2024 PixInsight Tutorial

This video is just a newer version of my PixInsight workflow. I've replaced EZ Soft Stretch with a basic Screen Transfer Function stretch. I've also started using Image Blend to recombine my starless and star images instead of Pixel Math. This data was taken with a Radian 61 telescope at 275mm with an asto-modified Canon t5i. I used an Altair 6nm dual narrowband filter. Camera settings were ISO 800 and 300s. I took over 100 photos for a total of over 8 hours and stacked in Deep Sky Stacker. Here is my stacked TIFF.
TIFF File: drive.google.com/file/d/1qPeP...
Processing Icons: drive.google.com/drive/folder...
Plugins:
Image Blend: www.cosmicphotons.com/pi-scri...
BlurXTerminator: www.rc-astro.com/software/bxt/
NoiseXTerminator: www.rc-astro.com/software/nxt/
StarXTerminator: www.rc-astro.com/software/sxt/
Recombine Stars Pixel Math: combine (starless, stars, op_screen())
My Patreon: patreon.com/user?u=58719176

[@AndyUkLeic]

EZ-Suite is available again for the latest pixinsight build... Another entertaining tutorial.. Thanks Walt.

[@jimshanks8352]

where can we find the repository Andy?

[@AndyUkLeic]

Its on the pixinsight forum page... it should come in a Google search... it was taken over a few months ago when the original developer stopped support after 1.82... I'm thrilled to announce that I have taken over the maintenance and distribution of the EZ Processing Suite, originally created by S. Dimant. This suite is an essential tool for PixInsight users, and I'm committed to ensuring its continued availability and community driven improvement.

[@AndyUkLeic]

Post by Palmito

[@AndyUkLeic]

On the pixinsight forum

[@JRBintothenight94]

Walt, love your videos. Been a fan for a few years now. This video has helped immensely. Thanks.

[@rji2goleez]

I'm just getting started in astrophotography at 67 yrs old. I have been watching a few tutorials but this has been the best to date! And your pre-made icons are great too and gives a good sense of the process simply by ordering the icons! Now that I've watched, I need to try myself!

[@user-cr5um6gi7m]

Walt Fantastic update and this help a great deal. 🔭 Has saved me many hours trying to figure out PI.

[@kirkgrier]

You are a rockstar! By providing the image you are working with, process icons, links, etc. you make it so much easier to learn. Thank you!

[@jenshaun6424]

Great Tutorial. I use it for processing my images. Thanks a lot!😀

[@pickleroo253]

That was the most straightforward, simple to follow demonstration of workflow for pixinsight that I’ve seen. I think it’s going to be a game changer for me. Thank you.

[@craiglowery4427]

Thank you so much Walt. I use your workflow from last year so now I’m updated. I’m going to join your team

[@liltompat]

Thanks Walt! I'm an old guy and you're helping to keep my mind sharp! I had just learned your last year's process but I'm liking 2024 even better. That ImageBlend gives great, real-time control of those pesky stars!

[@paolofat52]

Great tutorial! Addressed all my basic processing questions, especially about plate solving/SPCC. Thanks alot !!

[@davidthompson3876]

Only just found this. Excellent tutorial. Really like your style!

[@SirTristram1965]

That was fabulous. Well thought out and structured.

[@mineerjd]

I've been searching for so long on where to put the Gaia files. Funny how it didn't matter where they were, I just didn't know how to link them! Thank you SO MUCH! Please keep the videos coming. Straight forward and helpful.

[@toddtucker1421]

Thank you so much. I am slowly learning this from a Photoshop background, and Pixinsight can be overwhelming. Great workflow!!!!

[@ruthlessrog1]

Dude, you seem to have the best timing. I got into auto guiding, now i think im ready to jump from PS to PI. Great stuff as always Walt!

[@christiangales1119]

I don t have pixinsight yet, but i ll but it for sure. I was affraid of it before watching tutoriels lire yours. Thank you very much for your work. Christian from France 🇫🇷

[@craiglowery4427]

Walt I just processed my M42 image I captured last night. It's awesome and so are you. That image blend script is wild. Now I know how to blend images captured over two different nights

[@philiphurst831]

Excellent video! Many thanks for making life simpler.

[@jacquesbeauropert]

One of the best tutorials😉

[@nbw555]

Love your videos, there's always an element of humour, anyway thanks for this one showed me a few useful things again.🙂

[@cryptomedic5115]

You are an amazing teacher.

[@Tony-Elliott]

Great tutorial Walt

[@markwelsh9068]

Walt, would you consider, sometime, perhaps doing an absolute basics on how to use the various tools in photoshop (albeit I use Affinity Photo) for astrophotography. I know (because I've watched them all) you've done processing video after processing video but, for some reason, I just cannot get my head around masks and how to get rid of 'blemishes' and various other tools usage. I've looked for tutorials (particularly for Affinity but also Photoshop) but, for instance, when someone does Affinity, they speak as if the viewer already knows Photoshop and they skip or gloss over what they're doing and how it works. Or, if they're talking Photoshop, once again, they expect the viewer to have a certain knowledge of basic processing. Then, if I look for basic processing, I don't see tutorials which cover the masking and other elements in the way they'd be used with astro. I know this might not interest you to do but it might. I'm sure there are a lot of guys like me out there who just can't get the hang of processing because they find it difficult to follow when to use what and why etc. Pixinisight is something I'll never buy (or Photoshop). I'm retired and just don't have that constant income. Cheers.

[@Si-fp2ij]

Nice work Walt! Cheers Si

[@Rtd_astro]

Thank you so much for this video

[@darle94]

Good evening to tell you that easy soft strech still works I still have the EZ Denoise suite in my scripts try to find out more good sky to you Patrick from France

[@christopheguigot841]

Très bon tuto…bravo…!!! Merci..

[@jamesahollandjr8991]

Great job, I loved your older video and this one is great especially using the Imageblend. I used the regular Color Cal from old video. I tried several times but after plate solving I kept getting the ERROR NO STARS FOUND no matter what setting I used. I have seen this problem randomly before but don't know why, can you help? Is it ok to post my processed image of your data if I give credit data courtesy of Walt and Delta Astrophotography? Thanks

[@Astro_Shed]

Great Video, just an FYI the EZ tools are still available for PI, someone took over the project, I still use them….👍🏻

[@Robert_Nik]

Thanks)

[@paddyho9638]

Nice tutorial! What computer do you run the software on?

[@miketanski5189]

Can I pay you to make a tutorial for editing a galaxy photo? Yours are by far the most helpful on KZbin.

[@deltaastrophotography]

Which Galaxy are you wanting to process?

[@miketanski5189]

@@deltaastrophotography I've been trying to work on Pinwheel and Bodes since they are easy for me right now in the northeastern US. I want to practice before I can do the Andromeda. I just started astro last month and purchased a Vespera telescope, your tutorials have been a huge help.

[@marygarcia4544]

You're the BEST!! Loved your tutorial workflow plus i downloaded scripts (I didn't know existed lol, tongue twisting to say) I will be using your icons very helpful for basic processing.

[@ABCMO-bl5pi]

Thanks!

[@deltaastrophotography]

Thank YOU so very much!

[@ashandsnow1873]

Hey Walt, great vid! Do you know of other ways I can get rid of stars, for processing? I purchased Star Xterminator and I use Photoshop for post, however, I recently discovered that I cannot use this plugin as my system does not support it (I believe it is due to my CPU--a Celeron). Thanks.

[@rickfair8863]

Isn’t it possible to have the icons already in place when starting Pixinsight? And Also How do you custom save a Icon List or Edit the one you have available ? I found out how to edit list and make your own, Just go to View/Tool Bars/ Process Icons and click on process icons it places a list of options on the tool bar to edit or create your own. Just make your Icons you want then drag a box around them and pick Save Process Icons. Not sure about Loading when Plexinsight loads..

[@user-cr5um6gi7m]

Walt have you done a youtube on processing star clusters or globular clusters?

[@darle94]

Hello I have just bought a C11 XLT I don't know which back focus to use, on the networks they talk about 105 or 146 mm. I have a ZWO183 MC PRO camera. Which back focus do you use? Thank you in advance for your reply. Patrick from France

[@Masoch1st]

please add chapters brother. thanks for updating this and thanks for the new icons.

[@AmatureAstronomer]

Interesting.

[@Chorge1972]

Thanks!!! Superb!! Just don’t understand why you don’t use GHS?

[@deltaastrophotography]

I do! But I'm not quite confident with it enough yet you make videos about it. I almost think GHS deserves it's own video.

[@Chorge1972]

@@deltaastrophotography can’t wait to compare, how you work with it with my fiddling around

[@deltaastrophotography]

@@Chorge1972 I love it for stretching things with bright cores. It's a game changer for sure!

[@BruceMallett]

Great video, thanks. Too bad you cannot post the Plugin URIs w/o all of the KZbin tracking stuff embedded (which I am guessing is not your choice).

[@jandaic6881]

Do I have to watch the previous video to understand what you mean by the icons? I have only just got the trial today, yet your video at 5:20 seems to indicate that I should know about icons 🤔

[@randallpatrickc]

Can you save the process settings in the icons so they get applied automatically?

[@indysbike3014]

Isn’t it possible to have the icons already in place when starting Pixinsight?

[@EricBarger]

No. The PI team feels it is a security concern.

[@Luis_Gonzalez12]

Hey Walt! I’m just beginning this hobby and wonder which is easiest to learn and use; Photoshop, Pixinsight, or Siril?

[@deltaastrophotography]

This can be a complicated answer. In my opinion, whether you go with Pixinsight or Siril, you should learn Photoshop as well. Or at least a similar alternative. Learning Photoshop teaches basic photo editing skills that you always want in your back pocket. That being said, I prefer Pixinsight over Siril. Siril seems easier at first, but once you get into some advanced editing techniques, PixInsight just has way many more options that do a complex task at the push of a single button. There is a large PixInsight community that is always making new scripts, plugins, and Pixel math expressions to make your life easier.

[@shubinternet]

I'm curious. It looks like you don't use drizzle or dither, nor do you seem to use GraXpert. And you don't do your stacking in PI. Could you help us understand why you've made these choices? I'm just getting started and I don't know what is useful or not, but each of these tools seem to be well recommended in other videos I've seen, so I'd love to hear your insight. Thanks!

[@DegeaVR]

Hello, I have a problem with saving, whatever I choose (jepg or tiff), the image is not processed. What am I doing wrong?

[@cdaworldnav]

So as newbie, what do you estimate the cost of everything you have installed?

[@deltaastrophotography]

Around $600 over a period of two years.

[@deltaastrophotography]

This does not include the $10 a month I've been paying for Photoshop for the past seven years.

[@randallpatrickc]

Why not stack in PI ?

[@dronefishincanadarob2892]

Where does someone find the Canon full spectrum l enhance or extreme filters in SPCC I use a Canon 6Ti so similar to yours. Also did you stack in DSS or Pixinsight? Love your videos because you still include DSLR’s for us newbies. Thanks Walt Clear Skies

[@byrgeastrophotography]

I've never heard of image blend until now. Great tool. Thanks, Walt.