Skip to content

Image Tuning

This module allows for manipulating various aspects of the captured image;

  • Saturation
  • Contrast, including 'Smart Contrast'
  • Gamma
  • Sharpness
  • Noise Reduction

The module applies enhancements in this specific order for optimal results:

  • Noise Reduction - Clean the image first
  • Saturation - Adjust color intensity
  • Gamma - Correct brightness
  • Contrast - Enhance separation
  • Sharpening - Final detail enhancement

Settings

The following settings are available in the module

  • Saturation (level)

    • Range: -10 to 10
    • Default: 0 (neutral)
    • Description: Controls color intensity
      • -10: Black & White
      • 0: Original colors
      • 10: Maximum color saturation
    • Use Case: Enhance nebulae, auroras, or reduce color noise in low-light images

  • Contrast (contrast)

    • Range: 0 to 5
    • Default: 1.0 (neutral)
    • Description: Controls separation between light and dark areas
      • 1.0: Original contrast

      • 1.0: Increases contrast

      • < 1.0: Decreases contrast
    • Use Case: Make stars stand out more against the sky background

  • Gamma (gamma)

    • Range: 0.1 to 5.0
    • Default: 1.0 (neutral)
    • Description: Brightness control that preserves highlights
      • 1.0: Original brightness

      • 1.0: Brightens dark areas (lifts shadows)

      • < 1.0: Darkens the image
    • Use Case: Reveal faint stars and detail in dark night skies

  • Sharpness (sharpness)

    • Range: 0 to 5
    • Default: 0 (off)
    • Description: Edge enhancement strength
      • 0: No sharpening
      • 1: Mild sharpening
      • 5: Very strong sharpening
    • Use Case: Make stars appear more defined and crisp
    • Note: Apply sparingly to avoid introducing artifacts

  • Noise Reduction (denoise)

    • Range: 0 to 5
    • Default: 0 (off)
    • Description: Removes grain and noise
      • 0: No denoising
      • 1-2: Light denoising (preserves faint stars)
      • 3-5: Strong denoising (may blur faint stars)
    • Use Case: Clean up noisy images from high ISO settings
    • Note: Uses bilateral filtering to preserve edges

  • Smart Contrast (auto_anchor)

    • Type: Checkbox
    • Default: Off (false)
    • Description: Automatically adjusts brightness when changing contrast
    • Effect: Maintains overall image brightness when contrast is increased/decreased
    • Use Case: Enable when you want to adjust contrast without making the image too bright or dark

Tips

Tips and Best Practices when using the module

  • Start Small - Begin with subtle adjustments and increase gradually
  • Denoise First - If using noise reduction, the module applies it first automatically
  • Watch for Artifacts - Too much sharpening can introduce halos around bright objects
  • Balance Adjustments - Heavy denoising may require less sharpening
  • Use Smart Contrast - Enable auto_anchor when adjusting contrast to maintain brightness
  • Test Different Times - Settings that work at night may not work during the day

Available in

  • Daytime

    • The Day time pipeline

  • Nighttime

    • The Night time pipeline