PixInsight and Masks

[ashworthacca]

I'm bored at work and whilst working on some quite tedious tax returns I got to thinking about using Masks in PixInsight.

I've been playing about with Pix and learning the ropes by following Harrys great video tutorials but it seems that you can only apply one mask at a time. I'm not sure that it would ever be necessary but is there a way to say apply a Star Mask and Luminance Mask at the same time?

Just really thinking out loud by posting this.......but it is more interesting than what I'm currently doing at work.

[harry page]

Hi

Yes can be done quite easily , but you need to make it into one mask

Go to pixel maths and input mask1 + mask 2 and you will have a combined mask

Regards Harry:D

[ashworthacca]

Hi

Yes can be done quite easily , but you need to make it into one mask

Go to pixel maths and input mask1 + mask 2 and you will have a combined mask

Regards Harry:D

Thanks Harry.....I'll give it a go.

[ashworthacca]

I could do with a little hand holding for this one.

When I open up Pixel Maths I am just bamboozled by the options.......anyone like to give me a little clue?

[harry page]

Hi

Don't worry simple use is not that hard

make sure your two images are open

1) Open tool

2) rgb/k box select edit

3) In middle box you will see a box for selecting images select your first image

4) then in top box type in the plus sign +

5) go to middle box and select your second image

6) click on OK and this will close the edit box

7) extend the destination panel and select new image

8) apply using the square Icon

You will now have a nice new image

Regards Harry

[ashworthacca]

Hi

Don't worry simple use is not that hard

make sure your two images are open

1) Open tool

2) rgb/k box select edit

3) In middle box you will see a box for selecting images select your first image

4) then in top box type in the plus sign +

5) go to middle box and select your second image

6) click on OK and this will close the edit box

7) extend the destination panel and select new image

8) apply using the square Icon

You will now have a nice new image

Regards Harry

Brilliant, I've got it but I can't promise I wont be back with more questions.

Many thanks Harry:icon_salut:

[harry page]

Hi

no problem

Another symbol that might be of help is the ~ sign which is the inverse instruction

so if you wanted to add a inverse star mask to a lum it would be

lumimage +~starmask

Harry

[ashworthacca]

Hi

no problem

Another symbol that might be of help is the ~ sign which is the inverse instruction

so if you wanted to add a inverse star mask to a lum it would be

lumimage +~starmask

Harry

Excellent...

[ashworthacca]

I've played with the demo version for a while and now have the Commercial version and have to say that I don't think there is anything that I could do in PS that I can't do in Pix......which seems to actually do it better. DBE, background neutralisation, colour correction, luminance masks and HDR Wavlets are the area's that are impressing me at the moment and I am only scratching the surface.

I'm a big fan of PS and have used it for years but for now Pix will be my main (only) astro processing software..........saying that I can take the principles of MartinB's "How to stretch the Histogram using levels and curves" tutorial with me as it works in Pix also.

[harry page]

Hi

As most people know I am a pixinsight fan , but I can do more in pixinsight than I can in photoshop all IMO of course

Still plenty for me to learn in it

Regards Harry

[ashworthacca]

How can I create a star mask that just selects the largest stars, i.e The big stars in M45?

[dlp]

If you can't get what you want out of the star mask generator (and I bet Harry will pop up to say you can!), you could export the mask and fill the unwanted stars with black in PS.

David

[harry page]

Hi

Well this can be a tough one you can up the threshold and increase the scale , but I fully admit I have cloned out stars I do not need .

It can also be done with atrous wavlets , but I will need a month to try and explain that ( ok I dont know it well )

Harry

[Tim]

What we REALLY need Harry, is drawable masks, layers, and then layer masking

[harry page]

Oh

Don't say that on the Pi forum , You will be shot at dawn

Harry

What we REALLY need Harry, is drawable masks, layers, and then layer masking

[ashworthacca]

Hi

Well this can be a tough one you can up the threshold and increase the scale , but I fully admit I have cloned out stars I do not need .

It can also be done with atrous wavlets , but I will need a month to try and explain that ( ok I dont know it well )

Harry

I've had a look at the M45 tutorial and atrouswavlets are covered a little in that......need to try it a few more times because it went straight over my head the first time.

I'm just struggling with blowing the big stars when trying to get some of the lighter nebulosity showing.....any way to stop this happening apart from star masks?