mosaics: processing sequence - sugessted workflow

What I find a nice workflow is to make the panels separately first. So just as if you're making 1 single integration, for each panel. I then make those as nice as possible, even applying light pollution correction and then save those (not stretched). I reload the integrations again as lights and then I set APP up to perform the mosaic. Do you know which options to choose for that?

Thank You Vincent!

In generally I do know how to but there are some questions:

- during "first" stack ("as single integration"): what are the suggested settings (concerning normalization etc.)

The reason I ask this is my ASI2600MC produces a color gradient: from red (left lower corner) to green (upper right corner)

(this issue is worth to be treated in a own topic...until now I refused to send the camera back)

So I think it is important to get of this color gradient as soon as possible, as the later, the more difficult it is.

The resulting question is:

I understand FLATS as being mono. So FLATS dont correct for color gradients.

Please correct me if I´m wrong.

How to correct for color gradient as early as possible?

Thanks in advance!

Peter

I would leave the option in their default for normal registration per panel. Probably still using LNC and MBB (in tab 6) and of course the calibration data. The color gradient, well that depends on if this is normal for that sensor. Do you have a screenshot for me to see?

If it's really bad, that might well be a problem with the sensor or the setup, if it's minor, light pollution correction (tab 9) may be able to deal with it, but only if it's a nice gradient.

When creating the mosaic, normalization is set to advanced, distortion correction on, same camera/optics off. Registration mode to mosaic, LNC on and MBB set to about the amount of overlap % you have in the mosaic.

@peter-s Adding to what @vincent-mod wrote, Flats are certainly NOT mono. Just like lights they need to be debayered in order to show color. The same is true for the master flat. Debayering is done after the star alignment so all calibration frames need to be undebayered.

If the gradient is caused by the sensor then the flats should have them as well and that should correct the gradient in the lights. Along with the screenshot requested by Vincent, could you also explain how you take your flats and show a screenshot of a flat or master flat?

...thank you both ...(that´s what I wanted to hear :))
I´ll provide the images later this day!

I do flats with a Lacerta Flatbox (which has a kind of weird spectrum but it works) and I expose to at least "half histogramm" = to ca. 35.000, cooled as for the lights etc.

Peter

A flat panel does need to be full spectrum, or broad as they say. It should have a smooth profile in the spectrum for the entire range.

here a single Flat: L-eXtreme Filter + ASI2600MC

unstretched and stretched

@peter-s When I open a Flat taken with my fiancee's ASI2600MC in APP and neutralize the background, I get this:

hmmm - also with a L-eXtreme filter?
I´ll calibrate the Lights and we´ll see if the gradient gets completely flattened...
Peter

@peter-s Yes also with L-eXtreme.