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Xterminator Series

Roger Smith
in PixInsight
Hi Adam,
You know I am a fan, but I have a suggestion related to the additional price Xterminator plugins you are now using as a normal workflow.

I would like to suggest you point users, in each instructional video where you use one of the Xterminator methods, to the Pixinsight non-Xterminator videos (link us or name, and where it is, the relevant instructional videos) to do the related function.  This will save me time searching for them. You work hard to explain what is behind each Pixinsight module. Are you planning to do that for the Xterminator series? Maybe I have missed something you already created.

For me, the price of three of Russell Croman's tools being more than 1/2 the cost of Pixinsight is not fair pricing given the huge level of work and support that goes into PI. Further, PhotoShop is primarily a tool used by professionals in businesses generating money from the work they do. We astrophotography persons are mainly amateur/hobbyists. So lower pricing for us PI users seems fairer.

John Murphy's NSG script is reasonably priced by comparison, IMO. 

Thank you,
   Roger



Comments

  • BlockHeadBlockHead
    Hi Roger,

    I see where you are coming from... but I also see an issue.

    Lets say I show how to use StarXTerminator or BlurXTerminator. ... you are suggesting that I then point to my video where I explain Fabian's method of star removal using iterations of masking and MMT and also I would point to my videos on PixInsight's native deconvolution sections. 

    The issue I am wrangling with- is it a fair thing to do? Both Fabian's star removal method and PixInsight's deconvolution methods INTEND to do the same things as SXT and BXT. But both in terms of usage and results there is a large difference- large enough there isn't an equivalence. Either the time needed to do it (number of steps) or the ratio of time/steps to quality of result is a big difference.

    Pointing to them, I think, tacitly says you will achieve similar results in similar times. I don't want to get into a comparison game. I think they are sufficiently different (even though they are in the same class of algorithm) that referencing the other methods might be discordant. 

    Regarding the costs... 
    Your argument is not a strong one. I remember, for example, when CCDStack introduced a new and improved registration routine. It, finally, allowed you to align images without failures with a single click of a button (rather than clicking on stars and living with odd results). This thing was called CCDIS (inspector) plugin for CCDSTack. It was  (and STILL IS)  $90 . CCDStack was (and still is) $200. 

    Consider that PixInsight is just a little bit more than CCDSTack? No, European culture is at play here. When I visited Europe... no one would buy my videos. European culture (on the average) believes you should not have to pay for video instruction for a product. You see, your argument is often used against me as well. 

    The production of add-on software that becomes a "necessary" part of an established program is commonplace. 

    Now... what does someone like me do in order to keep things organized?
    I have to keep up with things and make new videos. I also need to organize things to clearly indicate where to find stuff. 

    I do not know how to solve the organizational problem. Many things have a temporal lifetime. Some things are fine in principle... even though they are explained with "old" tools.

    At the moment, all I have done is to label videos with a date so at least people can gauge whether something is new or not. 

    If you have a suggestion on the organizational side of things..I would love to hear it.

    -the Blockhead
  • Roger Smith
    Hi Adam,
    Thanks for your kind, well measured answers. 
    I just viewed Russ Croman's AIC (2022) video, and appreciate that there is significant knowledge and development effort in his app development. I also watched your zoom interview posted on Youtube. You asked great questions, and Russ was really great answering them.
    So I am convinced it is worthwhile expenditure. The perpetual license you nailed him down on adds to the value.

    Previously I saw the bickering back and forth on the Facebook group: PixInsight for Beginners. I had the impression that the Xterminator series was just substituting (blending) known good images to the inputted user images. Of course that would take a terabyte size library of data, or a great internet connection.

    For pricing, I only comment that CCD stack got lost in the PI dust and probably has very few sales today. So adjusting the price is not really going to do much.

    Roger
  • stevereilly
    Just curious as I'm revisiting the series but are there videos showing the use of StarXTerminator and the other RC collection in the Fundamentals series? If so can they be identified as to which videos please?

    -Steve
  • BlockHeadBlockHead
    How about:

    "What to do with SPCC,BXT,SXT,NXT and more..."

    Do you think this is on target for your question?

    -the Blockhead
  • Marsha Ann Wilcox
    Just a quick note of thanks for your recent post re: PSF estimation for BXT.  

    I'm working on an image of M78, not perfect stars due to less-than-optimal guiding.  I'm using BXT to correct the star shape before SPCC (would love your thoughts about this, too).  

    Just last night I decided to use a manual PSF for BXT and wasn't sure which value to use in BXT. Your video was timely for me and extremely helpful!

    As always, much appreciated, Adam.

    Marsha 
  • BlockHeadBlockHead
    Hi Marsha,

    I am glad you liked the video.
    Concerning SPCC... BXT will affect the color calibration of an image at some level. Any deconvolution process would (this is not specific to BXT). So it is best to do SPCC -> BXT. BXT did have an issue with significantly changing the color balance of stars- but in  the latest version of the AI this has been taken care of.

    -the Blockhead
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