Colored RAW Data (Uncompressed Y800) Capture; RegiStax Import
My colleagues in the Support Department asked me to write about how to capture colored RAW image data to an uncompressed Y800 AVI file with IC Capture.AS and then import it to RegiStax 4. They tell me they have at least two customers every day who need assistance on figuring out how to do this.
For the purpose of this mini-tutorial, a DFK 21AF04.AS camera will be used to generate the AVI file. The resulting file will be imported into RegiStax 4, in which the color calculation will take place.
Step #1: Setup the DFK 21AF04.AS in IC Capture
Start IC Capture.AS and open the camera, as described in the documentation. Set the video format to Y800, as illustrated in the following screenshot:
Step #2: Get Ready For AVI Capture
First of all, a filename and the AVI format must be specified. The AVI file format must be uncompressed Y800. This can be set up by opening the Record Video File dialog, which is activated by clicking on the button marked in the following screenshot:
The following dialog box should open. Proceed by clicking on the indicated button:
The following dialog should appear:
Check the radio button next to Uncompressed and select Y800 from the selection list. You can also specify further properties, such as the filename and number of frames to be captured.
To proceed, click the OK button. The dialog box will close.
Step #3: Capture The AVI File
The Record Video File dialog box should now look as follows:
You can start AVI capture by clicking on the red record button The black pause and stop buttons pause and stop AVI capture respectively.
Once you have finished capturing, you can close IC Capture.AS.
Step #4: Import Into RegiStax
Now start RegiStax and import the AVI file, which you have just captured. Then, click on Additional Options, as shown in the following screenshot:
Proceed, by clicking on Use Debayer and select GB from the radio buttons:
And that is all there is to it – the image is now colored.
If you need any help with this mini-tutorial, please do not hesitate to contact our Support Department. Please do not forget, when you purchase an astronomy cameras, manufactured by The Imaging Source, you are not only getting the hardware, but an all-encompassing support package as well. All customers can contact the Support Department by telephone, e-mail and fax.
Gert Gottschalk said,
June 19, 2008 @ 05:12
Hi,
Why is the preview in the IC Capture window in BW? Can this be fixed?
Thanks,
Gert
Lance McCartney said,
June 19, 2008 @ 09:21
Thanks for posting this. I won’t have opportunity to try it for a while,
but it is great to have the info.
Lance
Xiao Sun said,
June 19, 2008 @ 15:28
Hi Gert,
The preview in IC Capture is in monochrome because the image data has not been “debayered”, although it is generated by a color camera.
If you activate “Debayer” in the “Device” menu of IC Capture, you will get the picture in color. But keep in mind that “Debayering” a video in Y800 format will lose the raw data.
Visit the following link for detailed info on Bayer and Debayer:
http://www.theimagingsource.com/en/resources/whitepapers/download/howcolcamswp.en.pdf
Regards,
Xiao
Bob Pilz said,
July 15, 2008 @ 14:14
Hi, I have a DBK21 instead of a DFK and I can’t make the process you describe work properly with it. When I set format to Y800 and codec to uncompressed Y800, I see a fine grid pattern on the live b/w image. When the resulting AVI is processed in Registax the final debayered image still shows this fine grid pattern. Obviously this isn’t conducive to high resolution imaging. Am I doing something wrong or doesn’t this recording of raw data work with the DBK?
Thanks,
Bob
Stefan said,
July 15, 2008 @ 15:04
The fine grid on the b/w image must be seen. It is a result of the different color diversion of red, green and blue parts in the light
Is the debayered image in Registax b/w or is it colored? You did exactly, what is shown in the tutorial inclusive enable debayering in Registax?
Bob Pilz said,
July 15, 2008 @ 17:01
Stefan, yes I did exactly what was shown in the tutorial: Format Y800, Codec Y800 No Compression and in Registax checked Debayer and then checked GB. The image processes correctly and has the correct color but when sharpened shows a grid pattern – especially obvious when resized 2x. I’ve seen this on Mars images when seeing was excellent but in worse seeing it seems to get blurred out. When imaging a terrestrial object that isn’t subject to seeing it is easily apparent. I’d be glad to send you an image showing the effect if you could tell me where to send it.
Regards, Bob
Umair said,
September 14, 2009 @ 09:54
Hi, I have purchased DBK 31AU03.AS and have followed the instruction for color imaging. But Registax give all green image of the planet (jupiter in this case) and i have also tried other combinations but still see green there. Please help.
Stefan said,
September 16, 2009 @ 09:20
Well, I guess, you did something wrong in the camera settings, e.g select BY8 or Y800 video format in the camera. However, if you can send me one image from your AVI file, I can check, whether it is raw data or simply gray scale.
Umair said,
September 24, 2009 @ 09:11
Hi Stefan, when i select BY8 and RGB24 i do get colored data..but is this the best colored resolution i can get from this camera?
Giorgio said,
October 14, 2009 @ 11:15
Hi, I Have the same problem of Bob Pilz, I also use a DBK Camera and I see a fine grid pattern on the live b/w image
Please HELP !!
Stefan said,
October 19, 2009 @ 17:47
The display is in b/w, because the video format of the camera must be set to Y800. If a color format is used in the camera, the raw data information is lost. Even if debayering is enabled, the raw data is lost in the sink.
This could be changed by writing some new program.
Stefan said,
October 19, 2009 @ 17:50
Bob Pilz:
You can go in contact with me at http://www.imagingcontrol.com/en_US/support/case/
At least, if a pattern is visible after sharpening, then you should speak with the the Registax programmer, because he knows, what his algorithms are doing. I do not know this, I can only guess.
Stefan said,
October 19, 2009 @ 17:52
Giorgio
The fine pattern visible on the live b/w image is created by the different brightness of red, green and blue colors. A fine checker board pattern must be visible. This can be seen on the first image of this tutorial too, but the compression of the image distorts this.
Patrick said,
February 8, 2010 @ 02:56
Stephan,
My camera is a DBK41AU02, I was confused that I seem to be able to set different codecs in the ‘Device’ toolbar and in the ‘Record’ toolbar.
The ‘Device’ toolbar seems to be the correct one but what effect, if any, does the Codec setting in the ‘Record’ toolbar have?
Please have this information added to the ICcapture Help file!!
For my camera, I find that registax has to be set to ‘Use Debayer’ and ‘RG’ to get correct colour. Is this correct?
In Registax, selecting ‘Full Image’ shows a coarse grid on the image.
This is an artifact and does not affect the image. De-select ‘Full Image’ removes this grid. Saving the image and opening it in Photoshop or similar proves that no grid is present.
Your mini-tutorial is not just valuable, its essential. It should feature large on your website. You probably have many frustrated, unhappy customers who have not found the mini-tutorial!
Thanks
Pat Clough
Ron West said,
February 14, 2010 @ 21:57
Hi, I’m trying to use a DFK21AU to shoot Mars through my ‘scope. Two questions. One,trying to get focus with the coarse’grid’ is impossible.Is there a way round this? Two, when I use the GB Debayer radio button Mars comes out far too red and the other buttons are no help. Is there something I can do about this?
Thanks,
Ron
Serena said,
February 19, 2010 @ 03:12
Don’t try to focus on a planet. Use a nearby star and a focusing aid such as a Bahtinov mask (http://www.focus-mask.com/Free_Templates.html). You adjust the colour in post processing.
Nolan said,
April 2, 2010 @ 15:02
I am using the DFK 21AF04.AS camera and our club’s Coronado Solar Max 90 to capture prominences on the sun. Can you tell me if there is any setting during capture where I might exclude certain colors to gain a better color capture (and maybe more detail) in the end when I process it in Registax 5?
Also, have you tried any other processing platform (Nebulosity, Maxim or others) where you find that it is easier to process the video stream than Registax? I am particularly having trouble because my polar alignment is not that great and the alignment function in Registax is not staying on the location of the sun that I picked. Thank you. Nolan
Nolan said,
April 2, 2010 @ 15:03
My last e-mail ending with my e-mail address as listing .ocm – obviously that should have been .com