Timestamp makes images black

[AMIF]

I got unexpected problem, when tried to insert timestamp to images for occultation timing: when option was activated, images became absolutely black. I did not have time for investigation, and made video without timestamps. It is not fatal, but a bit of unpleasant
ZWO ASI 432MM
SC 4.1.13332.0

[admin]

Hi,

I have just tested this with a mono ZWO camera in the latest version (4.1.13800) and I'm not seeing a problem in either MONO8 or MONO16. One thing to be aware of is that if you are auto-stretching the images (either in SharpCap or in whatever image/video viewing software), the bright white pixels that are making up the timestamp may prevent a strong stretch from being auto-applied as it would be for a mainly dark image.

If it's not the stretching causing it to just look dark, please can you send me a sample image file *and* the capture settings file next to it that specifies all the camera settings in use so that I can reproduce the same situation. Also worth updating to the newest version for this test, just in case it is a bug with the older verison that is now fixed.

cheers,

Robin

[AMIF]

Regretfully, I have updated the version today
Well, I do not think that problem in the version (or even in the SC). I'll try to repeat recording when I'll be in my "observatory".

Camera settings with black images were following (except Timestamp Frames):

[ZWO ASI432MM]
CameraSerialNumber=2408CF0520010900
FrameType=Light
Pan=408
Tilt=280
Output Format=SER file (*.ser)
Binning=1
Capture Area=800x552
Colour Space=MONO16
Exposure/Gain Shift=0
Temperature=24,6
Turbo USB=100
Flip=Both
Frame Rate Limit=Maximum
Gain=350
Exposure=80,0000ms
Timestamp Frames=Off
Brightness=10
Auto Exp Max Gain=175
Auto Exp Max Exp MS=30000
Auto Exp Target Brightness=100
CA Reduction/Synthetic Blue=Off
Mask over exposed pixels=Off
Flip (after dark/flat)=None
Trail Width=3
Minimum Trail Length=100
Trail Detection Sensitivity=9
Remove Satellite Trails=Off
Background Subtraction=Off
Planet/Disk Stabilization=Off
Banding Threshold=10
Banding Suppression=0
Apply Flat=None
Dark Scaling (Experimental)=Off
Hot Pixel Sensitivity=5
Subtract Dark=None
DisplayStretchEnable=1
NegativeDisplay=0
Display Black Point=0
Display MidTone Point=0,5
Display White Point=1
Notes=
TimeStamp=2025-09-24T20:10:02.9171094Z
SharpCapVersion=4.1.13332.0
StartCapture=2025-09-24T20:10:02.8369700Z
MidCapture=2025-09-24T20:12:25.1231866Z
EndCapture=2025-09-24T20:14:47.4094033Z
JDStartCapture=2460943,340311
JDMidCapture=2460943,341957
JDEndCapture=2460943,343604
Duration=284,572s
FrameCount=3554
ActualFrameRate=12,4889fps
TimeZone=+3,00

[admin]

Hi,

I took your settings and loaded them into my ASI120MM. I then adjusted only the exposure/gain to properly expose the image and turned on timestamping. Everything seems fine both on screen and in saved images, so I am not sure what else to suggest - the best bet would be for you to share a screenshot and also a saved image showing the problem.

thanks,

Robin

Screenshot 2025-10-10 205627.png (484.58 KiB) Viewed 459 times