StarSatGuard [SSG] has been modified quite a lot. I removed access to the SSG Threshold value. This threshold is now permanently set at 65,534.
I discovered that SSG can be used in tandem with a custom Multiplier to achieve the equivalent of a large histogram stretch which will protect the stars from saturating. The net result is that faint nebulosity in your astrophotos are much brighter and the color of bright stars is retained. The bloating of bright stars is avoided but their halos are brighter. I posted a write-up demonstrating using a 500% stretch of my 2022 Pelican Nebula astrophoto on my website. Click here to have a read.
Image Viewer I added a new option called Show Oval Angle The Show Star Statistics option samples the stars in your astrophoto and calculates HFD[R,G,B], Roundness and Angle. The roundness and angle values relate to the ovality of the stars. There is lots of reasons why stars can be oval. Polar alignment, differential flexure and guiding issues are the most obvious. There are also optical issues including backfocus that can result in oval stars. Low values for roundness typically means a lot of oval stars have been detected. If the star is oval then it makes sense that this oval shape can be at an angle. The Show Oval Angle option uses these angle values to replace the stars with a straight line drawn at an angle that corresponds to the oval angle. The Show Oval Angle option draws three lines (RGB) to indicate the calculated angle for each color channel.
I thought I could use this visualization approach to study backfocus or guiding issues but I’m not convinced it’s useful right now. The angles seem to be pretty much random…which would be expected if there is very little ovality. It may be that the stars need to be significantly oval before the angle values are informative…and I’m just not interested in deliberately creating astrophotos with significantly oval stars.
Peter
Hi Peter ,
Just watched James Lamb’s latest video and thought instantly of your most recent CaLIGHTs release as it pertains to Stars and their ovality . You should watch his video and then send him a link to your Software . He might be pleasantly surprised .
Scott……..
Scott,
If it’s OK with you…I would ask that you reach out to Mr. Lamb about me. I have not been following his videos. To be honest I only have so many hours to pursue astrophotography and, right now, I am burning up plenty of hours with my own stuff. I don’t think I have time to watch videos right now and I feel I need to better understand what he is up to before I contact him. You have been following him so I think it better that you reach out to him.
Thanks
Peter
Hi Peter ,
I’m not much of a Salesman . LOL . Or a fisherman . No bites from anyone I’ve alerted to your Program .
You know what the secret would be…post it on You-Tube for 50 Euros and make it a limited time offer before a price increase .
I’ll bet people would suddenly become interested . HaHa .
We’ll keep trying .
Scott…………
Scott,
I appreciate you spreading the word. My experience is that most beginners are not interested in taking masterDARKs…or any masters. The vendors have convinced buyers that there cameras are great…which they are. The reality is that every photon counts and if you don’t have an observatory, your ability to accumulate photons is dramatically limited. My focus is to take great astrophotos in as short a time as possible. This forces me to obsess over every aspect..looking for incremental improvements.
I don’t care if I make money with my programming. I just want to pass on what I learned in the hope that it helps someone else. Someday I hope I can sell my astrophotos…but that’s a dream right now.
Peter
Thanks Peter , much appreciated !
Scott…..
Hi Peter ,
Well , the Universe is very funny . I was just sending someone a link to your site and I noticed the new version .
Hope I can make use of it this year . Fingers crossed .
Scott………
Scott,
Good to hear from you. I compiled this version of CaLIGHTs so that it has the same computer compatibility as V3.1.8 so you should still be able to run it.
Enjoy,
Peter