My 1st cooled CCD RGB image

[LT]

Though I have involved in astrophotography for many years, I didn't do imaging with a cooled CCD + LRGB filters until the night of Nov 17, which was extremely transparent.

I don't know yet how to import those 4 channel data into PS and process them. Just use some very stupid methods to stack the subframes in Registax and combine the RGB data in PS. Anyway, that is my 1st trial.

Photographic data:
Imaging system: Vixen VSD 100 F3.8 + ATIK 8300 mono + LRGB filters
Mounting: Modified Vixen GP2 photoguider
Guiding: unguided
Total Exposure: R=11x45s, G=11x45s, B= 10x45s
Sensor Temperature: -2C
Location: Yuen Long in HK
Remarks:
1. no dark and flat calibration
2. Stacking in Registax 5.1

So, may I ask for your help? What freeware can be use to stack LRGB subframes and how? How to import these individual stacked frames (LRGB) and combine them in PS?

Thank you very much in advance.

LT

[PTS]

IRIS is a freeware but very powerful.

http://www.astrosurf.com/buil/us/iris/iris.htm

pts

[LT]

IRIS is too hard for me to learn!

[anyone]

用冷凍 CCD 真系徹徹底底從頭學過。

[Subaru]

With this very first image, I can see the potential you have.

Which capturing software do you use? Some may contain basic calibration and stacking functions.

[LT]

用冷凍 CCD 真系徹徹底底從頭學過。

Yes.

[LT]

With this very first image, I can see the potential you have.

Which capturing software do you use? Some may contain basic calibration and stacking functions.

I used "Artemis Capture" coming with the camera for capturing. Seemed there is no basic calibration or stacking function.

[universe24]

Dear LT,

You can try Deep Sky Stacker (DSS) to process each color channel separately. Then open all stacked LRGB file to PS for combine into color.

IRIS is powerful. Just the learning curve too steep. But once you know the processing flow (pipeline), you can control the image processing better. Rather then just let it run blindly in DSS.

[cyyek]

You should use CCD Stack
http://www.ccdware.com/products/ccdstack/

[LT]

Dear LT,

You can try Deep Sky Stacker (DSS) to process each color channel separately. Then open all stacked LRGB file to PS for combine into color.

IRIS is powerful. Just the learning curve too steep. But once you know the processing flow (pipeline), you can control the image processing better. Rather then just let it run blindly in DSS.

Maybe I am too stupid. It is seemed that there is not any command in PS CSII for loading LRGB files individually to combine as a colour image. How to do so?

Thanks.

[LT]

You should use CCD Stack
http://www.ccdware.com/products/ccdstack/

Thanks. Do you use their trial version now?

[benben88]

[Eddy So]

X2

[Subaru]

You shall paste the RGB into difference channels under PS, and then paste onto a layer with blending mode = luminosity for the L.

As a general recommendation, I would suggest you to consider as next step:
1. Nebulosity: capturing and basic calibration and stacking
2. Pixinsight: a comprehensive processing software

Both software offer trial version, so you can try it before deciding the investment.

Under your current situation, you may either go for one, and then to further invest after you find the need to advance.

a. Use Nebulosity for captuing and stacking, then PS to finetune
b. Use the bundle capturing software for capturing, and then Pixinsight for the stacking and processing.

With your background in science, you shall appreciate the mathematics and concepts behind Pixinsight. With Pixinsight, it is just a few clicks to calibrate, align and integrate LRGB image.

[LT]

Thanks Subaru for your opinion.

I know PI can do the job much better than PS on processing astronomical images. But I am just afraid it is also too difficult for me to learn it. My brain is becoming slow and slow now.