Totally amazing! I thought I wasted a whole day and then I plugged in the toolbox. Holy Sh*t! I don't remember the last time I was this happy about something. Thank you.
I process most of my solar images inverted and leave them greyscale because I could never produce a consistent approach to masking and colourising an in phase image to show the surface and prominences. That said, I also enjoy the dark mood and dramatic appearance they have. Currently we are hounded by clouds so I have used the script on historic data and WOW, what an impact. I sincerely appreciate all the time and effort both Bill and Mike have put into developing this too and look forward to producing more colourised in-phase images. I guess I have joined the ‘orange’ side!
Excellent tutorial, I updated my Pixinsight version 1.8.9-2 - build 1597 and installed script works GREAT!! I have the Daystar solar scout 60mm and Daystar Quark HA, the Solar Toolbox script covers everything (all in one) very handy !! I'm going back to re-edit my solar images and planets, the results are amazing! Thanks for this video and great work 💯
Thanks very much for this. Solar imaging is a passion of mine, and I have the book you recommend. It's excellent. I have some recent solar images that I can try your new script on. Looking forward to giving it a try!
Don’t do solar imaging but still love watching your videos and really appreciate yours and Mike’s efforts and amazing scripts you guys put out to make all of our processing easier and accessible Top blokes thanks again
Awesome work! Just processed a full disk image I took last week with my Quark. The ability to process the prominences and the full disk together as well as the 3D effect is fantastic. Cup of coffee is on the way!
Thank you Bill. I'm a planetary and lunar imager and now venturing into solar. Your Solar Toolbox will now be my go to post processing tool. I think I will use it on planets and the Moon too and replace the legacy tools like Registax and perhaps Astrosurface. PixInsight is the best software investment I've made in a long time. For my Easter wish list, can you add solar timelapse to you toolbox? You and Mike are taking this hobby to the next level. I mean, we amateurs can start to perhaps make scientific contributions. I need to buy you coffee
Another game changing tool. Many thanks. Just re-edited a solar image from last year. Your script produced a much better result in less time than traditional methods. Cheers, Des
Your process (and all the mathematics behind) is simply mind blowing ! This is really impressive what you do here for the Community. Thanks very much Bill.
WOW, just loaded this script and started playing with it, just happened to try some solar yesterday. Fantastic! much easier than using Photoshop actually!, it's an all-in-one script! the ability to see it live, and to save the settings as an icon...timesaver!
Excellent work. I have just started solar imaging using a Daystar Quark so this is going to be very useful! Doing solar work in Scotland almost sounds like a bad joke but we do actually get a decent amount of sun and is something to do while waiting for those rare clear nights.
Wow, wow, wow!!!! I am actually speechless. Solar Toolbox is amazing. Before, I used many different tools to get similar results. Now, everything is in one tool. Thank you so much for your hard work. I can't wait to kick off the solar imaging season and put this to use. 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
An excellent tool which I have just used for the first time with very good results - the tutorial video is a must watch so as to realize the full potential of the script.
I am ABSOLUTLEY BLOWN AWAY. I can't believe what an amazing toolkit you produced. This makes the process so much simpler. Where it's really going to do miracles is with my time lapse clips of the sun. The process I use in Photoshop to boost the prominences doesn't work with their batch processing method, but this solves all of that. Now I will be able to do the movies with lots of surface detail instead of just prom detail. Subbed to your channel and bought you 5 coffees. Thanks again, you are an absolute hero!
Oh, yeah, like you, I am not a fan of inverting the image, which I know really helps to make boosting the proms easier, and although I learned about making the funky curves to try and do that in ImPPG, it makes the coloring and texture on the surface kind of funky, so gave up on that too. Although I would use the mask in PS to help boost the proms, I could never get the mask to work with batch processing.
Using a Lunt 80mm, My latest method WAS AutoStakkert to get the initial TIFF and then ImPPG (to get prom and inverted surface). I tried the toolkit and I'm very impressed and I think I now like the non inverted images better. Well done (again)
Thanks for leaving a comment on my video and recommending the toolbox .. I just installed the repo and the colorisation and contrast features are beautiful. I'll likely feature it eventually. Great work!
Thanks so much for this. I finally managed to do a little solar imaging today in preparation for April 8th as we are right in the center of the path. This process made the editing so simple, especially for my first images.
Thanks for the work. I have a solar image with a quark in which the prom comes up out of the surface and goes into space in the background. People told me I needed double stacking to show it. Somehow by accident I got it to show entirely but only doing something in pixinsight. I wish I recorded it because maybe it could be added to the process someday.
Thank you for making this, it looks great. Looking forward to using it. No luck after following your instructions. I reset updates, rebooted, reinstalled everything. Still no SolarToolbox. PI build 1573
Did you do things in this order? Note: You might run into an issue with installing processes/scripts in the latest versions of Pixinsight where the script or processing icons don’t show up in the menu after installation. To fix this, go to: Resources-Updates-Reset Updates, then restart Pixinsight, then click on "Check for Updates" to install
Yes. Dl the latest build. And reset updates. It was there. I’ve been using it the past two days and like it a lot. Is there an area to provide any feedback?
Bill thanks for all the effort you put into these tools you create. I imagine is because this is just out of the press, but PI is reporting no updates available after adding the repository and checking for updates. Again THANKS A LOT!
Try the "Reset updates" option first, I listed this in the discription as a potential issue, then reboot Pixinsight, then click "Check for Updates". I tested this on my end and it works. This is an anoying Pixinsight issue I wish they would fix. Please make sure you are running the latest version of Pixinsight, 1.8.9-2 Build 1597
@@SnaxxNZGamingafter you clicked on reset updates, did you restart Pixinsight, then go into check for updates so that all your processes are reinstalled? Because after you click on reset updates and restart Pixinsight when you check for updates every single process that is in the repository will be reinstalled. It's crazy that this happens sometimes but it is a Pixinsight issue unfortunately
@@billblanshan3021 Yea, When I click "Check for updates" it shows the repository, says "Verified. Certified developer: Mike Cranfield" but "Available packages" is "0'.
@@anotherastrochannel2173 Having trouble getting it installed. I'm on PI version 1.8.9-2 build 1593 from 2023-12-03. Maybe it needs a more recent build?
@@JethroXPRead one of the comments above because I know other people are having issues and it's because of the reset update thing that you have to do with Pixinsight sometimes. If that doesn't work even though it worked on my end after I uninstalled it then I'm going to pull this video and figure out what's going on but I do know that I tested it on my end and it did install right but I had to do the reset update thing first, then reboot the software, then click on check for updates for everything to reinstall.
@@billblanshan3021 Double checked repositories, did the reset updates, restarted PixInsight, it re-installed 18 things, but this still isn't there. Even rebooted the PC and started up PI and ran Check for Updates but still not showing up. There is no error, it's just not returning any results.
Glad that I bumped into this video. Thanks for putting the solar processing process together. It’s awesome. One question I do have if the recommend starting point is with a stacked image from PIPP, Autostakkert or RegiStax? What did you use to get this stacked image?
you are an absolute genious with the prominence mask Absolutely amazing, will try it tomorrow on my date, mind you my data is not the best, but actually that is the tesl, lol. Did not make it ryme intentionally
Ok I got it. After downloading the latest version (build 1601) everything works well. I sweat hard after losing all the RC ASTRO's paied hundreds euros tools but I proceeded in some way to recover all of them. Thank you.
You are not going to lose all the apps that you've downloaded or paid for, sometimes you have to go into the menu and click reset just like I say to do in the description. Please read the description All the instructions are there!
Hello :) I cant find a contact formular at your website, I try it here. I have the actual Pixinsight version and build and can not install the process. I tried to reset the updates, reopenend Pixinsight and installed all updates new. The solar tool box will not shown in the processes. Can you help me please?
Very interesting, it would be useful to apply different contrast/sharpness levels to proms and surface in "Prominence & Surface" mode. Also the ability to produce mask images that can be used for further processing if needed
First of all, thank you very much for the detailed explanations! Do you have some advice for full disk stitches? Stitching the images/Creating a mosaic first doesn't work as the stitching software (ICE) seems to overwrite lots of data (some with Photoshop) and some parts look like a monochrome rainbow in the sky areas. So, the obvious solution would be to process the images first and then stitch them. Problem there is that the settings I use for "Surface and prominence" don't work for surface images without any black sky.
Thanks Bill! Really what used to take 3 programs now takes 3 clicks. Has anyone figured out how to make the background sky a different color using this plugin?
You will not be able to do this in one process, but you can do it in three. Clone your image to have three copies. Process one to your color liking, then another with a different color scheme, then another just ouputting a mask using the "show mask" feature e.g. Surface Prom Mask. Then you can use Pixelmath to combine the images (Img1*Mask)+(Image2*~Mask). Give that a shot.
I will have to give that some thought, I would like to investigate a better way to auto align solar data first, then maybe a registration for mosaics next.
Amazing toolbox; many thanks for it because my white light sun photo's are stuning now. Is it possible to make a toolbox for photo's of the moon?? Grtz from Belgium
You can actually use the same process for the moon, just keep the colorization part turned off otherwise your moon's going to look like Swiss cheese, lol
Bill , I wanted to send you an email but cant find one so I will ask you a question about processing ... A cousin of mine wanted me to image Leo 1 and keep the star Regulus in frame. The problem is Regulus just gets so blown out and I have tried to process it but just cant seem to do it ... Any tricks... ??? If you want me to send image of it I could. Not sure if you take requests but watch and use a lot of your tools , maybe not as well as you but they make things so much easier . Thanks
Bill im new to pi insight but have been doing solar for many years. I downloaded your script into pixinsight but can’t find it in scripts or in processes. What name would it be called? Thanks Randy
Nice one!! So it installs and works on my PC but on mac I get a load error that says the mac repository file isnt available. I'm familiar with the update process and the repository url is correct, restarted PI/etc same error.
I am on a Mac and there is not a problem with the repository url. Please double check the link - copy and paste is helpful as it is easy to make a small slip and not notice!
Enjoying the tutorial, gonna watch it all the way through - but for the life of me I can't find the icon under all processes. Didn't see any errors in the update log. Ran the reset updates & tried again, still nothing. I'll keep giving it a shot, hopefully it'll work itself out.
@@mikecranfield8546Currently on PixInsight Core 1.8.9-2 Ripley (x64) (build 1579 | 2023-08-28) - the update tool didn't pull the newest down. Downloaded the most recent from the website (1601), and the tool is now showing up! Thanks for the quick response - really appreciate it!
@@mikecranfield8546Thanks for this fast reply - Didn't realize the software update tool didn't grab the newest from the website - I was at 1579. Now at 1601and the tool is accessible.. And wow.. this is an amazing tool - the "this looks good" out of IMPPG & PS isn't anywhere close to as good as 5 minutes in PI.
Works sooo great - and THANKYOU! However - a question re future: As far as i can tell, there is no way to Batch-process your settings - so its not useable for doing a Timelapse. Ccan align alll with IMPPG, sure, but when it comes to the really great tool in TOolbox re color and sharpness and contrast, there is no way to apply those to all the images …. Especially if say, 200 … Any workaround for that, or update coming re that?
You can batch process the settings using this Solar Toolbox process. You just got to use a image container and that will process all your images using the same settings set in the solar toolbox process. There are many videos on UA-cam on how to use image containers to create time lapses
The script still doesn’t show up for me, even when I do the Resources -> Updates -> Reset Updates and restart pixinsight. Am I missing a step? Edit: I just realized I was using build 1588. I’ll update Pixinsight and hope that fixes my issue.
I get Network Error. Response code 301 when trying to install the script from the repository. Can you help. I already updated PI and did reset updates, still no joy. Thanks in advance for your help.
originally yes, but when I removed it and re-pasted it in, it loaded and the error was gone . Perhaps sometimes strange characters were added, who knows. Thank you for your suggestion
I'm so pumped to explore this toolkit I just wish could get it to install. I'm on the latest version of PI (bld 1579). when I run check updates, it registers the repo but says there isn't anything to download. Did it get moved?
As specified in the description: Note: You might run into an issue with installing processes/scripts in the latest versions of Pixinsight where the script or processing icons don’t show up in the menu after installation. To fix this, go to: Resources-Updates-Reset Updates, then restart Pixinsight, then click on "Check for Updates" to install
@@anotherastrochannel2173thanks I did try that twice as well as remove the link from the repo and added it back but got the same result. I’ll try it again for a 4th go and see if that makes a difference. Sooner or later I’ll get to work hahah.
First , thanks for doing this , make things a bit faster . But I am having a problem maybe you can help. I processed the images with impg to align , I used PIPP to make all the copping the same ( making a time lapse ) then I use solar tool to do the rest . After I use solar tool I go back into pipp to make a movie and it crashes. I thought I did something wrong so I tried again and same thing. But if I use my images before I used solar tools pipp loads fine and does not crash. There is something going on the I am doing or solar tools is. BTW when I do one image in solar tools I use the image and process containers so maybe it is happening there . Any ideas ?? Thanks
That's weird, I use PIPP all the time and never had any crash issues. When you do the image container so that you can save the image, it might be how the naming is being done so you might have to edit the way it saves the file name. I would give that a try but it has nothing to do with the solar toolbox process at all, my guess it's the file name that PIPP is not reading right
@@billblanshan3021 Bill, I was able to make the video in PIPP using IMPG with the same images except I used IMPPG and Pix for the color in curves and was able to make the vid , but your solar tools work so much better with color and sharpening... I have to figure out what I am doing with files to make them crash. If there is a way for me to send you one image to seeif there is something in the file . If I remember right I dont even think I can load one image from color tools. Thx for getting back I know you must be busy Steve
@@billblanshan3021 Bill I figured it out. It seems to have something to due with pix. I went back and started at the beginning and tested with PIPP at every step. WhenI did a dynamic crop in pix and tried to make movie it crashed , so I did the cropping in PIPP and it worked fine.. So then I went back to Pix to lighten the image a bit with histogram trans and did with image comtainer and ran it through so i did them all , went back to PIPP and crashed again.. So I had to lighten with PIPP and it worked.. So something with Pix processing does something with the file.. I really really hope I made it clear.... Would you know why pix would do that ?? Steve
Hi Bill, I've just tried to do a manual install and I get an API error. I am runing version 1.8.9-2, but its only build 1585. @JethroXP is runing build 1593. The "updates.xri" says that build 1597 is required. I bet thats why my version of PI doesn't see any avaiable packages in the repository and why it won't manualy install. Unfortunaly I can't test this as its going to take 4 hours to DL the latest version from the PI website (Their hosting has real issues with Aus and NZ).
Ok, so it has to be build 1597 (latest release), I updated the description to say this. PI has made a mess with these 1.8.9-2 updates and I can see it will give me a big headache with this video release.
I tried installing, however the solar tollbox doesn't show up under all processes. I tried the reset updates as you mentioned and that didn't work either. My version is 1.8.9-2 build 1579. Is there anything else I can try to get the toolbox to show up? Thanks Edit: I had to re-install Pix and then the toolbox showed up.
Did you follow these steps listed in the description i.e. reboot Pixinsight in this order? Note: You might run into an issue with installing processes/scripts in the latest versions of Pixinsight where the script or processing icons don’t show up in the menu after installation. To fix this, go to: Resources-Updates-Reset Updates, then restart Pixinsight, then click on "Check for Updates" to install
@@billblanshan3021 Oh sorry, i am an idiot, i will try it on my working PC later with PI. I thought i can access it via the browser. Are you the person in the video?
@@skyman1693 Yes sir, give it a shout and if you run into any issues please let me know, I am here to help, but if you do follow everything in the instructions you will be fine and just make sure that you're running the latest version of Pixinsight 😎
@@billblanshan3021 Thank you very much for this informative video. I will use the toolbox to process my Ha images. I normally use PS for it, but it is hard to replicate the results. You can take a look at my solar images at astrobin: users/Robert_Schumann/
Are you running the latest version? I have other loading it just fine but you must be on the latest version of Pixinsight as instructed in the description 😃
Hi Everybody, the link doesn't work.. when i check the repository url is empty. but the other link (narrowband for exemple) are working. have you a suggestion for this problem? i had reset the updates manager already.
Are you running the latest version? I have other loading it just fine but you must be on the latest version of Pixinsight as instructed in the description 😃
I am about to describe something that may make people ask, "Why would you do that" and others just flat out say, "No," but I think there may be a bug. After seeing your application of the sharpening and histogram equalization to planetary images, I wondered how they would work on DSO's. The answer is that they kinda work, but need help. By help, I mean selective masking. What I have run into, however, is that with a mask applied to the target image, the real time preview does not update. I cannot tell what impact my choices are having. My solution has been to work on the unmasked image and get contrast/sharpening where I like them on the structures I'm targeting, apply the mask (the RT Preview updates), then apply the enhancements. Not sure if this is something that you can fix since this really isn't the intended purpose, but I have enjoyed the tool!
I watched the video and following the instructions. I click on the link to the repository and I get a 404 error. Plain and simple. I have many of Bill's other repositories in my list in PI which all work fine.
@@SouthJerseyAstronomyClub I clearly stated in the video you will get that error and to ignore it because it doesn't matter; all you are intended to do is copy the address link from the page so you can copy and paste this into the Repository. The reason why I illustrate this is because in the UA-cam description, UA-cam crops off the address to copy direct from so I have the users click on the link to copy the address that way. Below is the link: www.cosmicphotons.com/pi-modules/solartoolbox/
@@SouthJerseyAstronomyClub Yes, you will get a 404 error if you click on the link. Please copy the link into your PixInsight repository list and the check for updates in the usual way. Also please ensure you are running at least PixInsight 1.8.9-2 build 1597 (current latest build).
I just used this with an ImageContainer to bulk edit the frames from a solar time lapse: ua-cam.com/video/Vu4NvicdiHs/v-deo.htmlsi=SZgta0PkWPPRoThA - it was so easy! Thanks for all the work on this.
Hi Bill, this script, the video tutorial, everything is awesome! Thank you so much for publishing it. I have used it to create a video which I posted last night - ua-cam.com/video/_L18Ixx8JHs/v-deo.htmlsi=RME_pm4ojLC7MBDY - processed with your Solar Toolbox, and the video itself edited with DaVinci Resolve.
I would suggest you watch the video and follow the instructions and also follow the instructions in the description below the video before making comments like that. Thank you!
Please read some of the comments below and let me know if that fixes things because if it doesn't then I'm pulling this video until I figure out what's going on.
@@stuparker776 It has to be build 1597 (latest release), I updated the description to say this. PI has made a mess with these 1.8.9-2 updates and I can see it will give me a big headache with this video release.
Totally amazing! I thought I wasted a whole day and then I plugged in the toolbox. Holy Sh*t! I don't remember the last time I was this happy about something. Thank you.
I process most of my solar images inverted and leave them greyscale because I could never produce a consistent approach to masking and colourising an in phase image to show the surface and prominences. That said, I also enjoy the dark mood and dramatic appearance they have. Currently we are hounded by clouds so I have used the script on historic data and WOW, what an impact. I sincerely appreciate all the time and effort both Bill and Mike have put into developing this too and look forward to producing more colourised in-phase images. I guess I have joined the ‘orange’ side!
Excellent tutorial, I updated my Pixinsight version 1.8.9-2 - build 1597 and installed script works GREAT!! I have the Daystar solar scout 60mm and Daystar Quark HA, the Solar Toolbox script covers everything (all in one) very handy !! I'm going back to re-edit my solar images and planets, the results are amazing! Thanks for this video and great work 💯
Thank you!!
Thanks very much for this. Solar imaging is a passion of mine, and I have the book you recommend. It's excellent. I have some recent solar images that I can try your new script on. Looking forward to giving it a try!
Give it a try and let us know your feedback!!
For sure!@@anotherastrochannel2173
Don’t do solar imaging but still love watching your videos and really appreciate yours and Mike’s efforts and amazing scripts you guys put out to make all of our processing easier and accessible
Top blokes thanks again
Thanks!!
I have been searching for a way to do solar with Pixinsight. Now this is the ultimate way moving forward. Great work.
Thanks!!
Awesome work! Just processed a full disk image I took last week with my Quark. The ability to process the prominences and the full disk together as well as the 3D effect is fantastic. Cup of coffee is on the way!
Thank you Bill. I'm a planetary and lunar imager and now venturing into solar. Your Solar Toolbox will now be my go to post processing tool. I think I will use it on planets and the Moon too and replace the legacy tools like Registax and perhaps Astrosurface. PixInsight is the best software investment I've made in a long time. For my Easter wish list, can you add solar timelapse to you toolbox? You and Mike are taking this hobby to the next level. I mean, we amateurs can start to perhaps make scientific contributions. I need to buy you coffee
Another game changing tool. Many thanks. Just re-edited a solar image from last year. Your script produced a much better result in less time than traditional methods. Cheers, Des
OMG!! That is incredible! You guys have done an amazing piece of work. Can't wait to redo my solar images.
Thanks!!
Your process (and all the mathematics behind) is simply mind blowing ! This is really impressive what you do here for the Community. Thanks very much Bill.
WOW, just loaded this script and started playing with it, just happened to try some solar yesterday. Fantastic! much easier than using Photoshop actually!, it's an all-in-one script! the ability to see it live, and to save the settings as an icon...timesaver!
Thanks, hope it works out for you!!
This. Is. Incredible! So excited to go try this out. ☀️ Thanks so much for your dedication and creating these incredible tools!
Thank you!!
Excellent work. I have just started solar imaging using a Daystar Quark so this is going to be very useful! Doing solar work in Scotland almost sounds like a bad joke but we do actually get a decent amount of sun and is something to do while waiting for those rare clear nights.
Thanks!!
Wow, wow, wow!!!! I am actually speechless. Solar Toolbox is amazing. Before, I used many different tools to get similar results. Now, everything is in one tool. Thank you so much for your hard work. I can't wait to kick off the solar imaging season and put this to use. 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
An excellent tool which I have just used for the first time with very good results - the tutorial video is a must watch so as to realize the full potential of the script.
I am ABSOLUTLEY BLOWN AWAY. I can't believe what an amazing toolkit you produced. This makes the process so much simpler. Where it's really going to do miracles is with my time lapse clips of the sun. The process I use in Photoshop to boost the prominences doesn't work with their batch processing method, but this solves all of that. Now I will be able to do the movies with lots of surface detail instead of just prom detail.
Subbed to your channel and bought you 5 coffees. Thanks again, you are an absolute hero!
Oh, yeah, like you, I am not a fan of inverting the image, which I know really helps to make boosting the proms easier, and although I learned about making the funky curves to try and do that in ImPPG, it makes the coloring and texture on the surface kind of funky, so gave up on that too. Although I would use the mask in PS to help boost the proms, I could never get the mask to work with batch processing.
Using a Lunt 80mm, My latest method WAS AutoStakkert to get the initial TIFF and then ImPPG (to get prom and inverted surface). I tried the toolkit and I'm very impressed and I think I now like the non inverted images better. Well done (again)
Thanks for leaving a comment on my video and recommending the toolbox .. I just installed the repo and the colorisation and contrast features are beautiful. I'll likely feature it eventually. Great work!
Thanks buddy! And thank you for all that you do for the Astro community! If you need help with learning the script, let me know!
Wow Bill another hit.My Quark will do well with is.Thanks so much
You are welcome!!
Thanks so much for this. I finally managed to do a little solar imaging today in preparation for April 8th as we are right in the center of the path. This process made the editing so simple, especially for my first images.
Glad it has worked well for you - thanks for the feed back.
Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So simple yet so effective. Much better than the way I was doing it and so much easier.
You are welcome!!
Great work on the Solar Toolbox. I tried it on just a white light filter shot and it brought out much more detail I didn't even know was there.
Fantastic. I’ve been hoping for something like this for a while. Nice tease for your upcoming planetary processing script at the end =) 🤞
I definitely want a sharpening tool soon, we shall see 😎
Game changer. Thank you so much.
Thank you!!
Thanks for the work. I have a solar image with a quark in which the prom comes up out of the surface and goes into space in the background. People told me I needed double stacking to show it. Somehow by accident I got it to show entirely but only doing something in pixinsight. I wish I recorded it because maybe it could be added to the process someday.
Awesome Bill! I finally got my Quark back - it is working great!
Ed, that's good news!! Let me know how this Process works out for you.
Will do!@@anotherastrochannel2173
So, you actually captured the eye of sauron.
Kidding aside, this is great, thanks!!
Thank you for making this, it looks great. Looking forward to using it. No luck after following your instructions.
I reset updates, rebooted, reinstalled everything. Still no SolarToolbox.
PI build 1573
Please make sure you are running the latest version of Pixinsight, 1.8.9-2 Build 1597
I will update to build 1597 and let you know how it goes
It works!
Latest build and following your instructions worked.
Thanks again
Did you do things in this order?
Note: You might run into an issue with installing processes/scripts in the latest versions of Pixinsight where the script or processing icons don’t show up in the menu after installation. To fix this, go to: Resources-Updates-Reset Updates, then restart Pixinsight, then click on "Check for Updates" to install
Yes. Dl the latest build. And reset updates. It was there. I’ve been using it the past two days and like it a lot.
Is there an area to provide any feedback?
Bill thanks for all the effort you put into these tools you create. I imagine is because this is just out of the press, but PI is reporting no updates available after adding the repository and checking for updates. Again THANKS A LOT!
Try the "Reset updates" option first, I listed this in the discription as a potential issue, then reboot Pixinsight, then click "Check for Updates". I tested this on my end and it works. This is an anoying Pixinsight issue I wish they would fix. Please make sure you are running the latest version of Pixinsight, 1.8.9-2 Build 1597
@@anotherastrochannel2173 Im getting the same issue. No updates listed in the repository.
Ive tried "Reset updates" and its still not showing.
@@SnaxxNZGamingafter you clicked on reset updates, did you restart Pixinsight, then go into check for updates so that all your processes are reinstalled? Because after you click on reset updates and restart Pixinsight when you check for updates every single process that is in the repository will be reinstalled. It's crazy that this happens sometimes but it is a Pixinsight issue unfortunately
@@billblanshan3021 Yea,
When I click "Check for updates" it shows the repository, says "Verified. Certified developer: Mike Cranfield" but "Available packages" is "0'.
Yep same here I’ve done everything that’s been described it reloaded all the processes again and all there but not Solar process.😢 any advice?
Oh wow, I've had my Lunt LS40THa for about a month now, perfect timing! Thanks!
Let me know how the processing part goes for you, need feedback on this. Thanks!
@@anotherastrochannel2173 Having trouble getting it installed. I'm on PI version 1.8.9-2 build 1593 from 2023-12-03. Maybe it needs a more recent build?
@@JethroXPRead one of the comments above because I know other people are having issues and it's because of the reset update thing that you have to do with Pixinsight sometimes. If that doesn't work even though it worked on my end after I uninstalled it then I'm going to pull this video and figure out what's going on but I do know that I tested it on my end and it did install right but I had to do the reset update thing first, then reboot the software, then click on check for updates for everything to reinstall.
@@billblanshan3021 I saw that and tried it, and it did result in like 18 other updates reloading, but this still isn't there.
@@billblanshan3021 Double checked repositories, did the reset updates, restarted PixInsight, it re-installed 18 things, but this still isn't there. Even rebooted the PC and started up PI and ran Check for Updates but still not showing up. There is no error, it's just not returning any results.
Just wanted to say Bravo, job well done, really like this solar toolbox!
Very helpful. My solar scope and I both thank you 👏🏻 👏🏻 👏🏻 🙌🏻
Thanks, let me know how it works out for you
@@anotherastrochannel2173sure thing. I have some data from the last eclipse I’d Iike to test your script with. I’ll give you my honest opinion.
Glad that I bumped into this video. Thanks for putting the solar processing process together. It’s awesome. One question I do have if the recommend starting point is with a stacked image from PIPP, Autostakkert or RegiStax? What did you use to get this stacked image?
Awesome script Bill! Thanks for the shout outs too :)
you are an absolute genious with the prominence mask
Absolutely amazing, will try it tomorrow on my date, mind you my data is not the best, but actually that is the tesl, lol. Did not make it ryme intentionally
Ive tried the tool today! Wow! You really made a great tool!!!!
Best hour and 18 minutes today... So cool!
Ok I got it. After downloading the latest version (build 1601) everything works well. I sweat hard after losing all the RC ASTRO's paied hundreds euros tools but I proceeded in some way to recover all of them. Thank you.
You are not going to lose all the apps that you've downloaded or paid for, sometimes you have to go into the menu and click reset just like I say to do in the description. Please read the description All the instructions are there!
Super tool, thank you for creating, can't wait to try it out.
Amen...this was fantastic. What a tool.
how did i miss this.... thanks bill
Hello :) I cant find a contact formular at your website, I try it here.
I have the actual Pixinsight version and build and can not install the process.
I tried to reset the updates, reopenend Pixinsight and installed all updates new. The solar tool box will not shown in the processes. Can you help me please?
Very interesting, it would be useful to apply different contrast/sharpness levels to proms and surface in "Prominence & Surface" mode. Also the ability to produce mask images that can be used for further processing if needed
You can produce masks. Just check the show mask option and run like that on a copy of your image.
This is so cool! Thank you Bill!
I don't even have a solar scope but I enjoyed this video 🙂
Been using this for the past few weeks and just love it. Have you found a way to maybe add the scale earth like I see in some images?
First of all, thank you very much for the detailed explanations!
Do you have some advice for full disk stitches? Stitching the images/Creating a mosaic first doesn't work as the stitching software (ICE) seems to overwrite lots of data (some with Photoshop) and some parts look like a monochrome rainbow in the sky areas.
So, the obvious solution would be to process the images first and then stitch them. Problem there is that the settings I use for "Surface and prominence" don't work for surface images without any black sky.
Thanks Bill! Really what used to take 3 programs now takes 3 clicks.
Has anyone figured out how to make the background sky a different color using this plugin?
You will not be able to do this in one process, but you can do it in three. Clone your image to have three copies. Process one to your color liking, then another with a different color scheme, then another just ouputting a mask using the "show mask" feature e.g. Surface Prom Mask. Then you can use Pixelmath to combine the images (Img1*Mask)+(Image2*~Mask). Give that a shot.
Wow that worked! So much easier then making masks in PS. Thanks Bill!
Thank you so much! Genius work.
awesome work! thanks for your efforts
Excellent 👌..!! Trop fort ✌️..merci..!!..
Thanks!
game changer thankyou your the king please think about a mosaic script
I will have to give that some thought, I would like to investigate a better way to auto align solar data first, then maybe a registration for mosaics next.
@@anotherastrochannel2173 Cheers for the reply
Amazing toolbox; many thanks for it because my white light sun photo's are stuning now. Is it possible to make a toolbox for photo's of the moon?? Grtz from Belgium
You can actually use the same process for the moon, just keep the colorization part turned off otherwise your moon's going to look like Swiss cheese, lol
Amazing job. Thank you.
Bill , I wanted to send you an email but cant find one so I will ask you a question about processing ... A cousin of mine wanted me to image Leo 1 and keep the star Regulus in frame. The problem is Regulus just gets so blown out and I have tried to process it but just cant seem to do it ... Any tricks... ??? If you want me to send image of it I could. Not sure if you take requests but watch and use a lot of your tools , maybe not as well as you but they make things so much easier . Thanks
Bill im new to pi insight but have been doing solar for many years. I downloaded your script into pixinsight but can’t find it in scripts or in processes. What name would it be called? Thanks Randy
I cover this in the description and also in some of the below comments.
Please ensure you have updated at least to PixInsight build 1597 to obtain SolarToolox. Enjoy!
Nice one!! So it installs and works on my PC but on mac I get a load error that says the mac repository file isnt available. I'm familiar with the update process and the repository url is correct, restarted PI/etc same error.
I am on a Mac and there is not a problem with the repository url. Please double check the link - copy and paste is helpful as it is easy to make a small slip and not notice!
Enjoying the tutorial, gonna watch it all the way through - but for the life of me I can't find the icon under all processes. Didn't see any errors in the update log. Ran the reset updates & tried again, still nothing. I'll keep giving it a shot, hopefully it'll work itself out.
Which version of PixInsight are you running? You need to be on at least 1.8.9-2 build 1597.
@@mikecranfield8546Currently on PixInsight Core 1.8.9-2 Ripley (x64) (build 1579 | 2023-08-28) - the update tool didn't pull the newest down. Downloaded the most recent from the website (1601), and the tool is now showing up! Thanks for the quick response - really appreciate it!
@@mikecranfield8546Thanks for this fast reply - Didn't realize the software update tool didn't grab the newest from the website - I was at 1579. Now at 1601and the tool is accessible.. And wow.. this is an amazing tool - the "this looks good" out of IMPPG & PS isn't anywhere close to as good as 5 minutes in PI.
Works sooo great - and THANKYOU! However - a question re future: As far as i can tell, there is no way to Batch-process your settings - so its not useable for doing a Timelapse. Ccan align alll with IMPPG, sure, but when it comes to the really great tool in TOolbox re color and sharpness and contrast, there is no way to apply those to all the images …. Especially if say, 200 … Any workaround for that, or update coming re that?
You can batch process the settings using this Solar Toolbox process. You just got to use a image container and that will process all your images using the same settings set in the solar toolbox process. There are many videos on UA-cam on how to use image containers to create time lapses
@@billblanshan3021 - ah, ok - awesome - and thanks for the response! And for ALL your amazing work and vids!
The script still doesn’t show up for me, even when I do the Resources -> Updates -> Reset Updates and restart pixinsight. Am I missing a step?
Edit: I just realized I was using build 1588. I’ll update Pixinsight and hope that fixes my issue.
I get Network Error. Response code 301 when trying to install the script from the repository. Can you help.
I already updated PI and did reset updates, still no joy.
Thanks in advance for your help.
Did you copy the link address correctly? www.cosmicphotons.com/pi-modules/solartoolbox/
originally yes, but when I removed it and re-pasted it in, it loaded and the error was gone . Perhaps sometimes strange characters were added, who knows. Thank you for your suggestion
Do you give me permission to translate your documentation for the French community out there?
Thanks in advance...
Yes, please do
@@anotherastrochannel2173 Thanks, I will in a couple of weeks (Time to translate)
Can't seem to open the repository? Anyone else having issues?
thanks fantastic work
I'm so pumped to explore this toolkit I just wish could get it to install. I'm on the latest version of PI (bld 1579). when I run check updates, it registers the repo but says there isn't anything to download. Did it get moved?
As specified in the description:
Note: You might run into an issue with installing processes/scripts in the latest versions of Pixinsight where the script or processing icons don’t show up in the menu after installation. To fix this, go to: Resources-Updates-Reset Updates, then restart Pixinsight, then click on "Check for Updates" to install
@@anotherastrochannel2173thanks I did try that twice as well as remove the link from the repo and added it back but got the same result. I’ll try it again for a 4th go and see if that makes a difference. Sooner or later I’ll get to work hahah.
I can'r get the script to download.. Any suggestions?
Are you running the latest version of PixInsight - 1.8.9-2 Build 1597 released on 19 Jan 2024?
@@mikecranfield8546 Thank you. I was not. I dl'ed the upgrade and got the Solar Toolbox installed!
First , thanks for doing this , make things a bit faster . But I am having a problem maybe you can help. I processed the images with impg to align , I used PIPP to make all the copping the same ( making a time lapse ) then I use solar tool to do the rest . After I use solar tool I go back into pipp to make a movie and it crashes. I thought I did something wrong so I tried again and same thing. But if I use my images before I used solar tools pipp loads fine and does not crash. There is something going on the I am doing or solar tools is. BTW when I do one image in solar tools I use the image and process containers so maybe it is happening there . Any ideas ?? Thanks
That's weird, I use PIPP all the time and never had any crash issues. When you do the image container so that you can save the image, it might be how the naming is being done so you might have to edit the way it saves the file name. I would give that a try but it has nothing to do with the solar toolbox process at all, my guess it's the file name that PIPP is not reading right
@@billblanshan3021 Bill, I was able to make the video in PIPP using IMPG with the same images except I used IMPPG and Pix for the color in curves and was able to make the vid , but your solar tools work so much better with color and sharpening... I have to figure out what I am doing with files to make them crash. If there is a way for me to send you one image to seeif there is something in the file . If I remember right I dont even think I can load one image from color tools. Thx for getting back I know you must be busy Steve
@@billblanshan3021 Bill I figured it out. It seems to have something to due with pix. I went back and started at the beginning and tested with PIPP at every step. WhenI did a dynamic crop in pix and tried to make movie it crashed , so I did the cropping in PIPP and it worked fine.. So then I went back to Pix to lighten the image a bit with histogram trans and did with image comtainer and ran it through so i did them all , went back to PIPP and crashed again.. So I had to lighten with PIPP and it worked.. So something with Pix processing does something with the file.. I really really hope I made it clear.... Would you know why pix would do that ?? Steve
Hi Bill,
I've just tried to do a manual install and I get an API error.
I am runing version 1.8.9-2, but its only build 1585.
@JethroXP is runing build 1593.
The "updates.xri" says that build 1597 is required.
I bet thats why my version of PI doesn't see any avaiable packages in the repository and why it won't manualy install.
Unfortunaly I can't test this as its going to take 4 hours to DL the latest version from the PI website (Their hosting has real issues with Aus and NZ).
Ok, so it has to be build 1597 (latest release), I updated the description to say this. PI has made a mess with these 1.8.9-2 updates and I can see it will give me a big headache with this video release.
@@anotherastrochannel2173 Good luck.
I'll let you know if updaing to the latest release works for me but I'm pretty confident it will.
@@SnaxxNZGaming Thanks buddy!!
@@anotherastrochannel2173 Finally finished downloading. Tthe update solved the issue.
My pixinisght is 1.8.9-2 and it's ok but build 1593 not 1597. Is a problem or THE problem?
Yes, that is the problem, you need to be on at least 1597.
@@mikecranfield8546 Yes I downloaded the latest 1601 and everything goes fine. Salute you from ITalyy.
I tried installing, however the solar tollbox doesn't show up under all processes. I tried the reset updates as you mentioned and that didn't work either. My version is 1.8.9-2 build 1579. Is there anything else I can try to get the toolbox to show up? Thanks
Edit: I had to re-install Pix and then the toolbox showed up.
Did you follow these steps listed in the description i.e. reboot Pixinsight in this order?
Note: You might run into an issue with installing processes/scripts in the latest versions of Pixinsight where the script or processing icons don’t show up in the menu after installation. To fix this, go to: Resources-Updates-Reset Updates, then restart Pixinsight, then click on "Check for Updates" to install
Please update at least to PixInsight build 1597 to obtain SolarToolox. Enjoy!
Hi, very interesting toolbox you made. I would like to try it, but the link you provided is dead :(
Do you have another link?
Watch the video, I go over this, and read the video description
@@billblanshan3021 Oh sorry, i am an idiot, i will try it on my working PC later with PI. I thought i can access it via the browser.
Are you the person in the video?
@@skyman1693 Yes sir, give it a shout and if you run into any issues please let me know, I am here to help, but if you do follow everything in the instructions you will be fine and just make sure that you're running the latest version of Pixinsight 😎
@@billblanshan3021 Thank you very much for this informative video. I will use the toolbox to process my Ha images. I normally use PS for it, but it is hard to replicate the results. You can take a look at my solar images at astrobin: users/Robert_Schumann/
I would really like to try this but sadly, even after resetting the updates in Pixinsight, the process is still not showing on my list...
Are you running the latest version? I have other loading it just fine but you must be on the latest version of Pixinsight as instructed in the description 😃
@@billblanshan3021 I'm using PixInsight version 1.8.9-2... the latest one as far as I know...
@@billblanshan3021 Reinstalled PI and it worked...
Reinstalled PI and it worked... I just tried it on a few images and it is awesome... Really good job... Thank you very much for this.💯
Is your server down? Unable to download Solartool box Repository Link:
The link to the toolbox does not work for me. I get 404 error.
I suggest you watch the video
Hi Everybody, the link doesn't work.. when i check the repository url is empty. but the other link (narrowband for exemple) are working. have you a suggestion for this problem? i had reset the updates manager already.
Are you running the latest version? I have other loading it just fine but you must be on the latest version of Pixinsight as instructed in the description 😃
@@billblanshan3021 i use the version 1.8.9-2 B1579
@@cedricmauro8616 The latest version is build 1597. You will need to update. Hope this helps.
@billblanshan3021 sorry it's my fault I was sure I was on the latest version! 🙄
Link is 404 - did you take down the script?
No, you need to copy the link to your repository list as shown in the video.
I am about to describe something that may make people ask, "Why would you do that" and others just flat out say, "No," but I think there may be a bug. After seeing your application of the sharpening and histogram equalization to planetary images, I wondered how they would work on DSO's. The answer is that they kinda work, but need help. By help, I mean selective masking. What I have run into, however, is that with a mask applied to the target image, the real time preview does not update. I cannot tell what impact my choices are having. My solution has been to work on the unmasked image and get contrast/sharpening where I like them on the structures I'm targeting, apply the mask (the RT Preview updates), then apply the enhancements. Not sure if this is something that you can fix since this really isn't the intended purpose, but I have enjoyed the tool!
The link for the repository is down (404)
Watch the video
@@billblanshan3021 Haha thanks. That was pretty confusing.
Bill I'm getting a 404 error at the repository link
I guess you didn't watch the video re the install part??
I watched the video and following the instructions. I click on the link to the repository and I get a 404 error. Plain and simple. I have many of Bill's other repositories in my list in PI which all work fine.
@@SouthJerseyAstronomyClub I clearly stated in the video you will get that error and to ignore it because it doesn't matter; all you are intended to do is copy the address link from the page so you can copy and paste this into the Repository. The reason why I illustrate this is because in the UA-cam description, UA-cam crops off the address to copy direct from so I have the users click on the link to copy the address that way. Below is the link:
www.cosmicphotons.com/pi-modules/solartoolbox/
Sorry. User error. Can't copy correctly.....
@@SouthJerseyAstronomyClub Yes, you will get a 404 error if you click on the link. Please copy the link into your PixInsight repository list and the check for updates in the usual way. Also please ensure you are running at least PixInsight 1.8.9-2 build 1597 (current latest build).
I am gettingf a 404 Error on your link. Is there a new link that works ?
Watch the video, I go over this.
I just used this with an ImageContainer to bulk edit the frames from a solar time lapse: ua-cam.com/video/Vu4NvicdiHs/v-deo.htmlsi=SZgta0PkWPPRoThA - it was so easy! Thanks for all the work on this.
Hi Bill, this script, the video tutorial, everything is awesome! Thank you so much for publishing it. I have used it to create a video which I posted last night - ua-cam.com/video/_L18Ixx8JHs/v-deo.htmlsi=RME_pm4ojLC7MBDY - processed with your Solar Toolbox, and the video itself edited with DaVinci Resolve.
gather the solar script has been pulled. get 404..
No, follow the instructions in the video and in the description please
Oh, it doesnt' work. Surprise surprise. Anybody give you for free.
Can you elaborate? What exactly is not working for you?
@@mikecranfield8546 Simple, it' doesnt appears.
I would suggest you watch the video and follow the instructions and also follow the instructions in the description below the video before making comments like that. Thank you!
@@billblanshan3021 I did all what I have to do don't talk too much.
Hi Bill I installed the script but its still not showing even after the reset any thoughts
Please read some of the comments below and let me know if that fixes things because if it doesn't then I'm pulling this video until I figure out what's going on.
Hi Bill Sorry I tried all the below checked the link restarted did reset still no joy
@@stuparker776 What build of PI are you running?
@@stuparker776 It has to be build 1597 (latest release), I updated the description to say this. PI has made a mess with these 1.8.9-2 updates and I can see it will give me a big headache with this video release.
@@SnaxxNZGaming Version 1.8.9-2 Ripley (x64)