Engineer question: The limitations of auto-align

I have a question about the capability limitations of auto-align that I'm hoping one of the Photoshop engineers - or perhaps another qualified member of the community - might be able to field.
I've been trying, unsuccessfully, to use PS CS5 to precisely align groups of star photographs, as many people do with other apps. I need to align all of the images in a group exactly - to a pixel-level of precision - and combine them into a single flattened image. I have to do this with hundreds of groups consisting of thousands of individual image files, so when CS5 announced the auto-stack and auto-align features, this seemed like a nearly ideal solution.
Yet after stacking the different images together, and despite the fact that each layer is very nearly identical to the others, PS always rejects them with the standard dialogue that it couldn't find sufficent overlap ("Needs to have at least 40% overlap", etc). I've tried this with dozens of different star groups, each >99% identical in visual content, and always get the same rejection.
One immediate line of thought I had was whether Photoshop was having too much trouble distinguishing individual stars from the noise typical in astrophotos like these. It doesn't help to apply Noise Reduction first: when PS digs into the images to find alignable content or shapes, it might see them as more different than they appear to the eye, and PS may be having trouble seeing stars as not noise. I just don't know enough about the auto-align function to really say what's failing here.
There are many other specialty apps that perform this function (PixelInsight, Registax, etc etc), but as a dedicated professional user of the Master Collection products, I was hoping to find out from an engineer whether this type of image does in fact exceed the native image recognition capabilities of auto-align. Alternately, if there are additional steps or preliminary adjustments that might assist the algorithm in its processing, I'd be interested to hear about those. I'm also willing to post reference images if that's an aid to analysis.
Many thanks.

Thanks for the quick reply, Chris.
Is there any current workaround here, or, from your vantage, do you feel that the existing capabilities aren't there yet?
Lastly, and without meaning to ask you to reveal anything about future release specifics, do you feel that a functionality capable of handling star alignment at the pixel level is a likely near-term possibility, a far-off possibility, or simply off the table?

Similar Messages

  • Does CS5 Merge to HDR crop the images during auto-align?

    Hi,
         I am trying to use Merged HDR photos to construct a panoramic view in Autodesk Stitcher.  When I use Photoshop Merge to HDR, the stitcher program gives an error that it is unable to stitch as the file sizes are different. When I use Photomatix Pro 4.1 to create HDR, there is an option to turn off cropping. This solves the problem with Stitcher.  If Photoshop crops during Merge to HDR, is there an option to turrn it off?
    Thanks,
    Joe

    I don't know if it crops, but it does change the pixel dimensions (size) depending on how out of alignment your images are if you use auto align.
    You can turn that off in the HDR Pro open dialog:
    MTSTUNER

  • Are there any known issues with focus stacking or auto align causing PS to stop responding?

    Are there any known issues with focus stacking or auto align causing PS to stop responding?

    BOILERPLATE TEXT:
    Note that this is boilerplate text.
    If you give complete and detailed information about your setup and the issue at hand,
    such as your platform (Mac or Win),
    exact versions of your OS, of Photoshop (not just "CS6", but something like CS6v.13.0.6) and of Bridge,
    your settings in Photoshop > Preference > Performance
    the type of file you were working on,
    machine specs, such as total installed RAM, scratch file HDs, total available HD space, video card specs, including total VRAM installed,
    what troubleshooting steps you have taken so far,
    what error message(s) you receive,
    if having issues opening raw files also the exact camera make and model that generated them,
    if you're having printing issues, indicate the exact make and model of your printer, paper size, image dimensions in pixels (so many pixels wide by so many pixels high). if going through a RIP, specify that too.
    etc.,
    someone may be able to help you (not necessarily this poster, who is not a Windows user).
    a screen shot of your settings or of the image could be very helpful too.
    Please read this FAQ for advice on how to ask your questions correctly for quicker and better answers:
    http://forums.adobe.com/thread/419981?tstart=0
    Thanks!

  • Auto align layers

    I have downloaded a 30 day trial of Photoshop CS3 Extended. I use Windows XP. In the demo on the adobe.com site, there appears to be a feature where you can align 2 images such as a group shot, where you want to take a face from one image and put it in the other image. Can you please tell me how this is done? Thanks for your help.

    This info is available in many places. A good place to start would be the help file (f1), another google.com.
    But since you bothered to find this forum and ask your question here:
    Bring all your images into one file as layers. Select all layers by shift-clicking them. Go Edit>Auto Align Layers.

  • Disable Auto Align in Photomerge

    Good day.
    So far I got good reply.
    For now I wonder, can "Auto Align Selected Layers Based on Contents" be disabled during photomerge?
    Why do I want that?
    => First, most of times the auto align result is not good
    => it takes time to wait for window to appear, sometimes hangs
    => When all images are jumbled together, it is like making jigsaw puzzle.
    Actually I got used to Photoshop CS2 where I disable auto align check box...
    And I manually create the "mosaic" (not just a flat panorama) from images taken from microscope.
    Thanks in advance.

    r_vinoya wrote:
    However, even if I use interactive layout in PSE11 (trial version)...
    The software still attempts to "Auto Align''
    I don't know of a way to turn that off.
    r_vinoya wrote:
    is it possible to photomerge first without blending... then blend it later when you already fixed the image position?
    You can turn the blending off, but I don't think that automated blending later can be done.
    As it seems that you want to do most of the work manually, have you considered just creating a new blank image of the anticipated width and height of your final composite (plus a contingency) and dragging your source files to it to put each one on a layer where you can individually move them into place?
    There is a workaround to restore the interactive layout to PSE12 - http://forums.adobe.com/message/5741182. If you don't have access to PSE11 (you need to copy some of the PSE11 files) you can download its trial from http://prodesigntools.com/photoshop-elements-11-direct-download-links-pse-premiere-pre.htm l. Follow their very important instructions EXACTLY or you will likely encounter authorisation errors or download the latest version instead.
    Cheers,
    Neale
    Insanity is hereditary, you get it from your children
    If this post or another user's post resolves the original issue, please mark the posts as correct and/or helpful accordingly. This helps other users with similar trouble get answers to their questions quicker. Thanks.

  • How to Disable "Auto Align" in [System Pref.] - [Display] - [Arrangement]

    Does anyone know How to Disable "Auto Align" in [System Preferences] -> [Display] -> [Arrangement]?
    It always want to align the two screens from the top when they are lined up close together and I need them to be aligned from the bottom. Since the resolution heights are so close together (1080 & 1050) it does not allow one to align side by side from the bottom as it prioritizes top alignment.
    I guess I'm looking for a script to disable this feature.

    Anyone got any ideas?

  • What are the limitation of the 4 Port Gigabit ethernet Security Service Module (4GE SSM)?

    I was wondering if anyone can help me out. I am trying to create a redundancy topology which require several connections to an ASA 5510. I am looking at extending the connections to my ASA 5510 appliance with the four port gig ethernet security module (4GE SSM). I am trying to find out what the limitations are on this particular module.
    I have heard that there might be limitations to the 4GE SSM. Such as the interfaces on this module might process data separately from the ASA 5510 appliance. My question is does the ASA four port gig ethernet security module (4GE SSM) interfaces act as a extension of the ASA 5510 appliance or does it process and filter data separate from the ASA 5510 appliance ?
    My concerns are that the 4GE SSM does not utilize all the security features of the ASA 5510 appliance, and that it just separates traffic into security zones. I interpret that to mean that each interface can be placed in a separate security level in which case has a separate security algorithm and uses the security level to force security policies. Nothing more.
    My second question if relevant would be what are the limitations?
    Thank you for your help on this topic.
    mike

    The 4GE SSM just gives you the four additional ports. It doesn't increase the processing capacity of the 5510 (a relatively low end box whose replacement - the 5515X -  has been out since this past spring). It works off the same configuration script and CPU as all the built-in ports.
    The only limitation I can think of off the top of my head is that members of an Etherchannel cannot span the SSM and the built-in ports.

  • What are the limitations of remote API?

    Excuse me,
    I am new to Oracle BPEL, and going to customize the worklist application using remote API.
    I read the Sample Worklist Application for learning the remote API.
    When I learning about task attachment's API,
    I saw a thread
    RemoteWorklistServiceClient -- attachment
    Suddenly, I found that there is different between local and remote API.
    Would anyone like to tell me what are the limitations of remote API?
    By the way, could there is any API for retrieve process list?
    The reason is I am trying combine some feature of the console into my worklist application
    such as list process with details, deploy/undeploy process, active/retired process lifecycle and turn on/off process state.
    I only found how to start process:
    Locator lLocator = new Locator({Domain}, {Domain.Password}, {Properties});
    IDeliveryService lDeliveryService = (IDeliveryService) lLocator.lookupService(IDeliveryService.SERVICE_NAME);
    lDeliveryService.request({ProcessName}, {OperationName}, {NormalizedMessage});
    Thank you very much ^^
    Roy

    Excuse me,
    I got the answer by testing the remote API
    And I have another question about the BPEL API which used in the console
    I have success construct the class com.oracle.bpel.client.Locator
    It providing a set of methods for invoking Oracle BPEL
    However, the methods always using WhereCondition as parameter
    therefore, I need to know about the database.
    1. Could anyone tell me where can I found the database schema?
    2. There are some deprecated APIs what is the preferred APIs of them?
    - IDeliveryService.SERVICE_NAME
    - IDeliveryService.request({Process}, {Operation}, {NormalizedMessage})
    - IDeliveryService.post({Process}, {Operation}, {NormalizedMessage})
    Thank you very much ^^
    Roy

  • What are the limitations of AJAX in BEA Weblogic 10.2 ?

    Hi All,
    I am wondering if some one could tell/summaries what are the limitations of AJAX in BEA weblogic portal 10.2 ??

    Please reask this question in the WebLogic Portal forum:
    WebLogic Portal
    I think you'll need to be more specific as well. Are you referring to portlet development, in which the portlet uses a javascript library, drag/drop functionality in Dynamic Visitor Tools, etc?
    http://edocs.bea.com/wlp/docs102/clientdev/ria.html#wp1008891

  • What is the limited number of users?

    What is the limited number of users?

    WHile your question is a bit too vague to answer with certainty I'll start with a res[ponse and you can fine tune it if it is not what you are asking about.
    The number of users of any single product for a single user license at any given moment in time is one.

  • What are the limitation or drawbacks of ESB?

    Can any one let me know what are the limitation or drawbacks of ESB?
    Fred

    Hi Fred,
    This is new question and different to this post's title :)
    When it concerned to security of an ESB management portal, there are two more often used practices.
    It’s being a web portal-a thin client, it can be accessed outside the BizTalk server- not like admin console (admin console can be accessed outside BizTalk server, it’s another matter). So
    that administrator can view fault
    details when they get error alert and action faulted messages. Follow the steps detailed here to achieve this.
    Another practice is installing
    ESB management portal in
    multi-machine environment with minimal access
    configuration, then here an excellent article step-by-step guidance on this topic.
    If this answers your question please mark it accordingly. If this post is helpful, please vote as helpful by clicking the upward arrow mark next to my reply.

  • Objects no longer auto-aligning with each other

    Hi there,
    I'm new to Adobe Illustrator CS4 and desperately need expertise. I think the settings got messed with, because now whenever I move an object, it no longer tries to "auto align" with nearby objects or their borders. I don't know what this feature is called, but it's when a smaller circle will kind of "snap" to the center of a larger circle, or I believe it will also show when their boundaries are tangent.
    Apologies for my noobishness, but how do I turn feature this back on? I find the program very hard to use without it.
    Many blessings for your generous explanation and kindness.

    In the View menu: Smart Guides, Snap to Point. You might have hit a keyboard shortcut by accident.
    Peter

  • How to break the limitations in jSlider?

    Is it possible to get higher Max than Maximum? Today, Im limited by the int data type, long would be nice. Ive seen some classes that extends jSlider to DoubleJSlider, FloatJslider, but they all resides in the limits of int.
    Is it any idea/solution to copy the JSlider.java and rewrite it to use another data type?
    Any pointers in any directions are most welcome.

    What's your use case for your question?I am using the sliders value (range is -Pi to +Pi) as an input to some trigonometric functions.
    The more positions in my slider, the more decimals of Pi.

  • What's with the limited Zoom options?

    Just switched to Pages about a month ago after seven years of using Word for Mac (and 7 years of trying and discarding alternatives, OpenOffice, Scribus, etc).
    Now, I have to say, I'm impressed. I could stick with this but for one thing that's really interupting my workflow: the limited zoom options. Why is there no way to specify the exact amount you want (like say 175%), and why can't you zoom in and out like you can with Preview using the trackpad?
    Both these functions are standard in Apple progs and use regular OS-defined routines (right??). Is there any way to enable them (partic' the trackpad dynamic zoom), say in Terminal?
    I can't live with no options between 150% to 200% on my screen. Please don't tell me I'm going to have to go back to Word again...:(

    Not an error, a design choice.
    And in Numbers the choice is more drastic because there is no way to apply a factor which isn't predefined.
    In Pages it's really easy to edit it.
    I do that for months in my scripts.
    Here is a short script doing only that.
    --{code}
    --[SCRIPT set_Pages_zoom_factor]
    Enregistrer le script en tant que Script : set_Pages_zoom_factor.scpt
    déplacer le fichier ainsi créé dans le dossier
    <VolumeDeDémarrage>:Users:<votreCompte>:Library:Scripts:Applications:Pages:
    Il vous faudra peut-être créer le dossier Pages et peut-être même le dossier Applications.
    Ouvrir un document Pages
    Aller au menu Scripts , choisir Pages puis choisir “set_Pages_zoom_factor”
    Tapez le coefficient de votre choix.
    --=====
    L’aide du Finder explique:
    L’Utilitaire AppleScript permet d’activer le Menu des scripts :
    Ouvrez l’Utilitaire AppleScript situé dans le dossier Applications/AppleScript.
    Cochez la case “Afficher le menu des scripts dans la barre de menus”.
    Sous 10.6.x,
    aller dans le panneau “Général” du dialogue Préférences de l’Éditeur Applescript
    puis cocher la case “Afficher le menu des scripts dans la barre des menus”.
    --=====
    Save the script as a Script: set_Pages_zoom_factor.scpt
    Move the newly created file into the folder:
    <startup Volume>:Users:<yourAccount>:Library:Scripts:Applications:Pages:
    Maybe you would have to create the folder Pages and even the folder Applications by yourself.
    Open a Pages document.
    Go to the Scripts Menu, choose Pages, then choose “set_Pages_zoom_factor”
    Enter the wanted zoom factor.
    --=====
    The Finder’s Help explains:
    To make the Script menu appear:
    Open the AppleScript utility located in Applications/AppleScript.
    Select the “Show Script Menu in menu bar” checkbox.
    Under 10.6.x,
    go to the General panel of AppleScript Editor’s Preferences dialog box
    and check the “Show Script menu in menu bar” option.
    --=====
    Yvan KOENIG (VALLAURIS, France)
    2011/08/03
    --=====
    on run
              local coefficient
              repeat
                        set coefficient to text returned of (display dialog "Type the wanted zoom value…" default answer "175")
                        try
                                  set coefficient to coefficient * 1
                                  exit repeat
                        end try
              end repeat
              tell application "Pages" to tell window 1
                        set view scale to coefficient
              end tell
    end run
    --=====
    --{code}
    --[/SCRIPT]
    (1) Don't hope for a major update before 2012.
    (2) The resize handle (which no longer exists in Lion) is not dedicated to change the zoom factor but the size of the displayed area.
    Yvan KOENIG (VALLAURIS, France) mercredi 3 août 2011 10:28:12
    iMac 21”5, i7, 2.8 GHz, 4 Gbytes, 1 Tbytes, mac OS X 10.6.8 and 10.7.0
    My iDisk is : <http://public.me.com/koenigyvan>
    Please : Search for questions similar to your own before submitting them to the community
    To be the AW6 successor, iWork MUST integrate a TRUE DB, not a list organizer !

  • Photomerge and Auto Align/Blend issues!!! HELP!

    I have a lot of photos that I need to create panoramas of, and when I use Photomerge all of the photos that I want to create a panorama of show up on the same image, but are stacked one on top of the other. Not linked or mergedin any way. They all have vector masks, but nothing covered up. When I try to use the Auto Align and Auto Blend modes for a panorama, an error box shows up saying that I don't have enough coverage area of 40%, but I certainly do. They images are very similar, and taken by standing and moving 360 degrees. I don't understand why Photoshop doesn't like these images? But I have to make about 100 panoramas, so any and all help and insight would be greatly appreciated!!!

    What OS are you running?  32 bit or 64 bit?  How big are your source images and how many do you have for a given pano?
    I just did a 360 degree pano that ended  up 25689 x 1850 pixels (after cropping) from 17 raw Canon 40D images, all handheld while standing in different spots around the Clingman's Dome observation tower in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  Photoshop CS5 standard 64 bit on Windows 7 x64 with 8 GB RAM didn't have any problem at all with it, though it took about 10 minutes or so to finish.  The result came out astoundingly good, even though the slight changes in perspective should have been challenging.
    http://Noel.ProDigitalSoftware.com/temp/ViewFromClingmansDome_NPS.jpg
    If you don't mind my asking, what do you do with hundreds of panoramas?  It's an difficult image format to find uses for to say the least.
    -Noel

Maybe you are looking for