Astro Stacking does not start

[AP Nick]

Delighted to see new Astro image tools in 1.9.  However, when I select my .fts light files using 'Add Files' and then similarly add the relevant Darks, Flats and Bias files, the 'Stack' starts to work and a progress bar appears but only briefly.  The Stack then stops and if 'Apply' clicked the interface goes back to the Photo Persona with an empty transparent image shown.  i.e. the Stack does NOT complete.

Other info: 

I have to put an asterix or *.* in the files selection window to 'see' my Light .fts files at all prior to 'Add Files.'

I can open any of my Light .fts files in either DSS or FITS Liberator so I assume from this that the Light files are not corrupted.  I cannot see anything unusual in the Light files' Metadata using FITS Liberator.

I attach a couple of screenshots FYI.  

Please advise as I am very keen to start using AP rather than DSS for my image stacking and then go on to emulate the Astro Image workflows that James Ritson has so eloquently set out in his YT tutorial videos - that I have watched btw!  :-)

Thanks

Nick Knight

[Chris B]

Hi NIck,

Welcome to the Affinity Forums.

How many images are you trying to stack in total? I've tried this with 700 and it took about 5 maybe 6 hours to complete. You should at least see a progress bar.

If I made you a private Dropbox folder, would you mind uploading into it so I can attempt to reproduce this? As it stands, I get all my source material from James and everything so far has worked. It would be great to get some other examples to keep safely and privately between QA and Dev whilst we look into this.

[AP Nick]

Chris, Hi, typically I'm trying to stack between 8 and 12 lights, with 30 bias, 30 darks, and 30 for each of red, blue, green and Lum flats.  So, a total of circa 200 files.  I do get a stacking toolbar which lasts for say 30 seconds but then the process seems to stop, the progress bar disappears and then no further activity.

I'm happy to upload some files to you into a private Dropbox folder for you to try and reproduce the problem.  Do you want all of the files I mention above or just a smaller sample?  I use Dropbox to receive my Astro .fst files from a remote telescope that my Astro club friend owns, so I have a Dropbox account already if that helps?  Let me know what you want to do please?

Thanks for your help so far...

Nick

[Chris B]

Hi Nick,

Here's a folder for you - https://www.dropbox.com/request/80wDaLQsMI8ogqgL5YEG

If you could just drop 200 ish files in the folder I can give it a go and see what's happening  

[AP Nick]

Chris, Hi, I am in the process of uploading six files each of LRGB lights (24 files in total); six each of bias, and darks (another 12 files) and six each of LRGB flat files (another 24 files).  So, hopefully, you should see circa 60 files in all.

I've been doing some exploration of my own and have noticed that my lights files have an FST file extension whilst all the other files have an FIT file extension.  Affinity Photo appears to be able to 'see' the FIT extension files in 'Add Files' in the Astro Persona and cannot see the FST extension files for some reason!

So, I am trying to do a bulk RENAME of the .FST files using at the command prompt on my Windows 10 machine -

ren *.* *.fit 

However, I can't get t his string to work for some reason!  Do you know of another way to do a bulk rename of the file extensions?  

And, perhaps Affinity Photo could look to add .FST to its supported file list please (if this is indeed is the cause of the problem)  🙂

Thanks,

 

Nick

[Chris B]

Thanks Nick,

I was playing around with the images last night and I've ended up passing them to the developer who is responsible for the Astro stuff. I believe some fixes and improvements are coming so I would encourage you to keep an eye on the beta announcements by Mark Ingram.

On 2/10/2021 at 11:39 AM, AP Nick said:

However, I can't get t his string to work for some reason!  Do you know of another way to do a bulk rename of the file extensions?  

I don't I'm afraid, well other than the command prompt way. I guess you'd have to look for a utility app or something.