Hi,
Finally been able to get back out there and complete some more Live Stack Flats testing.
The goal of this test is determine what effect using 0 offset / brightness and color or mono flats has in SC Live Stack. Additionally capture raw frames for darks, flats and lights then stack in DSS and process in Photoshop.
Equipment (no Changes, except new CEM60 mount no effect on testing) RC6, ZWO ASI294 PRO, Astro-Physics CCDT67 Reducer, IDAS D1 LPS filter.
You can follow the link of any image to get camera / capture settings but in general 30 second capture, 300 gain, 10 offset for lights, darks, specified flat, cooler set to -15c
Conclusion as of now for using the ASI294 with flats in SharpCap Live Stacking. Use color 5050 White Balance 0 offset flats. I've been using 300 gain same setting as lights and exposure time of 205 - 209 ms. This pushes the histogram to the right edge just before clipping. Applying these flats to Live Stacking removes almost all dust bunnies and does not enhance vignetting but removes it and flattens the image.
I still think there may be something going on how SC applies flats since the mono flats are still generating enhanced vignetting. If anyone has some Live Stacking color images using flats that were generated with a OSC other than the ASI294. I have other OSC camera but doesn't generate vignetting so it's of no help for comparison.
Below are the test images of the old favorite M45. I left the sensor dirty to determine if flats were removing dust.
M45 No Flat No Dark Stack_21frames_630s_WithDisplayStretch by
Black Wikkett, on Flickr
Live stack no calibration frames
M45_2018_12_17_5050ColFlatDark by
Black Wikkett, on Flickr
Raw light, dark and flat frames stacked in DSS processed in Photoshop
M45 5050WB 0 Offset Color Flat Stack_46frames_1380s_WithDisplayStretch by
Black Wikkett, on Flickr
Longer Live Stack using flats that give best result as described above
M45 AWB 0 Offset MONO Flat Stack_13frames_390s_WithDisplayStretch by
Black Wikkett, on Flickr
AWB 0 offset mono flat, enhances vignetting but does remove most dust
M45 5050WB 0 Offset Color Flat Stack_16frames_480s_WithDisplayStretch by
Black Wikkett, on Flickr
Shorter run with working flats technique to provide a more fair comparison to non working flat
I'm willing to complete more testing if there's something I've missed but the process of creating flats and applying them in SC is very simple. I'll ask again as in the initial post am I expecting too much? Is there something wrong in my process? I hope we get to the bottom of this issue but in the mean time there is a solution that is generating acceptable, for me, results
Thanks
-Wikkett