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Q: Do you support "Track and
Accumulate"?
A: No, we do something much better. The camera control
allows you to take image sequences and save them to disk. You then use the
Combine feature to add the images together, with alignment.
While this might sound like a little bit more work, it has many
advantages:
- You can inspect each image and reject any that are trailed due to
periodic error in the drive, wind gusts, etc. The alignment tool allows you to leaf through
the images and discard bad frames.
- Sub-pixel image registration is supported, and several different
alignment methods are available, ranging from automatic star matching
to manual overlay.
- You can apply a full calibration, including bias, dark and flat,
prior to summing the image. If there are any hot pixels you can also
clean these up before they propagate through the combined image.
- You can do a median combine instead of sum combine, which can
eliminate cosmic ray hits, hot pixels, etc.
- You have the original "raw data" and can reprocess the
image if desired.
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Q: Can I autoguide image sequences?
A: Yes! MaxIm DL/CCD is the first image acquisition
software to offer uninterrupted autoguiding during image sequencing when using
dual-chip CCD cameras. Other applications require you to restart the
autoguiding for each exposure; MaxIm DL/CCD will automatically reopen the
shutter and reacquire the guide star after the image download completes.
You can even take image sequences when using a color filter wheel — the filter
wheel will be automatically advanced between exposures.
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Q: Do you support CMY imaging?
A: Yes, you can use RGB or CMY filters. You can also combine
a luminance image in either case.
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Q: Once I have created a tricolor composite
image, can I do additional processing on it?
A: Yes! Unlike many astronomical image processing
packages, virtually all of MaxIm DL's processing functions work equally
well on monochrome and color images.
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Q: Are any of the other functions available
while taking exposures?
A: Yes! While most programs turn your computer into an
expensive clock during exposures, MaxIm DL/CCD allows you to view and
process images while an exposure is in progress.
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