Image Processor Manual

Making RGB Images

• Download the images you want to process from SkyNet or another source.There must be three images, each taken with a different filter (Ex: Blue, Visual, Red), or simply three different images of the same object. Save the images onto your computer in an easily accessible folder.
• Once you have started the Image Processor, click on 'Select a Red Image.' Find your downloaded images in the folder that you saved them in and click on the image taken with the Red filter. It's title will automatically appear in the space next to the 'Select Red Image' button on the Image Processor pop-up.

• Repeat the above step with the Green and Blue images. Put the image taken with the Visual Light filter or Green filter in the Green Image box and the image taken with the Blue filter in the Blue Image box.
• If the filters of your images do not correspond with the filters needed for the RGB, do not worry. Simply put your three images in the slot you think is best on the Image Processor pop-up. After you have created your RGB and you do not like the image, you can always switch the order of the images.
• Once all three spaces are filled and your images have been aligned, click on the 'Get RGB' button. The Image Processor will create a single image using the data from the three filtered images. If the image is too dark, you can simply change the brightness setting to make the image lighter by sliding the bar beneath the word 'Brightness' and clicking the 'Get RGB' button again.
• After you have created the RGB, you can create a JPEG image. Simply click on 'Save JPEG' and save the file to your computer. Click on the folder you want to save the JPEG in(or navigate to it using the previous folder button), and write the name of the JPEG in the 'Save' box near the bottom of the pop-up. Don't forget where you saved the images!

Image Alignment

• Once you have opened DS9 and inserted your three images into the Image Processor, click 'Align Images.' You will be asked to manually align your three images.
• Find an easily identifiable star in the first image in DS9 and click on it. A green circle will appear around it. Press any key to continue. The next image will immediately appear on your screen.
• In the next image, find the same star and click on it, then press any key. Repeat this step with the third image.
• Your images are now aligned. Return to the Image Processor screen and begin working with your images by clicking the 'Get RGB' button.

Installation and Running

How you install the program depends if you have python installed on your computer.

With Python

• Download the Image Processor (imageguiCompatibile.py) from the Image Processor page and save it to your computer in an easily accessible folder.
• Open a terminal and run ipython or pylab by opening a terminal and typing either ipython or pylab.
• Use the cd and ls commands to get to the folder where you saved the Image Processor. Begin by typing ls into the python terminal. You should see a list of folders appear in the terminal. Type the name of the folder you wish to enter after the command cd, leaving a space between them (example: cd Downloads). In this way, navigate to the folder that contains the Image Processor. Check each folder with ls to see the programs contained in that folder. Once you have reached the correct folder, type ls again to make sure that the Image Processor is stored in that folder.
• Start the Image Processor using the exec command [execfile('imageguiCompatibile.py')]. The starting window of the program will appear on the screen. You may now begin processing images.

Optional Smoothing and Scaling

• Download the smoothing function ('smoothing1f.py') from the Image Processor page and save it onto your computer in the same folder as the Image Processor. Begin by typing ls into the python terminal. You should see a list of folders appear in the terminal. Type the name of the folder you wish to enter after the command cd, leaving a space between them (example: cd Downloads). In this way, navigate to the folder that contains the smoothing function. Check each folder with ls to see the programs contained in that folder. Once you have reached the correct folder, type ls again to make sure that the smoothing function is stored in that folder.
• Start the smoothing function using the exec command [execfile('smoothing1f.py')]
• Once the smoothing function has been activated, run the Image processor using the exec command. [execfile('imageguiCompatibile.py')]
• The smoothing will happen automatically as you create your RGB.In your ipython or pylab terminal, you should see the words 'Image was cleaned' appear below your commands. This is completely normal and is supposed to happen in order to assure you that the smoothing function is indeed working. These words should appear three times below your commands (once for each image).

Without Python

Where to download the executable of the program without python.

Installing Image Alignment Programs

• The Image Processor will not align the images if you do not have Numdisplay on your computer. Begin by downloading the latest copy of Numdisplay below. Unzip it and save it into a folder on your computer. To unzip, right click the folder after you have saved it to your computer and click 'extract all.'
• Using a terminal, open ipython or pylab and get into the Numdisplay folder by using ls and cd commands. Begin by typing ls into the python terminal. You should see a list of folders appear in the terminal. Type the name of the folder you wish to enter after the command cd, leaving a space between them (example: cd Downloads). In this way, navigate to the folder that contains Numdisplay. Check each folder with ls to see the programs contained in that folder. Once you have reached the correct folder, type ls again to make sure that Numdisplay is stored in that folder.
• Use the command [python setup.py install]. You may have to use a sudo command in order to make this work. Also, use the dir command to check what is in that current location.
• Numdisplay should now be installed onto your computer. Before running the Image Processor, open DS9. Once you open the Image Processor, there will be a button labeled "Align Images." You may click on this button to begin alignment.