Processing fits files from SeeStar

[irandar]

Hi folks, Does anyone here have Seestar experience? I do not have a Seestar but would like to know how one goes about processing the files with Affinity Photo 2. I believe stacked fits files are exported from Seestar for each session and possibly also unstacked raw files are available. I have obtained some stacked fits files for various dso objects and processed one of them, NGC-6960, by selecting new astrophotography stack and then loading the single fits file as lights and stacking the single file. Then I have gone to one of the JR stretching macros and carried on with the adjustment layers. Also I used JR macros for star intensity reduction and for red boost. Below is my result. Thanks for any advice,  Irving

[irandar]

A follow up question regarding SeeStar. I see that users are taking a large number of photos, over 1000. Regarding astro stacking is there a limit for AP2 to on the number of frames that can be handled?  If the limit is exceeded would it be possible to stack in batches and somehow merge them together? 

[Callum]

Hi Irandar,

As far as I'm aware there is no pre-set limit to the amount of frames that can be used in a stack. Unfortunately I'm not familiar with SeeStar but with any luck someone on the forums here will have used FITs from them before and can give you some advice

Thanks
C

[irandar]

Thanks Callum, Not a very active forum but one can always hope. 

[irandar]

Hi folks, Someone from a Facebook group sent me 500 fits files from Seestar, taken over 5000s. These are 10s images of the spiral M101. I stacked 50%, stretched and edited. In this I used James Ritson's macros for stretching and sharpening.  Here is the result. Seestar has a long phone-type format.

[Critter]

I have a Seestar and just started testing with Affinity on iPad and for MacBook.    Your image looks great.

[irandar]

Hi Critter, Do you know that the astro features of Affinity Photo do not function with iPad? Regards

[Critter]

Yeah I got confused, works fine on the MacBook Pro.  Does not have stacking function.  

[irandar]

How about the macros? Do they work on iPad?

[Critter]

Have not tried the Macros on it.  Don’t know where to get a bunch of macros from or if I have make them myself.  Started doing the repeat levels and Leo’s galaxies had quite a bit more rez out of them.  The background color is off.  Haven’t looked at that part of the program yet.

 

Photo 2.pdf

[irandar]

Have a look here. https://jamesritson.gumroad.com/l/jr_astrophotography_macros

[Critter]

Are there any macros for the iPad ?  Those above are so many will take quite a while figuring them out.  Thanks for the link.

 

 

[irandar]

I think not. The iPad does not work with the astro stuff.  It is a complicated business. Have a look at my Youtubes found on the Irandar Channel of YT. Try this workflow 

 

Nebula Workflow with Jr Macros

 

After stacking LRGB or SHO.

For OSC run the OSC to Mono RGB macro

 

1. Rename macro

2. Mono Log Stretch macro

3. Data setup composition

Use the Enhance Red, Green and Blue macros

4. Reduce Star Intensity or maybe Star Size Reducer

5. Enhance Nebular Structure

6. Highlight Recovery

7. Reduce Backround Luminosity

8. Highlight Protected Tone Lift

9. Weighted Intensity Mixer

10. One of the sharpening macros

 

Possibly finish with some of the normal

Adjustment Layers (Brightness and Contrast, HSL)

Also try the Post Tone Stretch Denoise macro

 

Notice the order is always as follows: stack, rename,

mono log stretch, composition and then edit with various

macros and layers.

Also I want to remind that moving a layer to the

top can often be useful.

[Critter]

Thanks for the order and tips Irander.  I will take a look at your channel.  I am getting more and more into astrophotography with Seestar.  I have an Evostar 120 on an Heq5mount with asiair along with asi533mc camera, .85field flattener that I have yet to setup properly for a higher focal length but much increased complexity.

 

[irandar]

Hi Critter, How are you doing with your Seestar and Affinity?

Regards, Irving 

[Critter]

I have moved to doing astrophotography with my Evostar 120mm and my Askar V.  The Seestar is kinda of like on the back burner.  Still using Affinity and it seems to struggle with the bigger files sizes.  My ASI 2600 puts out 26megapixel pics that take awhile to download.  I have been using a lot of the macros in regular Affinity for the Mac which at times have been useful.  I uploaded a couple of recent shots.  

[irandar]

Hi Critter, What do you mean by regular Affinity?  I am tempted to make a screenshot of these shots and show you how to clean them up a bit. Would you want me to do that? Regards, Irving