Deep Sky Stacker: Getting the Most Out of It - Forums

DeepSkyStacker (DSS), a fantastic tool for astrophotographers. I've been using it for a while now, and while it's incredibly powerful, I've also run into a few quirks and challenges along the way.

Do you still think that this stacking software is great or do you think there are now better available?

My main question is: What are your best practices for achieving consistent and accurate results in DeepSkyStacker?

Any thoughts on optimal settings, or perhaps alternative alignment algorithms within DSS, would be greatly appreciated.

I'd also like to discuss other aspects of DSS:

Best practices for stacking different deep-sky objects (galaxies, nebulae, etc.)
Dealing with difficult stacking challenges (noisy images, gradients, satellite trails)
Optimizing registration and stacking parameters for sharpest results
ntegrating DSS with other astrophotography software (pre/post-processing)
ecommended tutorials and resources for mastering DSS

I've also put together a guide on using Deep Sky Stacker, covering everything from basic setup to advanced techniques.

I'm eager to hear your thoughts, experiences, and any tips you might have. Let's help each other get the most out of DeepSkyStacker!

well, I have been using DSS for so long and it has never let me down when I use the right settings, which are for me, Kappa-Sigma clipping for lights, Median Kappa-Sigma for darks and bias; whether noisy or clean data, it has always worked for me; it was even better than PI for registering and stacking comet subs; I never toggle the bad frame rejection in DSS, I just cull before stacking - my eyeballs are more trustworthy than an algorithm, for me

I did a comparison between that and WBPP in Pixinsight; WBPP gave me nearly double the SNR; the only difference was that DSS used Kappa Sigma clipping and WBPP used Linear Fit.

I'm not sure if I used flats with that WBPP stack, if I did, I got lucky that time; or maybe I used a master flat from DSS.

because I tried (with individual flats) WBPP two days ago with other data and it really, severely, overcorrected the lights; I waited 4 hours for nothing.

after that, I've gone back to DSS and will probably stay with DSS, unless someone can tell me why WBPP did this.

I toggled dark optimization (was the only way to actually use the Bias frames, I think?), I have no idea what dark optimization is, and I used a master dark from 2-3 months ago (I think it was)