Express Image Calibration


The Express Image Calibration command is used to calibrate intensity by applying bias, dark (thermal), flat field, and cosmetic corrections to image files or images displayed in an Image Window. The available methods are individually selected to apply any or all corrections to images having any degree of prior calibration down to the raw image stage. Calibration recipes can also be saved with a profile name for future use. The master calibration frames may be created using specialized commands like Create Master Bias or other general commands such as Image Arithmetic and Combine Image Set.

Express Image Calibration Properties

Profile [|>]

Manages the parameter collection used by this dialog. See Profile Control for details.

Select

Opens the Select Source Images dialog for selecting source images to be processed into the final calibrated result. The name of the first selected file or displayed image is listed in the field to the right.

The destination for calibrated images depends on the source images: Images opened from files are saved to files in the specified subfolder. Images opened from an Image Window are saved to the same image window (also note the Save Undo Copy check box on the Image Window page of the Select Source Images dialog).

Create in subfolder:

Enter the name of the subfolder where the calibrated image files will be saved. This is a subfolder of the folder containing the first image in the source image list. The Subfolder prevents overwriting of the original source images. This option is grayed (not used) if the source images come from an Image Window.

 Overwrite existing files

Check this box to overwrite an existing file having the same file name in the output subfolder. If this box is not checked and a file of the same name exists, Mira will exit the calibration pipeline. Without this box checked, Mira will not overwrite existing images. This option is grayed (not used) if the source images come from an Image Window.

Bias Correction...

Click this button to open the Bias Correction Properties dialog for applying a bias correction to the source images.

Dark Correction...

Click this button to open the Dark Correction Properties dialog for applying a thermal (dark) correction to the source images. The dark correction follows the bias correction.

Flat Correction...

Click this button to open the Flat Correction Properties dialog for applying several types of flat field correction to the source images. The flat corrections follow the dark correction.

Cosmetic Correction...

Click this button to open the Cosmetic Correction Properties dialog for applying several types of cosmetic corrections to the source images. The cosmetic corrects follow the flat field corrections.

 Log Processing

Check this box to list verbose processing messages in a Text Editor window. If the window already exists from previous processing by this or another calibration command, then its contents are appended.

Log processing to:

The drop list provides options for listing messages:

-- None -- lists no processing messages

This window lists processing messages in the "Calibration Message Log" text area at the bottom of the dialog.

Text Editor lists processing messages in a Text Editor window named "Calibration Message Log".

Notification:

Select the type of notification Mira issue when processing is finished:

Do nothing Mira quietly ends the processing without notification.

Beep creates a notification sound,

Message displays a notification message in a top level dialog that locks out Mira use until you dismiss the message.

Canceling the Calibration Task

If you wish to cancel the task before it completes, either click the [Cancel] button on the Progress window or press the Esc key.

  

Tip

To abort the calibration before it is finished, click the [Cancel] button on the progress window or press the Esc key. Mira will prompt you for confirmation to quit. If you confirm, the task will terminate immediately.

Logging Calibration Messages

A detailed log of calibration messages is generated when the processing pipeline executes. These messages may be directed to the dialog or to a global Text Editor window. The advantage of listing in the Express Image Calibration dialog is that the messages stay with the dialog that controls the operation. The advantage of listing in the Text Editor is that all log messages from all of the Calibration commands write into one window so that all processing messages are kept together.

Commands for editing and copying the text from the dialog's message area are available in a pop-up menu. Open this menu by right-clicking inside the Calibration Messages area. The Text Editor offers similar commands as well as capability for printing.

To prevent accidental deletion of messages saved to the command dialog, you cannot clear text simply by highlighting and deleting the text. To clear messages, you must use the Clear command in the pop-up menu.

Processing Flags

Each calibration step in this command adds HISTORY keyword information to the FITS Image Header.

Related Topics

Calibrating Images

Select Source Images

Combine Image Set

Combine Files

Create Master Bias

Create Master Dark

Create Master Flat

Create Illumination Flat

Create Pixel Flat

MIRAPROC Keyword


Mira Pro x64 User's Guide, Copyright Ⓒ 2023 Mirametrics, Inc. All Rights Reserved.