ImageTOOLSca

Image viewer

ImageVIEWca provides viewing of many image file formats (see list below). It is a quick and easy way to check image files and it is well suited for FITS files. You have easy access to the FITS header information. 16 and 32 bit FITS files are supported with full dynamic range, as is 3x16 bit colour FITS. Also supported is single zip-compressed FITS files without need for external decompression. AVI videos can be previewed as still images or video, and AVI frames can be exported to 16 bit FITS, optionally stretched and gamma adjusted.

Histogram stretching, gamma adjust, resampling and zoom is available. A useful feature is the capability to browse through the contents of the current image disk folder using the Prev./Next buttons. Using these buttons for browsing, combined with the "Trash It" button makes an easy way to weed out bad frames.

Image files can be saved to any of the available save formats, so the program is also a convenient image format conversion utility. See also the batch conversion feature below for batch image conversion, useful for converting DSLR RAW files into FITS or other formats. This feature can also be used for converting for example 48 bit colour FITS to 48 bit colour TIFF.

FITS image calibration

Image alignment and stacking

• Very fast processing.
• Fully automatic, no need to select alignent stars.
• Supports translation, rotation and scaling alignments.
• Automatic resampling allows stacking of images with different binning.
• Each aligned frame may be saved separately.
• Save to 16 bit or 32 bit FITS.
• User selectable reference frame.
• Logging of alignment information.

Export from AVI video to FITS

• Preview AVI videos in main window.
• Export from RAW modified Philips webcams using BW CCDs (Raw "Y" channel), or using Grayscale option from standard colour webcams.
• The original 8bit data may be stretched to 16 bit. It is recommended when combined with the gamma adjustment (see below).
• Gamma adjustment may be performed during conversion. This can be used to linearise the response, and thereby make the camera more suited for scientific use.
• 16 bit FITS supported for output. Option to write exposure length to the FITS header so that the exported FITS files may be used in calibration effectively.
• Multithreading techniques allow the user to cancel an ongoing process at any time.

Create AVI video from FITS

• Convert a series of FITS files into AVI format to make animations.
• Simple, but powerful features for stretching image from 16 or 32 bit FITS into 8bit AVI.
• Gamma adjustment and downsampling may be performed without intermediate image storing,
• Preview of stretched and resampled image is possible.
• Option to select AVI refresh rate available.
• Easy "Show last created AVI" option.
• Multithreading techniques allow the user to cancel an ongoing process at any time.

Batch convert images

• Convert a series of files (from any of the supported formats, including a range of DSLR raw file formats) to 16 bit formats like FITS, TIFF or Photoshop PSD, or 8bit formats like BMP and JPG.
• Output files may be colour (RGB) or colour separated (separate _R, _G and _B files) or grayscale. For example, it is possible to convert directly from any RAW DSLR format directly to 3 colour separated 16bit FITS files.
• Any number of files may be processed in batch, the files may be of different input formats and image resolution.
• Use of multithreading allows cancelling an ongoing conversion process at any time.
• Optional automatic contrast stretching. This can be useful to provide an easily viewable output. When switched off, the conversion is linear and true to the original image representation.