Combine disc and prom stacking

[Jordan Konisky]

I have seen reference to a Stephen Ramsdem post on this forum in which he describes image processing steps in which he combines stacking of solar disc images with stacking of prom images. I have spent some time searching for this post but have come up empty. Can anyone direct me to it? Any other comments on such a process would be appreciated.

JordanK

[Bob Yoesle]

I use a double stacked filter system and processing which makes this unnecessary.

But even with a single stacked etalon and single exposure with the proper dynamic range it becomes unnecessary.

Otherwise you can you use your favorite photo-manipulation software to cut and paste, or otherwise blend, a disc exposure onto a prominence exposure. But this usually creates a discontinuity at the limb. Some resort to using a negative disc image to get rid of this discontinuity. To me both results are inferior to using a properly exposed and processed image to get a better and more accurate result - especially for prominences that cross the limb (filaproms).

[Montana]

I agree with Bob, I have tried many blending techniques and can spend an hour on it, then I discard it and go for the natural image and use that instead. I prefer to set the parameters at capture which enable a single shot. Again, this is why I prefer double stacking as it helps to bring the dynamic range more equal between surface and prom. I also use shadows&highlights in Photoshop to bring out the prom detail.

Alexandra

[Montana]

Do you mean this one? viewtopic.php?f=7&t=13884

I just looked down the list in the Solar Reference Library.

Alexandra

[MAURITS]

I agree with Bob, I have tried many blending techniques and can spend an hour on it, then I discard it and go for the natural image and use that instead. I prefer to set the parameters at capture which enable a single shot. Again, this is why I prefer double stacking as it helps to bring the dynamic range more equal between surface and prom. I also use shadows&highlights in Photoshop to bring out the prom detail.

Alexandra

Alexandra, do you mean one recording (capture) where you have both, in the processing surface and proms.

[Montana]

Yes, recording just one capture then processing the image for surface and prom. It is not always possible though if the prom is exceedingly weak but bright ones are certainly possible
https://www.flickr.com/photos/alexandra ... 535769289/

I process the surface as you would do normally, then click 'shadows and highlights' in Photoshop and the prom jumps out.

Alexandra

[rsfoto]

Yes, recording just one capture then processing the image for surface and prom. It is not always possible though if the prom is exceedingly weak but bright ones are certainly possible
https://www.flickr.com/photos/alexandra ... 535769289/

I process the surface as you would do normally, then click 'shadows and highlights' in Photoshop and the prom jumps out.

Alexandra

It would be easily possible if the authors of the software would implement what I have in the Lucam Recorder software e.g.

Apply in real time a false colour mask ... by simulating a monochrome image to be a colour image = RGB and then adjust the colour palette in different ways ...

So far none of the known software packages is able to do it ... only Lucam Recorder but unfortunately the author of Lucam Recorder stopped the development ...

[DeepSolar64]

I so wish the program author would have not stopped supporting it.

[Jordan Konisky]

Alexandra et al

I have been using GIMP (free) for my photo processing, but am ready to throw in the towel and succumb to Photoshop. Has been silly of me to complain about the subscription pricing considering all that I have spent on my solar hardware. Thanks to all of you for posting on this thread. As always, you have all been so constructive and helpful.

Jordan

[Bob Yoesle]

Consider PaintShop Pro. Everything you need, and you own it.

Review

[AJamesB]

Its not a cheap program, but Pixinsight is great for doing one shot captures. I expose the disc as far right as possible without clipping in my video capture software, ensure I'm using the highest bit depth my camera has, then take the single capture of video. It gets sharpened, then in pixinsight you can do a range selection (to create a mask that covers the disc) with a bit of softness (softness avoids a harsh edge and tapers the mask), use that mask to mask off the main disc, and then use 'masked stretch' to bring out even quite faint prominences in the dark areas around the main disc.

If I rush it, you can just tell a slight difference in the transition area, such as with this image: https://i.redd.it/r6h42mslxie51.jpg

But if I try a few variations of the range mask and softness level, its not hard to get a near seemless transition in just a couple minutes, such as in this image: https://i.imgur.com/ZWoE4Xx.jpg

It works well for full disc images as well: https://i.imgur.com/F1xyeJF.jpg

Doing single image stretching for both also has the benefit of having both disc and proms visible when doing animations: https://i.redd.it/dbqh0mqrrzw51.gif

And that's just on a single stacked etalon. I imagine it would work even better if, like others, one was doublestacked and had less dynamic range between the faintest of the faint and the brightest of the brightest.

[EGRAY_OBSERVATORY]

PaintShopPro, PaintShopPro, PaintShopPro.
I have said it so many times and why buy a Rolls Royce for a shopping-trip, when an old-banger will do the same thing, and saving you the dosh for better things.

I have tried PS in past-years, but for the minute price of a one-time purchase/licence for PaintShopPro - compared to PS extracting your dosh whenever and regularly. That is my way of saving for both the scopes and all that goes with them, as well as the other expensive-things I have bought or done of many years...

Correctly as Bob has just said and to look at that Review / https://uk.pcmag.com/photo-editing/4540 ... ntshop-pro could well save you zillions of bucks over a long time - without loosing any real features too...

That is not advertising, rather is a fact...

But then, what do I know...
Terry

[MalVeauX]

I have seen reference to a Stephen Ramsdem post on this forum in which he describes image processing steps in which he combines stacking of solar disc images with stacking of prom images. I have spent some time searching for this post but have come up empty. Can anyone direct me to it? Any other comments on such a process would be appreciated.

JordanK

Hi Jordan,

Here's video tutorials, each under 20 minutes, of how to do everything from acquisition to processing with a single exposure:

Acquisition (focus, flats, histogram, etc):
https://youtu.be/M7rSOXWQDZM

Processing (single exposure):
https://youtu.be/RJvJEoVS0oU

Very best,

[DeepSolar64]

PaintShopPro, PaintShopPro, PaintShopPro.
I have said it so many times and why buy a Rolls Royce for a shopping-trip, when an old-banger will do the same thing, and saving you the dosh for better things.

I have tried PS in past-years, but for the minute price of a one-time purchase/licence for PaintShopPro - compared to PS extracting your dosh whenever and regularly. That is my way of saving for both the scopes and all that goes with them, as well as the other expensive-things I have bought or done of many years...

Correctly as Bob has just said and to look at that Review / https://uk.pcmag.com/photo-editing/4540 ... ntshop-pro could well save you zillions of bucks over a long time - without loosing any real features too...

That is not advertising, rather is a fact...

But then, what do I know...
Terry

Another good one is GIMP. It's free, open-sourced and also is a worthwhile alternative to Adobe PhotoShop. And it works on the Ubuntu build of Linux without using Wine!

[Bob Yoesle]

I believe Jordan stated he's using GIMP and wants to use something different:

I have been using GIMP (free) for my photo processing, but am ready to throw in the towel and succumb to Photoshop.

[EGRAY_OBSERVATORY]

I agree with the GIMP comments, as is a very useful tool too, as are some others too.

All worth trying to decide which are the best for the purpose required.

Terry

[DeepSolar64]

I believe Jordan stated he's using GIMP and wants to use something different:

I have been using GIMP (free) for my photo processing, but am ready to throw in the towel and succumb to Photoshop.

I'm lame! Somehow I missed that. While GIMP is good I would still agree that PhotoShop is better. It's been the reference standard for many years. In my opinion PS is a bit easier to use.