›

Process Flow

Joe Kuhn
in PixInsight
Is there a process flow recommended before using wbpp and after using it for LRGB and narrowband? Trying to simplify how I look at or use PI. Thanks

Comments

  • BlockHeadBlockHead
    Hi Joe,

    Can you please expand on your question a bit. I will engage you in this discussion as I think it is important to understand the way that I think about these things as it does infuse the content I create.

    I am quite curious about what you mean for the "process flow" before WBPP.
    Concerning what to do *after* WBPP... that will require a bit more expansion on your part first. 

    I look forward to your response.
    -the Blockhead
  • Joe Kuhn
    I shoot in mono with a two asi1600mm pro.  I am also kind of new to PI and was looking for a way to simplify processing the collected data.  What do y'all suggest to do (if anything) before using wbpp and what do y'all suggest to use after wbpp for processing with broadband and narrowband.  I am overwhelmed by the options especially what other people use.  So if possible an approach to using PI that is repeatable?  I love wbpp but I know there is more needed to clean up and improve the pics.  Thanks for any suggestions.

    Joe in Mobile
  • BlockHeadBlockHead
    edited February 2024
    Hi Joe,

    Ok. So my reaction is... this isn't what or how I teach. In my videos I am striving to do something different for precisely the reason you feel overwhelmed. You will find out there many other content creators suggesting different "options" for processing. This is fine- but it doesn't address a METHOD ... that is a way to *think* about image processing. 

    Now, you are welcome to not want to invest the time and energy needed to do this. However, it is precisely because of the "options" mentality, that is, the recipe-like nature that what some people called a "simplified" way to do astrophotgraphery.

    So "my" way is to show you how processes work and why you might use them in one way or another. This takes more initial investment but then later you know simple paths and solutions that answer the question what to do before or after any particular stage of your efforts.

    So let's begin with WBPP. I demonstrate what to do first. 
    1. Examine your calibration frames by blinking them.
    2. Examine your raw light frames by blinking them. 
    3. Compare values in the dark frames and biases to your light frames.

    You may very well be confident everything is OK. But I say "new to PI" users need to do this. I am confident because I KNOW exactly what problems look like. So I personally do not check every time- I am intimately familiar with all aspects of the images I am working with. But this is the kind of thing that needs to be practiced over and over so that patterns can be recognized. This is how you improve.

    Now what to do after you have your master lights? 
    First step is to stop and LIST all of the attributes of your image. I can  list at least 20 significant parts of the image from characteristics of the object to artifacts that are present. Do you do this? Then, with this in mind you need to look critically at the data and decide what elements (color, detail, constrast..etc etc) are important to you to have rendered in the final result. You should see, based on the reality of your data, what the final image will look like before you apply any processing. This takes practice. There will be parts of your image that are too noisy or faint to be able to carry forward in processing. Respect this.

    Notice, I haven't said a single word about what to do. You will not see me generally list anything like HDRMT, Curves, LocalHistogramEqualization... etc etc. Because I do not think this is the right approach. I tell you how HDRMT works. Based on the analysis of your data (above) do you need to use HDRMT? (e.g. you took a picture of the Veil Nebula... no! You took a picture of the Andromeda Galaxy yes!). 

    So the fact there are many options is not the overwhelming part. You can continually add to your repertoire with practice and experience. Each time I demonstrate a process or method... just note it. Collect it. Know it could be useful in the future.

    So LRGB is no longer a method that is commonly used. However, creating a synthetic L from RGB data is a good trick to know. Narrowband Imagery is  even more complex. There is no simple work flow. In my opinion you need to apply the concept I explain above in order to simplify and figure out a path that gets the best image from your data.

    Have you gone through the NGC 1491 workflow video step by step? Not just generally... but really going through it? This is a strong answer to your question. I show what to do after WBPP. LRGB (adding the L) is just an extra step..(one that is trick) but everything else is the same in terms of the decision process. There is an LRGB example in the case of NGC 3486 in the workflow section as well. It will talk about LRGB considerations (as I do in the dedicated LRGB videos as well).

    The narrowband example workflows are in Horizons. There is no simple workflow for narrowband... but there is an approach to processing that I demonstrate is this is what (I hope) sets my instruction apart.
    You might consider Horizons for more information at some point.

    Thanks for giving me a chance to explain.
    -the Blockhead
Sign In or Register to comment.