Pre-Processing
If you enable the "Pre-Processing" checkbox in the Options Panel
you can choose from a set of pre-defined filters. These filters allow you
to pre-process or pre-filter incomming frames. Some of those filters need to have the
Auto-Align option enabled, some of those are only supported for monochrome cameras. The two text fields below the filter showing
the brightness/quality value of the current frame and the related max
value since starting. If a frame passes the filter the text
field and the alignment box in the preview window will be marked green.
The following is the list of the currently available filters in FireCapture:
Quality (JPEG)
Capture frames with a minimum quality only
This
filter is a quality pre-filter and needs to have the Auto-Align option
enabled. It will save the current frame as JPEG file and use the
related file size for quality estimation. By moving the slider you
can define the usage rate in percent.
Bright object
Capture objects exceeding a pre-defined brightness level
This
filter allows you to skip frames don't having a specific brightness.
Move the treshold slider ("Treshold") to setup the minimum brightness the
frame should have. The range goes from 0=black (left) to 255=white
(right). If the brightest pixel value of the frame is below this
treshold it will not be captured. This filter has been
successful tested while capturing the ISS.
Moving object
Capture moving objects only
This
filter was intended to be used for capturing meteors and is completely
UNTESTED! You can setup the minimum treshold as explained on the Bright
objects
filter before but in addition this filter will only capture frames
differ to the previous frame in at least two pixels. So if you
have any stars in the image this filter will ignore those and only
capture frames if a bright object suddenly comes into view and while
changing its position according to the previous frame.
Stack
Stack frames before capture
Using
this filter you can stack a number of incomming frames before capturing
the
stacked result. My intention for this filter
was hunting for faint moons. It has also been used very successful for
methane imaging. Use the slider to define
the number of frames to stack. You can also substract a darkframe. For
this cover you scope and double click into the preview window. You will
hear a short beep which indicates that the darkframe has been set and
will be substracted from the frames before stacking. Simple uncheck the
pre-procerssing option to reset the darkframe. Later versions will
perhaps use a cutoff treshold to avoid over-exposure of the brighter
parts.
Average
Average frames before capture
Average
frames before capture. With this filter you can average a predefined
number of frames and capture the averaged result. This will increase
the SN ratio and is very similar to what any stacking program will do.
Contrast
Change contrast of each frame
This
prefilter will apply a contrast function for each frame. Use the
related slider for the desired contrast value. This is also helpful as
focusing aid for solar imaging.
Mosaic-Helper
Helper
for taking lunar mosaics
Whenever you take lunar mosaics the chances are big that you'll miss a
small part. Thatswhy the Mosaic-Helper came into my mind. It will overlay the
last captured frame into the preview window (when no capture is running). So
you can easier find landmarks for targeting the next field with proper
coverage. If you have started capture the overlay will
be disabled automatically until you have stopped capture again. Using the
slider you can tune the opacity of the overlayed frame.
Time-lapse
Capture frames with a delay between
This one can be used to create time-lapse movies. Use the slider to setup the delay in seconds between each frame.