Is Image Processing Fun or ???

[umasscrew39]

I'd give it an 8. So much to learn. Although I do get frustrated when I'm having to deal with all the artifacts from the local light pollution. It is nice being able to start with clean data.

I hear your pain with LP artifacts. I finally bit the bullet and changed to NB imaging for exactly that reason. I had "hit the wall" with what I could do with the LP-limited data I was collecting. The NB filters (specifically Ha, Oiii and Sii) along with the cooled camera have made a huge difference in the quality of the collected data. I'm really enjoying the processing now.

Steve

Just ordered my Chroma OIII and SII filters to go along with my Ha filter. Going to stick with them on my ASI1600mm and use my OSC cameras only with the duo narrowband L-eNHance filter. My Bortle 6 LP is just a hassle.

[STEVE333]

Just ordered my Chroma OIII and SII filters to go along with my Ha filter. Going to stick with them on my ASI1600mm and use my OSC cameras only with the duo narrowband L-eNHance filter. My Bortle 6 LP is just a hassle.

Fantastic Bruce. I had a difficult time transitioning from DSLR to the ASI1600MM. Since you already have the Ha filter maybe you have it figured out.

If you have any questions I would be glad to help if I can. I've finally figured out the calibration process, so, now it is just "collect data and have fun processing"!

Cheers,
Steve

[umasscrew39]

Thanks, Steve. I used the SX CCD cameras when living in the SF Bay Area and did palettes but switched to CMOS in FL. I have only used the 1600 for Ha live viewing and it is excellent. I am sure to have questions once I get going for AP NB imaging. May be a while with hurricane season upon us.

[STEVE333]

Thanks, Steve. I used the SX CCD cameras when living in the SF Bay Area and did palettes but switched to CMOS in FL. I have only used the 1600 for Ha live viewing and it is excellent. I am sure to have questions once I get going for AP NB imaging. May be a while with hurricane season upon us.

I struggled learning how to calibrate the 1600 until finally finding a wonderful (but long) 9-part YouTube tutorial by Adam Block. Since his tutorial was so long I decided to make a condensed version by just including the portions pertaining to a CMOS camera. You might find it useful. The link is below.

viewtopic.php?f=22&t=10812

Hopefully you have a pleasant and uneventful hurricane season.

Steve

[carastro]

I must be some sort of masochist because I really love the processing side of imaging so I give it a 10.

Yes there are times when I try to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear, and it's a lot of work, but great satisfaction if you get a good result at the end.

Yes it takes a long time to learn, and am adding new processing ideas all the time. I use Photoshop CS3 and find it does practically everything I want and am reluctant to change to new softwares which require a new learning curve. I also try to avoid using actions, preferring to find ways of doing these things myself, with the exception of Gradient Exterminator which is invaluable.

We were all learners at some point, and some things have taken me years to learn how to do, picking up the odd tip here and there from other people.

Carole

[DEnc]

I'm still on the steep side of the learning curve so the dividends are gained only after a sizable investment. And when I've done all I can and consider a job done, I still see things that need to be addressed in the future, but the means to correct them are Rumsfeldian "unknown unknowns", the most challenging kind of unknowns to address.

Every now and then I crack open a book and read about the math behind the processes that are so masterfully implemented in astroimaging software. The same tools are used for radar, cat scans, voice recognition, etc. Fourier analysis has been kicking around for nearly a quarter of a millenia! That can get me fired up to get back to it.

[JayTee]

I'm still on the steep side of the learning curve so the dividends are gained only after a sizable investment. And when I've done all I can and consider a job done, I still see things that need to be addressed in the future, but the means to correct them are Rumsfeldian "unknown unknowns", the most challenging kind of unknowns to address.

Every now and then I crack open a book and read about the math behind the processes that are so masterfully implemented in astroimaging software. The same tools are used for radar, cat scans, voice recognition, etc. Fourier analysis has been kicking around for nearly a quarter of a millenia! That can get me fired up to get back to it.

And so your rating from 1 to 10 is?????

Just wondering,
JT

[STEVE333]

Einstein had feelings similar to yours DEnc.

Albert Einstein — 'The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don't know.'

Ain't it the truth.

Steve

[DEnc]

And so your rating from 1 to 10 is?????

11. Always good to have something just out of reach!

[carastro]

We need a laugh button on here.
Carole

[Graeme1858]

Unconscious incompetence
Conscience incompetence
Conscience competence
Unconscious competence

Is that how it goes?

[OhNo]

We need a laugh button on here.
Carole

There is!

But I would use this one, When I try to view your images. Sadly I can not view Carol's great images for some reason. Can view everyone else's but not yours. I don't know why!

[carastro]

Sadly I can not view Carol's great images for some reason. Can view everyone else's but not yours. I don't know why!

How strange, I normally link them from Astrobin.

I will try to remember to put a link to them as well in future.

Carole

[Dragonsfire]

4-10 depending if it goes well. Sometimes things just wont stack and it becomes very frustrating, other times its fast and all works well and great image.

[OhNo]

Sadly I can not view Carol's great images for some reason. Can view everyone else's but not yours. I don't know why!

How strange, I normally link them from Astrobin.

I will try to remember to put a link to them as well in future.

Carole

Thanks Carole, IMO your work is worth keeping an eye on, and trying to replicate!!!! If you had my dark, un-light polluted sky, oh the images you'd have with a lot less messin' around!

That all said, I am at a 1 the past few imaging sessions. A beige tint is haunting me. Perhaps my sky ain't as clean as I thought!!!!!

[carastro]

If you had my dark, un-light polluted sky, oh the images you'd have with a lot less messin' around!

If only.....................Sigh

I can get access to a campsite with Bortle 4 skies but during the winter I am stuck at home in Bortle 8, and likewise during the Pandemic.

I sometimes hear people talking about living in Bortle 2 skies, I don't think I have ever seen Bortle 2 and can't even imagine what it would be like. Tell a lie, I probably saw Bortle 2 in Uluru.

Carole

[JayTee]

I sometimes hear people talking about living in Bortle 2 skies, I don't think I have ever seen Bortle 2 and can't even imagine what it would be like. Tell a lie, I probably saw Bortle 2 in Uluru.

When I lived in Oregon I had access to both Bortle 1 and 2 skies. It is very exhilarating to witness a sky with soooo many stars that you can't easily recognize the normal constellations! Also, you can leave the shutter on your astro cam open for as long as your guiding will allow. When at high altitude (>5000' or >1500m)with a crystal clear sky you can see your shadow on the ground by the light cast from the Milky Way (when your eyes are totally dark-adapted). The Zodiacal Light and the Gegenschein are easily visible, in fact, the zodiacal light is so bright it is almost annoying!

The Zodiacal Light:
https://www.atoptics.co.uk/fz448.htm

The Gegenschein:
https://www.atoptics.co.uk/highsky/zodim2.htm

I miss those skies!

Cheers,
JT