My colleagues in the Support Department asked be to write about how to capture colored RAW image data into uncompressed Y800 AVI 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 G8 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.

Disclaimer: This text is part of a five part series, which was originally published in the UK magazine Astronomy Now. The text is copyright Pole Star Publications Ltd, the publisher of the magazine and the images are copyright Nick Howes, the astro-photographer. Text and images have been reproduced here with kind permission of Astronomy Now and Nick Howes respectively.

The Imaging Source make a vast number of cameras, with a range of interface types, including IEEE 1394, commonly referred to as Firewire. As most PC laptops however tend to have a four pin DV/Firewire interface, the cameras of this type need additional power supplies. Mac owners usually have the better six or nine pin options, which provide power down the 1394 cable. For this review, The Imaging Source provided the much more convenient USB models, so power was not an issue.

The DMK 21AU04.AS (snappy name!) utilises the sensitive Sony ICX098BL chipset, which combined with the ultra-fast USB 2.0 interface, can deliver up to 60 frames per second of 640×480 uncompressed video. The larger Sony ICX205AL in the second model, the DMK 41AU02.AS, delivers a huge 1280×960 resolution, which over USB 2.0 can deliver up to 15 frames per second uncompressed. Both cameras are able to act as deep sky imaging devices as well, with image exposure times up to a whopping 60 minutes.

The first thing that strikes you about both cameras is the build quality. The rugged metal casing and the screw-on end cap to keep out dust are both compact but surprisingly heavy (though not too heavy to affect a typical telescope balance), and feel like something you know is never going to let you down. Even the supplied 1.25-inch nose piece is made of metal.

The package comes with a well thought out and multi-language quick start sheet, which guides you through a painless installation of the drivers. Coming from a software development background, it is always good to see a well-written and professionally designed installation suite.

The software package also includes a software development kit for programmers of applications aimed at supporting The Imaging Source range. The software really does ooze quality, and within a few minutes you are literally up and running.

Unlike Firewire cameras, the USB variety have just one cable to connect to your laptop, so there is absolutely no need ever to plug in a separate power supply, which is a real boost for imagers in the field.

Mike Salway wrote to us to announce that he has just published a very detailed article about RGB planetary imaging using monochrome cameras.

The article covers the reasons for choosing a monochrome camera, the hardware and software amateurs astronomers need for monochrome RGB imaging, and most importantly, how to recombine monochrome images back into a color image.

Furthermore, there is a tutorial for LRGB combinations, tips for focusing and more.

The following image is part of his article:

Mike’s text commences with:

Planetary Imaging is a fast growing field of astrophotography – boosted by tech-savvy amateur astronomers, larger and cheaper (but good quality) telescopes becoming more accessible, and the proliferation of low-cost webcams as imaging devices which can capture up to 60 frames per second (fps) without compression. It’s never been easier to try your hand at astrophotography and capture that first image of the moon or a planet.

The aim of this article is to serve as a tutorial for creating an RGB image using a monochrome camera, and/or to help you to decide whether mono RGB imaging is right for you. The article will describe exactly what you need to buy (in both hardware and software) and what you need to consider (in capturing and processing) to start down the road of capturing and creating your first RGB Planetary Image.

The article is aimed at an audience of intermediate level planetary astrophotographers, who most likely have already had some previous experience using a colour camera (like a ToUcam/NexImage or a DBK/DFK camera) to capture and process planetary images and are looking to go to the next step of a monochrome camera, but aren’t sure what’s involved. I’m certain though that a lot of the techniques and tips described in here will be just as useful to beginners and will hopefully reduce the huge learning curve that they’re starting down. Most advanced planetary astrophotographers are already using a monochrome camera and are creating wonderful RGB planetary images, but hopefully there may be something of interest to you in here as well. I welcome all of your feedback and suggestions for future revisions of this article.

You can read the article in its entirety at:

• http://www.iceinspace.com.au/index.php?id=63,468,0,0,1,0

Mike, this is an awesome contribution to the community! Thanks for making such an amazing text!

Many users of The Imaging Source cameras have recently phoned, emailed, and even faxed what seems to be a most relevant question concerning the new USB models. Tom Ferraro of Melbourne, FL writes:

[...] the humidity here in Florida is just deadly no matter what time of year it is! Can I extend the USB connection from my laptop to my DMK 21AU04.AS so that I can stay cool while sipping a tasty beverage?

Good news Tom. I’ve purchased a few long USB cables and extension cables from a local electronics shop and tested The Imaging Source DMK 21AU04.AS (and its siblings) up to 10 meters! One note: buy good quality cables!

Have a Great Day,

profjohn

Following my post yesterday about how to use The Imaging Source FireWire astronomy cameras on Ubuntu 7.04 (Feisty Fawn), below are few screenshots of unicap running.

Main application window with about dialog

Adjustments dialog -> Exposure tab

Adjustments dialog -> Device tab

Adjustments dialog -> Color tab

Adjustments dialog -> Video tab

Preferences dialog -> Video tab

Preferences dialog -> Audio tab

Preferences dialog -> Image tab

Preferences dialog -> Plugins tab

Image in “main application window” screenshot is copyright Dierick Vercouter.