In Live Stacking, Saved Exactly As Seen Pic Has Odd Issue

[astroradio70]

I have noticed that when using our new ASI2600MC-P camera, and live stacking, all is working flawless. But I have noticed that when I click on Save As Seen (if I got that wordage right), that works fine too, and the pic is saved as expected. However, when I click on the highlighted green message bar to view the pic, which works fine, however what we noticed is.... the pic is exact as seen only for a second, then the pic will flicker or change, and a lot of noise is introduced into the pic. Its worse on a pic with a large star field. The pic becomes a bit grainy. Not as clear and sharp as the pic was saved as. Smaller stars are just specks of light or odd colors. I then switched back to our ASI294MC-P and tried that also on the same target. It also does the same, but it is far less noticeable. I have used SharpCap for some years and works great. I have got some outstanding pics using the Live Stack feature. I just happen to notice right off that with the ASI-2600MC-P, this issue is very obvious. Again....when I first click on a saved pic, it look 100 %correct for the first 1 second, then changes to a more grainy pic for some unknown reason. Not sure a SharpCap issue or some issue with the PC saving the pics. I even moved the saved pic(s) to another PC to view, and it does it on another PC also. Other than this, SharpCap works 100% OK for me. I did have some issues at first with the ASI2600 with SharpCap, but loaded in the ZWO current drivers and updated everything, and no issue with the ASI-2600 working now. Anybody else seen this oddity?

[admin]

Hi,

so if I am following you correctly, once the image opens to view, it looks OK for a moment and then changes, right? And this is viewing the saved image in some application - not the image seen in SharpCap?

I'm thinking that whatever image viewing tool is opening the saved image by default is somehow set up to boost, intensify or stretch the image when each image is loaded. That might explain it as then you might see the untouched image for a moment before the other application got around to doing the boost or stretch or whatever.. I guess that leaves the question of what application is set up to view PNG files in your copy of Windows, as that should be what pops up when you click on the filename in the green bar. Maybe you could go to the folder where the file is saved (click on the folder part in the green bar instead of the file name) and try opening the saved file with a different image viewer application to see if that avoids the problem.

cheers,

Robin

[astroradio70]

Hey Robin - Thanks for the reply. SharpCap has been a great program for me.

This is 3rd time I tried to reply. When I submit a reply, reverts back to login? vanishes Hummm?

OK....You understand correctly. Once a pic is saved as seen, all that works, but when I click on the pic that was saved, as you say the pic is boosted or a kind of a Auto Sharpen or Enhancement takes place which degrades the original pic. I have used an ASI-294MCP for years now and have got some great pics in SharpCap. Its all we use.No need to stack raws. However once I used the ASI-2600, this issue was very obvious now. I reverted back to the ASI294 and does the same, just less pronounced. I am thinking I may revert back to earlier version software. Maybe it done this with the 294 in the past, I just never noticed maybe. But It is obvious now. I agree that the viewing app in Win 10 is doing something to the pics. I looked it up, and in the past you de-select the Auto Enhancement in Win 10. As best I understand, this is no longer an option of choice. And I can not de-select this in my Win 10. I loaded a pic in GIMP and another program and the pic is the same. Poor. Any suggestions?

Regards Gary

[astroradio70]

Robin

I will attempt to open some new pics in FastStone, GIMP, or another viewer tonight if the seeing permits. I will have to direct SharpCap to store the files in a folder or their folder? And not open in the Win 10 photo app period. I have tried opening a recent pic in GIMP, and the pic quality is the same... poor. But Win 10 is editing the pic during the file opening in GIMP, is my guess? In my research today, I may have not had this issue in the past using my ASI294MCP because... I was using another PC to run my astro gear and save the pics to. It was Win 10, but an older version. In which the Auto Enhance could be turned off. It read that updated versions of Win 10 & Win 11 both use this Auto Enhance and can NOT be turned off. I do NOT think there is an issue with SharpCap. I will advise what we find. I am sure other have encountered this same issue.

Regards
Gary

[astroradio70]

Robin

I loaded in some of the FastStone softwares tonight, I had GIMP, and another program. I loaded in the a pic file direct from the SharpCap folder. Opening in these viewers, the Saved Exact As Seen pic files are now correct and do not attempt to Auto Enhance. You can edit the pic file in these programs as you see fit, or to their limitations. The final evaluation is, a more current version of Win 10 will Auto Enhance a Exact As Seen file, and the feature can not be turned off. I feel SharpCap has no issue.

Tnx & Regards
Gary

[admin]

Hi Gary,

thanks for testing and reporting back - at least you have an easy way of seeing the images properly in other applications now that you know what is going on.

I just tried opening astro images in Windows photos on Windows 11 and don't see any enhancement or any option to turn it on/off. However, there is a thing in the options about the older version of photos ('Photos Legacy') being available. Maybe that's what you have on Win10 and that has the enhancement

cheers,

Robin