Re: Subtracting darls /flats in live Stacking
Posted: Sun Apr 28, 2019 6:00 am
I hope someone can change the SUBJECT line to Subtracting Darks from Subtracting Darls as I see a lot of people are interested in this subject and for the new comers to this avocation I hope to add to their enjoyment of this Forum and what it stands for. I almost over looked it.
No, I didn't go outside with this vague feeling of ignorance about the Process. I just knew, I was not ready for this. All along I have been dreading mastering subtracting Dark Frames and all along (until now) I was wondering what could clear this up. I want to tell some of the new comers (I guess most have such abilities of perception they can go read something else) that if you are going to master this Astrophotography you are going to have to read SharpCap with your eyes Wide Open with your best attention for perhaps 3 times, at the least. The info is there, you need more than than just glass specticals to comprehend it!
So, I got my ZWO ASI 178MC camera out of the car, plugged it into my Windows 10 ridding Dell Computer, put an olive jar cap over the entry port for light and worked in the comfort of my study. The first 'page' that comes up that allows you to do LIVE STACKING as well as take 'captures' is where I was able to simulate making and filing my first dark frame. Hit capture and a box pops up that does not let me choose how many frames I want to capture for averaging and it says hit the button cancel (which is not apparent) to stop the process and ends with the message, something like, WHAT EVER YOU DO,DONT------and ends on that word DON"T. But I do hit the start button with my heart in my mouth and nothing happens and I'm getting ready to hit the red X when a message pops up saying my Dark Frame has been stored over in this file which I quickly click on to find it later if need be. It's there. Ten frames are automatically chosen and if you chose an arbitrary one frame per second for EXPOSURE, it will take ten seconds for that pop-up message to appear.
Resting for no more than a minute I decide to do this several times more for practice.
For at least 10 minutes I could not get back to this particular window and for the life of me could not figure out why. The problem was, that on this first page the word capture is listed in 3 places across the top that you can click on. The right and only one is between the words OPTION and TOOLS. I wrote this down on what I call Field Note Cards.
Then next and almost last, I had to practice getting that file of Dark Frames into the stacking process as mentioned correctly by Robin but most dreaded by me. My trouble stemmed from me never clicking on the PRE Processing button located near the bottom on the camera controls column, I believe on this same first page. Go look, it will do you good. The only reason my eye was drawn to search for it there was that in the copy of SharpCap instructions that Robin had given the fellow starting this question about DFS, in a small box off to itself were the words PRE PROCESSING and a box to the right of it, like where you could select none. Go find that too. You want forget it! I was lucky I did not over look it,, being so unfamiliar with it.
So, the very last thing I must do before I stumble around in the cold darkness outside is get this file selected. I try but I get a message back that I need to get the Sharp Pro License to use this feature. But I can borrow it to prove that it works, just can't save the improved captures without the license. My great fortune is I read this message in the warmth of my well lit study and I feel very good about it. I will get the Pro License, but I want to understand SharpCap as well as I can without it.
Out I go after my "practicing" and notice that it has clouded up so much that not a star can be seen. Happy for the "practice"!
I come back here and write a reply before anyone can catch me with my pants down.
No, I didn't go outside with this vague feeling of ignorance about the Process. I just knew, I was not ready for this. All along I have been dreading mastering subtracting Dark Frames and all along (until now) I was wondering what could clear this up. I want to tell some of the new comers (I guess most have such abilities of perception they can go read something else) that if you are going to master this Astrophotography you are going to have to read SharpCap with your eyes Wide Open with your best attention for perhaps 3 times, at the least. The info is there, you need more than than just glass specticals to comprehend it!
So, I got my ZWO ASI 178MC camera out of the car, plugged it into my Windows 10 ridding Dell Computer, put an olive jar cap over the entry port for light and worked in the comfort of my study. The first 'page' that comes up that allows you to do LIVE STACKING as well as take 'captures' is where I was able to simulate making and filing my first dark frame. Hit capture and a box pops up that does not let me choose how many frames I want to capture for averaging and it says hit the button cancel (which is not apparent) to stop the process and ends with the message, something like, WHAT EVER YOU DO,DONT------and ends on that word DON"T. But I do hit the start button with my heart in my mouth and nothing happens and I'm getting ready to hit the red X when a message pops up saying my Dark Frame has been stored over in this file which I quickly click on to find it later if need be. It's there. Ten frames are automatically chosen and if you chose an arbitrary one frame per second for EXPOSURE, it will take ten seconds for that pop-up message to appear.
Resting for no more than a minute I decide to do this several times more for practice.
For at least 10 minutes I could not get back to this particular window and for the life of me could not figure out why. The problem was, that on this first page the word capture is listed in 3 places across the top that you can click on. The right and only one is between the words OPTION and TOOLS. I wrote this down on what I call Field Note Cards.
Then next and almost last, I had to practice getting that file of Dark Frames into the stacking process as mentioned correctly by Robin but most dreaded by me. My trouble stemmed from me never clicking on the PRE Processing button located near the bottom on the camera controls column, I believe on this same first page. Go look, it will do you good. The only reason my eye was drawn to search for it there was that in the copy of SharpCap instructions that Robin had given the fellow starting this question about DFS, in a small box off to itself were the words PRE PROCESSING and a box to the right of it, like where you could select none. Go find that too. You want forget it! I was lucky I did not over look it,, being so unfamiliar with it.
So, the very last thing I must do before I stumble around in the cold darkness outside is get this file selected. I try but I get a message back that I need to get the Sharp Pro License to use this feature. But I can borrow it to prove that it works, just can't save the improved captures without the license. My great fortune is I read this message in the warmth of my well lit study and I feel very good about it. I will get the Pro License, but I want to understand SharpCap as well as I can without it.
Out I go after my "practicing" and notice that it has clouded up so much that not a star can be seen. Happy for the "practice"!
I come back here and write a reply before anyone can catch me with my pants down.