I shoot with a Canon 350D.  Up until this point I have always converted my RAW photos to 16-bit TIFF files using the supplied Digital Photo Professional software that was packaged with the camera before processing.  I’d then run these TIFF files through DeepSkyStacker.  A couple days ago I tried processing the RAW files directly.  The final image was quite a bit darker, but that was easily corrected in Photoshop.  The REAL problem I had was that the final image after stacking was only half the size it should be.  Processed TIFF files were full size.

Any idea why that may be?

I've done it both ways, but don't remember DSS ever reducing the size of my image.   I'll have to try on one of my images and see what it does. It might just be one of the stacking parameters you're using.

As for a preference, it is probably best to keep your files in the RAW format until you're done stacking them.. This will prevent you from loosing any image data.  Once you're ready to save your final image then save it as a jpeg to load onto the web.  Otherwise save it as a tiff for your personal copy.

Have A Nice _________ 

At first I thought it was a stacking parameter as well, but I am using identical settings with the RAW and TIFF files.  I'm not really sure where the issue is.  I may check to see if there is a newer version of DSS out there.

Boise_Dob:

At first I thought it was a stacking parameter as well, but I am using identical settings with the RAW and TIFF files.  I'm not really sure where the issue is.  I may check to see if there is a newer version of DSS out there.

I tried it on one of my image sets last night and it didn't resize that image.  However, I wasn't exactly pleased with DSSs conversion to tiff.   Stacking the image already converted to tiff using the software that came with the camera turned out better.  I think that could be because not every camera uses the same kind of RAW format. Or it could also depend on the image and the amount of frames stacked. I don't know but, since I use a Canon DSLR using the DPP software to convert the images to tiff first worked best on that image. 

DSS is always working on improving the software and has frenquently posted new updates or new versions.  I Think I'll check myself, it's been a while.

Have A Nice _________

DSS has a yahoo support group, you'll probably get all the answers you need there, ive never visited because,, i hate to say this, but i only work in JPG for capturing and processing!! talk about impatience and laziness eh?

Boise_Dob:

At first I thought it was a stacking parameter as well, but I am using identical settings with the RAW and TIFF files.  I'm not really sure where the issue is.  I may check to see if there is a newer version of DSS out there.

You wouldn't happen to be using the "Create super-pixels from RAW Bayer Matrix" would you?  That one will reduce your RAW image size

Have A Nice ________

As a matter of fact, I was.  I'll have to play around with the different matrix transformation methods to see which looks best for my images.

Good catch.

Boise_Dob:

As a matter of fact, I was.  I'll have to play around with the different matrix transformation methods to see which looks best for my images.

Good catch.

If you have the most recent version 3.2.1 you can also click recommended after you have all your files loaded and checked.  Those recommendation are a good point to start from..

Have A Nice _________