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So check this out. This is using the built in bin feature in Startools that I rarely ever touch + 6 more frames using dithering. I would say a drastic improvement.

http://www.astrobin.com/158957/

Here are my DSS settings: FITS Files: AHD Interpolation Stacking Settings: Intersection Mode (Align RGB Channels is NOT checked) Light Frames - Kappa-Sigma Clipping with Kappa of 3 (if not startools has tough time on automatic mask for stars) and 5 iterations No Background Calibration Dark Frames - ...

Just saw this now. Are you using DSS? I think the flats are working if only because when I don't use flats there are some pronounced gradients caused by how the ICX274 is produced and I tried with nebulosity but got a similar result. I have been happy with this camera because it picks up a lot more ...

Just saw this right now. No I'm using an Atik 420c and then DSS to stack.

I usually go 5 min (my sky washes out at 6min to 7min) but I happened to have all the dark files for 3.5 min so I went with that. Keep in mind this is a hyperstar at F2.

So dithering turned out to be very helpful in solving the issues I was having with the pattern noise. However, I'm having some weird gradient issues processing in Startools so I thought I would post to see if anyone had ideas on what could be causing the issue. I tried to increase precision in wipe....

Because I am a little bit concerned that I'm doing something wrong creating my flats, darks, lights, and bias frames I have zipped the entire package which can be downloaded below.

Thanks for the help!

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ajmj4obavzxo092/m81.zip?dl=0

Here is the image processed in DSS with 20 darks.

http://1drv.ms/1E0Jj9L

and my best attempt so far (note I don't push the black point too far and I tend to not apply lots of noise reduction)

http://astrob.in/155057/0/

I'm working on ordering a new camera this week. Probably a Atik 460/490/4120

I did take flats and bias but I currently have no way to dither and this particular camera (even after being replaced) seems to have strong noise. I have not taken darks yet but I intend to do that tonight. I always use a light pollution filter (IDAS D1). Do you have a stacking program you recommend...

As you can see from my astrobin things have been going well. http://www.astrobin.com/users/akulapanam/ However I'm having trouble processing the image I took tonight and getting correct M81 colors. Any help would be appreciated. The link to the stacked TIFF file is here. I have disabled any settings...