- Links & tutorials
- Starting with a good dataset
Starting with a good dataset
StarTools will not work correctly (or work poorly) with an incorrectly stacked dataset. Getting a suitable dataset from your free or paid stacking solution, is extremely important.
There is an optimal ISO value for each DSLR, where your specific sensor provides the optimal balance between read noise and dynamic range.
There are a few simple, but important, do's and don'ts to prepare your dataset for post-processing in StarTools.
Deep Sky Stacker (FREE) remains a one of the most popular pre-processing applications for Windows. Stacking and saving your data with these settings is essential to getting good results from StarTools.
ASTAP ("Astrometric STAcking Program") is a FREE, competent, actively developed stacker, available for all platforms. Stacking and saving your data with these settings is essential to getting good results from StarTools.
Astro Pixel Processor ("APP") is a paid stacking solution for Intel-based Windows, macOS and Linux OS's. Stacking and saving your data with these settings is essential to getting good results from StarTools.
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- L. B., United States (under Testimonials)
Thanks for all your hard work and a fantastic product that I can't recommend strongly enough!
- Tracking (under Introduction)
Signal evolution Tracking data mining plays a very important role in StarTools and understanding it is key to achieving superior results with StarTools.
- Zooming, panning and scaling (under Interface)
Even the way StarTools displays and scales images, has been created specifically for astrophotography.
- Mouse controls (under Interface)
As of 1.7, enhanced mouse controls are implemented; Zoom in.
- Step 2: Inspect your dataset (under Quick Start)
Chances are that the image looks terrible, which is - believe it or not - the point.