How to Stack Images from Different Cameras ?

[WolfieGlos]

I'm trying to stack images collected with different cameras (585mc and 2600mc), but for some reason, Siril and Deep Sky Stacker will not allow me to stack them.

I can create a stack of the images collected with the 585mc.

I can create a stack of the images collected with the 2600mc.

But they simply won't allow them to be stacked together; either by "stacking the stacks" or stacking each of the processed subs as one. Even using the Groups tab in DSS doesn't work.

Siril simply states "Cannot perform star matching: try #3. Image 2 skipped", whilst DSS tells me "The Checked Pictures are not compatible; width mismatch".

So I assume the fact that one camera has a sensor that's 3840x2160 (2.9 pixel size) whilst the other is 6248x4176 (3.76 pixel size), the stacking software simply doesn't like it. I know the FOV's would be vastly different, so my intention is to crop to the smaller size.

Has anyone else come across this, and is there a way around this? 

[CraigT82]

Pretty sure you should be able to stack the e two master stacks together using Imageintegration in PI. In needs a minimum of three images so you can just load each image twice (four images)

[WolfieGlos]

10 minutes ago, CraigT82 said:

Pretty sure you should be able to stack the e two master stacks together using Imageintegration in PI. In needs a minimum of three images so you can just load each image twice (four images)

Thanks Craig. I've just tried that, and I get a similar error message of "Incompatible image geometry".

I've also just tried cropping the larger file down to 6248x3514.5 (so the same aspect ratio) and it still didn't work for the same error message. It must be something related to the aspect ratio it seems.

[CraigT82]

16 minutes ago, WolfieGlos said:

Thanks Craig. I've just tried that, and I get a similar error message of "Incompatible image geometry".

I've also just tried cropping the larger file down to 6248x3514.5 (so the same aspect ratio) and it still didn't work for the same error message. It must be something related to the aspect ratio it seems.

Could try using Staralignment to register the images first, select the smaller image as the reference and it should scale/align the larger image to it I think (haven’t actually used it just doing a bit of googling and try at popped up) 

[Elp]

Sometimes Ive managed it in Siril, sometimes not.

Load all the lights (it helps if each session is pre calibrated and background extracted per image) - note load the first set of lights of which you want to act as the "master resolution" for all others to scale to,

Load your followings sets all into the same list,

Enter sequence name below the list,

Type save as images,

Enable symbolic link checkbox,

GO!

You need to enable developer mode on your PC, you'll see the error line come up in the console, I've done it but the error still comes up.

Last time I tried it my smaller sensor ones didnt work, but I have previously combined 294 data to 183 data (or the other way around).

Stacking master stacks is the same process but you'll obviously only have a handful of images in your list.

Then once done continue to registration then stacking tabs.

Edited January 8 by Elp

[ONIKKINEN]

Strange, have managed to stack all sorts of not at all matching resolutions in Siril to a single image and so far have always succeeded.

What registration settings are you using? You could try the different algorithms for transformations. Homography has always managed to match stars with global star alignment for my stuff.

Regarding vastly different FOVs, you could try pre cropping the sequence (or the image if stacking stacks) to be a better match.

Edited January 8 by ONIKKINEN

[ollypenrice]

To co-register and resize images to fit each other, I still use the venerable Registar. It just works. It's a one trick pony but, 1) it's a damned good trick and 2) it"s a trick with many applications.

https://aurigaimaging.com/

Olly

[WolfieGlos]

On 08/01/2025 at 19:06, CraigT82 said:

Could try using Staralignment to register the images first, select the smaller image as the reference and it should scale/align the larger image to it I think (haven’t actually used it just doing a bit of googling and try at popped up) 

Hi Craig, thanks, but no joy sadly. Same error message. I tried it with the ImageSolver too, again, no luck.

On 08/01/2025 at 19:45, Elp said:

Sometimes Ive managed it in Siril, sometimes not.

Load all the lights (it helps if each session is pre calibrated and background extracted per image) - note load the first set of lights of which you want to act as the "master resolution" for all others to scale to,

Load your followings sets all into the same list,

Enter sequence name below the list,

Type save as images,

Enable symbolic link checkbox,

GO!

You need to enable developer mode on your PC, you'll see the error line come up in the console, I've done it but the error still comes up.

Last time I tried it my smaller sensor ones didnt work, but I have previously combined 294 data to 183 data (or the other way around).

Stacking master stacks is the same process but you'll obviously only have a handful of images in your list.

Then once done continue to registration then stacking tabs.

Thanks Elp, that’s the routine I follow on 99% of my images, and low and behold, no luck.

22 hours ago, ONIKKINEN said:

Strange, have managed to stack all sorts of not at all matching resolutions in Siril to a single image and so far have always succeeded.

What registration settings are you using? You could try the different algorithms for transformations. Homography has always managed to match stars with global star alignment for my stuff.

Regarding vastly different FOVs, you could try pre cropping the sequence (or the image if stacking stacks) to be a better match.

Thanks Onikkinen, I’ve tried Homography (and the other 3 options), I’ve tried 3 star alignment and none of them work.

The only one I didn’t try following this trial was cropping the images beforehand. It didn’t work when I posted yesterday but will give it a try.

1 hour ago, ollypenrice said:

To co-register and resize images to fit each other, I still use the venerable Registar. It just works. It's a one trick pony but, 1) it's a damned good trick and 2) it"s a trick with many applications.

https://aurigaimaging.com/

Olly

Thanks Olly. If all else fails, I might check out the free trial of it and see if it works. I have yet to try Astap or APP (which I don’t have). I could always upload the stacks if anyone wants to try too.

Edited Thursday at 19:50 by WolfieGlos

[ONIKKINEN]

I have a couple of 'hacks' in mind by pre resampling one of the sequences to match the other. Not sure what the least inconvenient way to do that would be, but could give it a try with the stacks if you share them.

[geeklee]

14 hours ago, WolfieGlos said:

APP (which I don’t have).

Chris, if you want to try APP just send me a link to the files via PM and I'll happily give it a try for you 👍

[Elp]

On 08/01/2025 at 19:45, Elp said:

Load your followings sets all into the same list,

Enter sequence name below the list,

Type save as images,

Enable symbolic link checkbox,

GO!

Just tried this again, three different scopes two completely different cameras, it worked. Don't know why sometimes it errors. What does happen though if stars cannot be matched maybe due to quality registration will throw a few more out.

[carastro]

22 hours ago, ollypenrice said:

To co-register and resize images to fit each other, I still use the venerable Registar. It just works. It's a one trick pony but, 1) it's a damned good trick and 2) it"s a trick with many applications.

https://aurigaimaging.com/

Olly

Me too,  

Carole