My Idiot guide to Processing images using Pixinsight.

To Check Images

Blink
Load all images into Blink.
View Video to see issues.

Stacking

1. Cosmetic Correction
   Use Auto Detect
   Click on Hot Sigma
   Drag the triangle to the workspace – this will make an icon
   Click on the top right arrows to rename – CC
2. Script – Batch Processing – Weighted Batch Processing
   Add Lights
   Add Flats
   Add Darks
   Add Biases
   Presets – Choose Maximum Quality
3. Astrometric Solution
   Add Declination and Ascension – Take this from the image if the Declination has a – sign, click the S, if a + leave it unchecked.
   Set the date and Time
   Set Pixel Size – 94
   Press the Red X when set
4. Set the Output directory where the images will be saved.
5. Calibration
   Click on one of the Light Frame Headers
   Click on Cosmic Correction
   Select CC
   Apply to All Light Frames
   Look for Green Check Mark
6. Post Calibration – Check Drizzle x2?
7. Run

Result

Master
Newest image in the file is the file to use.

Workflow (image processing)

1. Open Image
   Two will open, the first is a mask and can be closed.
2. Press Ctrl A to Auto Stretch.
3. Rename Image

• SPCC – (Spectrophotometric Colour Calibration)
  Leave White reference as Average Spiral Galaxy. (Explore)
  Set QE Curve to Sony IMX410 Sensor

Deselect generate graphs.
Select Colour Calibration

Catalogue search – Gia DR3/SP
Select – Automatic Limit Magnitude
Select – Background Neutralization – Leave at Defaults.

Select Region of Intertest – This tells SPCC what your background is.
Select a preview in the image you are working on. In from Preview, choose the preview selected.

Drag Triangle onto image

• Gradient Correction
  Currently, leave at default settings.
  Low Threshold 0.20
  Low Tolerance 0.50

High Threshold 0.05
High Tolerance 0.00
Scale 5.00
Smoothness 0.40

Structure Protection selected
Protection Threshold 0.10
Protection Amount 0.50

General Protection Masks Off.

• Blur Exterminator
  Correction Only

• Noise Exterminator
  Correction only

• Star Exterminator
  Currently, leave at default settings.
  Select Generate Star Image
  Select Unscreen Stars
  Deselect Large Overlap

• DBXtract
  Select Camera Sensor: ZWO AIS 2400MC Pro is: IMX410
  Ha + OIII Filter: select Image This is for my dual narrowband filter.
  SII + OIII Filter: Select Image This is for my Optilong L-extreem
  Optional
  Un-Check create SHO
  Check Close Intermediate OIII images
  Extract

• Stretch the Image – Generalised Hyperbolic Stretch
  Method No 1

Open Logarithmic Graph Window –

Step 1

Keep the image linear
Click on the + until you see the histogram.
Set the Symmetry Point (SP) slightly to the right of centre by clicking on the histogram until you see the yellow line.
Once done, press Send to SP.
Set the Local Intensity to .9

Begin to adjust the Stretch Factor until the image appears.
Bring the white line (low left to high right) to about 20% over the histogram.
The image is still dark, but detail can be seen.
Click the square to execute.
The image blows out, click reset.
Step 2
In the preview window, select the area you want to stretch, Mids?
Send to SP
Set the local Intensity to .5
Adjust the Stretch Factor
This is personal taste, try 20% again as a guide.

When happy click the square to execute.
Again, this will blow the image out, press reset.

Step 3
To prevent clipping, select Plot Histogram, (second icon from the left at the top)
This will show how much space to the right there is.
In the preview window select the area you want to stretch, Lights?
Send to SP
Set the Local Intensity to .3
Adjust Stretch Factor to suit.
If this appears to be too bright or contrasty, try bringing the Symmetry point down from .3
Once happy, press the square to execute.

Press Reset.

Step 4
Look at the logarithmic graph to see if we have space left.
If so, carry one, if not, consider stopping at 3.
In the preview window, select the muted colours, visible but too dark, perhaps the blues.
Send to SP
Set then Local Intensity to .3
Begin to stretch using Stretch Factor
Press square to Execute.
Reset.

Step 5
Change the Transformation Type from Generalised Hyperbolic to Liner.

In Low clip, add a 1 to the very right.
Press Enter, it gets very dark.
To bring it back, adjust the Black Point to the left un till you are happy.
Press square to execute.
Exit the preview.

Foraxx Palette Utility
Number of channels.
If you are only using two channels, select the first option, if three, select three.
For now, omit the star options by selecting single Foraxx Image. Decide later.
Whichever Combination you choose, select the following:
Image
Sii = G
Ha = R
Oiii = B
Stars
Sii Star = G Stars
Ha Star = R Stars
Oiii Star = B Stars

• Noise Exterminator
  Currently, leave at default settings.
  Denoise 0.90

Detail 0.15

• Narrowband Normalisation
  Select Preview
  Choose Pallet – HOO (this is for OSC Images)
  Lightness – Off
  Synthetic Green Blend
  Blend Mode – Mode 1
  Blend Amount – 0.600
  Oiii Boost – 1.330 (to taste)
  Execute
• ImageBlend

Blend mode to Screen

Base Image – Nebula Image

Blend Image – stars

In Adjustment Parameters –  adjust Midtones.