Please provide instruction for using Darks in Deep Sky Stacker.

aruckle

 I have unable to achieve using "Darks" for pre processing "Light" images with the ASI Studio, Deep Sky Stack module.
 I have tried every work flow I can think of and have not gotten results from any of my attempts.

I am able to import 25 Darks into the Dark list, and then 30 "Light" images into the light list. When I run the Stack command I get a almost black frame with just a few of the brightest stars visible.
If I import the "Light" images in the list box first, and then import the "Dark" images in the "Dark list box second, then run the Stack command,
If I load just the "Dark" images in the Dark list and try to stack them to make a Master Dark, I get a error box stating not enough light frames.
If I load the "Dark" Frames into the "Light" list I get a error message "Not enough Stars"
I have read the instructions from the Help menu and there is not any information providing a work flow or command sequence'
Could you please provide the order and sequence needed to get this to work.
Thank You
I am using ASI Studio 1.4 on my Mac computer.

Thank You
aruckle

Horsehead

aruckle

AstroDragon

aruckle Have you found a fix? Im having the same issue

Horsehead

Horsehead You must load your darks, load your lights, bias and whatever. Let it do it’s stacking. Your image will look dark. Save it to your desktop or whatever. Just make sure you can find it. Import it into gimp or PS. Start with colors, levels, and start doing your stretching. The image will start to appear. Or you could just go on YouTube and watch the DSS/gimp tutorial. They break it down. Btw, your master dark will be saved back in the folder you pulled your darks from.

aruckle

Horsehead, Thank you for you response to my request for help.

Unfortunately I was unable to get anything more than a jet black background and some of the brighter stars.
I tried both, Full stack of Darks with full stack of Light frames, and Master Dark with full stack of light frames.

The light frames are a stack of photos of the Western Veil with the Veil nebulosity being subdued in the Light frames.
the attached photo was stacked without using the DARKS.

aruckle

WalterT

The sequence in which you load the frames shouldn’t matter as long as they are loaded as the correct type (ie lights, darks, flats, etc). However I wonder whether there is a bug introduced in a recent DSS update or something because out of the blue I have also gotten completely black stacks with DSS on two separate imaging sessions. They will stack fine if I don’t use any calibration frames.

AstroDragon

WalterT Im havning the same issue. If I use darks, I get a black image with a few stars, and no matter how many curves i layer on it, it doesnt get any better. I tried almost 70 s curves on it and it looks the same...

Horsehead

I’m wondering if you are using a cooled or uncooled camera. I have had nothing but trouble since the warmer months because I can’t produce proper darks. I have reached the limits of my uncooled camera’s abilities. The entire winter wasn’t so bad because my darks were taken at about the same temperature as my lights. Now I’m catching hell getting something to match up. DSS is an awesome program as long as you give it good information. I have a cooled camera on the way, because I now see that it’s like any tool, you need the right one for the job. Nearly 100% of the time something is turning out bad is because it’s my fault. This equipment rarely malfunctions. It does exactly what you ask of it. The main problem I see is a lot of the time we don’t even know what to ask of our equipment. It doesn’t know how to answer maybe, it only knows yes or no. Half the time it says no is because we didn’t even ask the right question.