Solar Imaging with Dwarf 2 & Simple Processing - PIPP, Autostakkert, & Photoshop

This video is for beginners using the Dwarf to image the sun and also how to do some simple processing to produce an image.
Correction, at 10:22 minutes into the video I wanted Autostakkert to stack 200 frames, however, I mistakenly only stacked 2 frames. I reprocessed it and put the a comparison onto my Astroquest1 Website Link - astroquest1.blogspot.com/2023.... Thanks to Frank Rossetti (@frankrossetti) for catching this!
Helpful Links:
PIPP - Free
player-one-astronomy.com/serv...
Autostakkert - Free
player-one-astronomy.com/serv...
Photoshop - Monthly Subscription (prices vary)
www.adobe.com/products/photos...
GIMP - Free
www.gimp.org/downloads/
Photopea - Free Online
www.photopea.com/
Dwarf Labs graciously gave me a subscription to their affiliate program.
Classic:
dwarflab.com/products/dwarf-2...
Deluxe: dwarflab.com/products/dwarf-2...
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
1:15 Center on Sun
2:06 Imaging the Sun
4:09 Video Capture
6:10 Processing the Video
6:30 PIPP
8:32 Autostakkert
10:55 Simple Processing using Photoshop
13:00 Color Range to make a Mask
14:05 Channel Mixer
14:48 Color Balance
15:03 Camera Raw Filter
16:49 Smoothing the Edges
18:16 Blur More
19:30 Final Images
Intro Music:
Song: Carefree Days
Licenses: Movari Video Music
End Music:
Song: Blue Mood
Artist: Robert Munzinger
Licenses: KZbin Audio Library

[@suehsu8438]

Will share your video to users if they have issues in shooting Sun images.😊

[@AstroQuest1]

Please do! Thanks

[@tamrich7762]

Looks like you are having fun with this new toy Kurt! I enjoyed watching your video.

[@AstroQuest1]

Thanks Tam. I am trying to get my full use out of this toy! Cheers Kurt

[@geldingmakr]

awesome video, thanks, I just got my dwarf2 today and did first light on the sun. 🙂

[@AstroQuest1]

That is awesome! Good Luck with it!

[@astronogoias6875]

Very good sensational 🇧🇷🇧🇷

[@AstroQuest1]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@tullyfisher]

Cool stuff Kurt and very well presented. cs

[@AstroQuest1]

Thank you kindly Tully! I appreciate the feedback. Cheers

[@StringrPress]

I bought them and received them today. Saturday is the solar eclipse.

[@AstroQuest1]

Awesome. Good luck with it. Cheers

[@SpaceRocksandStardust]

There is a great software out there called Astrosurface, it is free and combines the power of Autostakert, Pipp and Registax into single, easy to use program. I like a clean desktop 😂 less muss, less fuss!

[@AstroQuest1]

Thanks for the tip - I'll check it out! Not familiar with it but anything but I am all for keepimng the desktop clean. - Cheers

[@AstroQuest1]

Correction, at 10:22 minutes into the video I wanted Autostakkert to stack 200 frames, however, I mistakenly only stacked 2 frames. I reprocessed it and put the a comparison onto my Astroquest1 Website Link: astroquest1.blogspot.com/2023/08/autostakkert-correction.html. Thanks to Frank Rossetti (@frankrossetti) for catching this!

[@LasoAntonio]

My dwarf 2 stop tracking in the middle of the eclipse 😢 but I Loved, nice video 👍🏻

[@AstroQuest1]

Oh no! Hopefully you got something!

[@kevhaworth5313]

Thank you so much in helping me get started on Solar images. A question, please? I don't get the separate convoluted image, is there a setting for this, please?

[@AstroQuest1]

Yes, it was on the lower right of the last screen selection in autostakkert. - Good Luck

[@katt1woman]

How are you making the image bigger? It would be nice if you could give a bit more detail on what you are doing for us newbies :) great video though, thank you

[@AstroQuest1]

Hey Katt, sorry that was not clear. PIIP actually did the initial cropping automatically. I think that is what you are refering to. I did do a final cropping in Photoshop. - Good luck

[@frankrossetti4413]

Hi Kurt, you only stacked 2 frames in Autostakkert, not 200

[@AstroQuest1]

Wow. You are quite correct Frank! Thanks for catching this. I put tag on the where the mistake occurs that has a link to my website which has a comparison with the corrected 200 frame stack! I also put a link in the comments section. Thanks again for pointing this out. - Cheers Kurt

[@frankrossetti4413]

No problem, glad to help.

[@newbee1016]

Hi Kurt, How would the images of the sun taken with the Dwarf II compare to images taken with a PST40 Solar Scope? the reason I ask is that I am considering the SW Astro Tracker Gi to mount my PST40 on instead of having to lug my EQ6 R - PRO out each time I want to do some imaging. Now that I watched your video on the Dwarf tacking pic's of the sun they look like a capable unit for taking pics of the sun and other objects. I would appreciate you thoughts. Cheers Robert Aust'

[@AstroQuest1]

Hey Robert, Thanks for watching. The Solar images I took with the Dwarf were much better than I was expecting. However, the PST will give you something the Dwarf cannot and that is more surface detail and more importantly solar flares. For those you need the Solar Hydrogen Alpha Filter which is built into the PST. The Skywatcher GTI would be a good choice for the PST40. The Dwarf is capable of doing other stuff but since you already have an EQ6 and presumably another scope, you may get bored with the Dwarf since the images will not be as detailed as with a larger telescope and astrocam. That said, if you do want quick and easy, then the Dwarf II is way to go! Cheers Kurt

[@newbee1016]

@@AstroQuest1 Thanks for your reply, much appreciated. I have the viewing scopes covered, SW BD ED80 and the Saxon 127. I am thinking that I might be able to get some moon shots with the ED80 on the tracker rather than lug the EQ6 out. But all in all we have been inundated with clouds for months on end over here in Victoria, Aust'. Cheers Robert

[@AstroQuest1]

@@newbee1016 The weather is always a battle...