, re-doing back, tinkering with the settings. I will give this method a try.

Some of my original photos lacked calibration files, especially flats thus I got lots dust bunnies. I wonder if DBE-ing on certain part of the dust doughnuts will help minimizing the effect?

This is more like rescuing old data sets due to lack of knowledge during those early days doing imaging.