Thanks very much, Kurt. You're right about the Meade, but I have been using software that was specific to my SBIG camera. I use Maxim DL to adjust the image. Still, I do have Meade imageing software, so I imagine I should be able to use the SBIG with its software to acquire the photos and the Meade software to put them together -- does that make sense? Thanks again, Joe On Nov 9, 2007, at 11:36 PM, Kurt Fisher wrote:
Joe asked:
So what's the secret of assembling mosaics?
To some extent, it is a software specific answer. I believe you have a Meade SCT. In the current version of the Meade Envisage software (4.85), their "dizzle" image processing option automates the mosaic taking process. In Envisage 4.85, in image process select "dizzle". A setting option button labeled, normally hidden and labeled (appropriately) "settings" will appear next to the "Evaluation count" option. This setting option will allow you to choose the multipler for the extended image size. For Meade enabled telescopes, the software will handle taking the multiple pictures and assembling the mosaic. Mosaics are covered at pages 9 through 14 in Part I of the Drizzle manual (2005). If you do not have the current version, it (and the Drizzle manuals) can be downloaded from Meade.
The advantage of Envisage is that it handles the merge process for you.
For manually merging individual images, I have found the freeware program iMerge particularly easy to use and effective. It works with fits, jpg or bmp images. I have used it, for example, to build panoramas from Apollo mission hand-held taken on the surface of the Moon. Other image processing packages like AIP4WIN also include image seam matching features.
If you are in the Celestron equipment world - for example my Synta mount, third party freeware can be used to assist in taking the individual images. EQMOD is a simple application that uses the generic ASCOM drivers and a Celestron 5e emulator. All you have to do is to point at the target's center and then specify the final mosaic size. EQMOD automates driving the scope around to individual mosaic frames. It stops and alerts you to take a picture and then slews the scope to the next frame of the mosaic.
I don't know Maxim DL.
Hope that is of some help in giving you some options.
- Kurt
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