Don’t ever take this video down, it’s my go-to to explain this concept.

Some beginners may inadvertently clip their blacks simple because they don't know the detail/data is there. I know I DID! I remember being so amazed at the minor details uncovered in a basic stretch, that I'd miss out on a lot of the hidden detail, assuming that any data the peaked through was just noise or light pollution. Some lessons need to be learnt the hard way through experience. I look forward to more of your videos this year!

Great video again Stace, it does pain me to see images of our beautiful night sky with clipped blacks (not saying that I have never clipped the data) In response to Zaphus comment........... Zaphus, having your histo-gram just off from the left hand side gives space for darkening the image (black point) should you wish to without entering the data peak. As Stacey said, this is accomplished by applying a dark point / offset within your capture software for dedicated astro cams. The same can be done upon a DSLR by increasing your exposure duration so that the data is a tad from the left.

I like your videos Stace. clear and easy to watch and understand. thanks from the dark skies of New Zealand

This is a point that needs much more attention. Probably the biggest tip second only to guiding to make an image that much better.

This is a great tip and video Stace. With my setup at the moment I use the back of my DSLR and check the histogram. I like to keep it about a third from the left, which seems to be a nice spot for my camera :) I see a lot of images where data has been clipped in post-processing. People make the mistake of thinking that space should be jet black because we see the night sky as black but that simply isn't the case for what our cameras can see :)

It is remarkable how much integrated flux nebulosity went undiscovered because people were clipping it out, thinking it was sensor problems, reflections, or film flaws!

@AstroStace

3 жыл бұрын

Absolutely I can imagine that being the case :) seems more folks are embracing the dust now !

Not many videos have a good insight in clipping data like that one! Great video! :)

I shall add to the accolades - this is a great tutorial. I use the expose to the right approach for exposures (probably over-exposing), and then process using APP with final polish in PS/LR. After watching this, I realize I am still clipping signal in PS, because I only adjust the black point. This video made me realize that I do not understand what the middle value in the Photoshop histogram represents, and what I am doing when I adjust it. Because I do not understand it, I am loathe to change it. Perhaps this is something you could cover in a future video, or direct us to an earlier video that may have already covered this. Thanks again for sharing your wealth of astro-knowledge!

Thanks Stacey. Happy New year!

The people who dislike this video are the people who think clipping the blacks is the only way to deal with light pollution.

Great video, Stace! I'm somewhat a little too cautious to over clip the black point that I lean towards very soft images - but I still love them! :) Gorgeous Orion, btw and super helpful video. I need to try your tips out with Sharpcap!

Wonderful teaching! Thank you for the practical and concise lesson.

@AstroStace

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Alan! :)

Great video, Stace. I'm sure that when I'm ready to get back into this, I'll use this information.

Cries in light pollution. I looked every where for the data, i wish my sky were less limiting, because bloody hell, my sensor is cooking from the radiation.

@AstroStace

3 жыл бұрын

I image in LP too :) bortle 6-8 depending on what direction I shoot

@DJRonnieG

3 жыл бұрын

I been using a Baader moon and skyglow filter in front of my filter wheel and it gas helped. I use a EFW and a Baader universal filter changet together. The specific Sky-glow filter that I gave is coated to prevent reflections in this configuration.

Love this! Best get myself some data to have ago 😉

@AstroStace

3 жыл бұрын

What equipment you got ? 😅😂

Great video stace !!!!

Brilliant video. Thanks Stacey :)

So this one always confuses me, so let me ask a question to room at large here. My understanding of the "black level" or offset was that it almost works the other way to how you describe (and I'm quite happy for someone to tell me I'm wrong as I'm trying to understand it!). I thought that by setting a black level, of for example 30, you were saying that if any value comes from the Camera below that point, it should be considered black (i.e. 0). By taking long photos, you're trying to get the amount of photons coming in (multiplied by the gain setting) to give you pixel values well clear of the zero point so that you don't lose any detail. To that end, I tend to be conservative with my offset (on an ASI1600mm), but set the gain so that I see good, not full well depths in each pixel. In essence, I've always seen Offset as the minimum pixel clipping value. Is that wrong? Thanks in advance y'all!

Great video! Thank you 😊

Great video - but I still dont understand the point of changing the black level/offset ? it *looks* like when you move it you simply move the whole graph to the right and the new '0' is now 30. If nothing will ever be below 30, how is that any different to having it at zero? You clearly know what you are doing, just wondering if you could explain why moving the black level offset is useful, it feels like it is reducing your dynamic range (trivially) which you could do in post-processing anyway.

Thanks Stacey for this helpful tips! Beginners will benefit from your video a lot! Fun images: - my very (!) first DSO image: catchingphotons.de/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/2018-09-18-M31_Andromeda_60sec_iso400_WEB.jpg - later try with more "background" (but still a lack of data): catchingphotons.de/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/2020-09-13-M31_Andromeda_4h_180s_ISO800_22C_WEB_EXPORT.jpg Clear skies!

Very beautiful final image of the Orion Nebula, Stacey! And thank you for this helpful video. I was also always clipping my blacks in my images 🙈. Now, I try to avoid that, but I'm still struggeling with that. On the one side, I don't like "washed out" images, but on the other side, I don't want to destroy the dust of the nebula. I'm working on the Cocoon Nebula and experience the same problem again of clipping the data : the background is too dark to my taste. So, I give it another try with hopefully a better result 😊. Clear skies! 🌠🌌

@AstroStace

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much! I think everyone goes through clipping to begin with :) look forward to seeing your cocoon!

two in a week fantastic :)

@AstroStace

3 жыл бұрын

Just have to keep it up!

@geoffkelly8160

3 жыл бұрын

@@AstroStace Was Lunar too busy to help out? Thanks for the info as always.

@AstroStace

3 жыл бұрын

@@geoffkelly8160 she actually started going crazy with her squeaker toy 😅 so upstairs she went whilst I finished the video :)

Nice video

@AstroStace

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you :)