8
9
Capture – Color: Raw, YCbCr, RGB
(for StarShoot G3 Color only)
These modes determine what kind
of images will be captured. If you are
using the StarShoot G3 Color, we
recommend always capturing in
Raw
to allow for image calibration later
(See “Image Processing – Calibrate
Raws”). The image will appear black
and white at first, but can later be
converted to color. But for quick
imaging to instantly get color, you can select
YCbCr (the most natural color from
the camera), or software-processed
RGB.
Note: The StarShoot G3 Monochrome will have this feature disabled since the
images can only be captured in monochrome.
Capture – Auto dark
If you save a dark frame you can optionally check the
Auto dark box to
automatically calibrate the saved dark frame each time you capture an image.
While this can be convenient, we recommend keeping this feature off under
normal use, since enabling it permanently affects the raw data you capture.
Capture – New buffer
Check this box to display a new window each time a new image is captured. This
is useful to compare or keep the image open without saving it. Keep in mind that
more images will consume more system memory. The
New buffer box should be
left unchecked during multiple looping exposures or long sequences.
3.3 Histogram
(Figure 9)
The
Histogram window displays how the bright and dark pixels are distributed
in your image. You can make all the adjustments to the
Histrogram you want to
reveal the details within the image, and it will not affect the image data, only the
way it is displayed. Choose the presets like
Medium, or drag the light and dark
markers manually to adjust the image on your screen. Your computer monitor
only displays 8-bits of depth from black to white, whereas your StarShoot G3
camera takes images with 16 bits of depth. That’s the difference between 255
counts and 65,535 counts! So you need to check the
Histogram to see how
much image detail you really have.
Subframe
You can selectively download a
segment of the whole field of view
to provide extremely fast download
times. This is useful for focusing since
you typically just concentrate on
one star. Click and drag the mouse
across part of the image to form a
square (Figure 7), then check the
Subframe box. The subframe size and
coordinates will also be displayed in
the
Subframe dialog.
Note: Make sure the
Subframe box is
unchecked when you start capturing
your astrophotos, or you could unin-
tentionally subframe your images into
a small square!
Capture – Single
Takes a single exposure only. The
exposure length will be determined by
the
Exposure value in seconds you
entered.
Capture – Loop
Continuously takes exposures until you
press
Stop. The Stop button will only
appear a single or looping exposure.
The
Loop is useful for focusing when
you are at the telescope and wish to
monitor the focusing progress on your
monitor.
Capture – Sequence
Automatically capture and save images. This is a very convenient feature.
It allows you to save your images while you sleep or do other tasks. In the
Sequence window (Figure 8), you can set your destination Directory to save
your images to, as well as specify the same parameters you would in the
Capture tab, like Exposure, Type, and Bin. In the Sequence window you
can also specify
Repeat, to set the total number of exposures you want to
automatically capture. Click
Run Sequence when you are ready to begin.
Figure 8.
The Sequence dialog allows
you to set your exposure then automatically
image while you are away from the
computer.
Figure 9.
The sliders on the Histogram
can be adjusted to reveal lighter or darker
depths of the image.
Figure 7.
Subframing a small area
speeds up the download time and allows
you to concentrate on one area of the chip;
ideal for focusing.
