SharpCap Forums

I took this eclipse image during totality, and am having trouble bringing out any color in the solar flares or anywhere else in the image. It appears to be strictly black and white. I have included links to the FITS file, my finished image in Pixinsight and the Sharpcap capture file below. Any assistance would be appreciated! I am not sure if it has to do with the camera settings, or if it is a processing issue.

I noticed the camera's cooler was off... could this have anything to do with it? It looks like the power cord to the camera was either unplugged or there was a bad connection. Not sure if this camera (asi294) needs external power for it to run properly or if the power supply is strictly for the cooler. Thanks in advance.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mo5S8C ... sp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wzStHP ... sp=sharing

[ZWO ASI294MC Pro (0A21820F28000900, via USB3)]
FrameType=Light
Debayer Preview=On
Pan=0
Tilt=0
Output Format=FITS files (*.fits)
Binning=1
Capture Area=4144x2822
Colour Space=RAW16
Exposure/Gain Shift=0
High Speed Mode=Off
Turbo USB=40
Flip=None
Frame Rate Limit=Maximum
Gain=50
Exposure=1.000s
Timestamp Frames=Off
White Bal (B)=76
White Bal (R)=60
Brightness=27
Cooler Power=0
Temperature=17.6
Target Temperature=-10
Cooler=Off
Auto Exp Max Gain=0
Auto Exp Max Exp MS=30000
Auto Exp Target Brightness=100
Mono Bin=Off
Power Led Bright=0
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
Hot Pixel Sensitivity=5
Subtract Dark=None
DisplayStretchEnable=1
NegativeDisplay=0
Display Black Point=0.029082774049217
Display MidTone Point=0.059955724801825545
Display White Point=1
Notes=
EQMOD ASCOM HEQ5/6=RA=01:05:12,Dec=+01:17:49 (JNOW)
TimeStamp=2024-04-08T19:28:28.6409678Z
SharpCapVersion=4.1.11388.0
StartCapture=2024-04-08T19:28:27.7441296Z
MidCapture=2024-04-08T19:28:28.2441296Z
EndCapture=2024-04-08T19:28:28.7441296Z
JDStartCapture=2460409.311432
JDMidCapture=2460409.311438
JDEndCapture=2460409.311444
Duration=1.000s
FrameCount=1
ActualFrameRate=1.0000fps
TimeZone=-4.00

You need to debayer the file first. In PixInsight

Process > ColorSpaces > Debayer

Once the image is in colour then Process > IdentityTransformations > CurvesTransformation (to taste)

Dave


These are the additional entries added to the FITS header by PixInsight. On my system the conversion used was
ROWORDER = TOP-DOWN
BAYERPAT = RGGB


The grid pattern is the clue to an un-debayered file.

Hi,

Dave is absolutely correct - debayering is the missing step. As a quick check, you can reload the original FITS file into SharpCap by using either of the two test cameras (there is a 'Browse' button in the 'Image' control on the right allowing you to choose an image file). SharpCap writes info into the FITS file to help get the debayering correct and so when it re-reads the FITS file it knows it is really colour and applies the right settings.

With a bit of a stretch, this is what I get
Robin

Thanks. I used to be able to get color images instantly in Pixinsight just by opening a raw file- no debayering needed (up until today)... Any idea why I now need to debayer? Not sure what suddenly changed.

I used to be able to get color images instantly in Pixinsight just by opening a raw file- no debayering needed (up until today)

Post, on the internet, an example light frame 'with no debayering needed', together with the Sharpcap capture file and a brief description of the software used/method to process.

Dave