User manual MEADE LPI CAMERA PROGRAM

[. . . ] Meade LPI Camera Program ® The Basics Parts Listing When first opening the packing box, note carefully the following parts: · · · · · · · LPI camera Parfocal ring USB cable DB-9 to RJ-11 adapter LX200 serial cable Autostar #497 serial cable CD ROM, including the Operating Instruction in . pdf format Recommended Minimum System: PC running Windows 98SE with 64 MB and 100 MB free disk space. To get the best view and resolution for the images in this manual, zoom in to 200% using the viewing controls in the Acrobat Reader control bar. 2 Install the Autostar Suite Software The following procedure is also found on the printed Quick Start Guide supplied with this product. Before you can operate the LPI camera, you must install the Autostar Suite software. Click "Install Autostar Suite. " You are prompted to choose a directory in which to install the driver. You may accept the default directory or create your own directory path. [. . . ] Also "Take Dark" is on this list; see "Dark Frames, " page 27, for more information. Click on the Min Quality % spin box to change the minimum quality level. Evaluation Count allows you change number of images accumulated and evaluated to determine a quality baseline when the Start button is pressed. Track check box: Check this box if you wish to have the ROI track the centroid. See "Tracking Boxes and Centroids, " page 23, and "ROI, " page 24, for further information. If you wish to take raw images that are not combined into a composite image (you may wish to process the images yourself), uncheck this box and check the Save Every Image box. Kernel Filter: The chosen sharpening filter is applied to the composite image as it is saved and is displayed in the live Display Image after about 10 images are accumulated. 3 levels of sharp filters, 1 edge only filter and "None" (no filter) are available. 17 Image Processing Controls2 Object Name (11): Type in a name for the object. Each time the LPI program begins to accumulate a new composite image, it renumbers the image in a new tab, using your original name. For example, if you named the first image "Building, " the next images will be named "Building 2, " then "Building 3" and so forth, so that it doesn't overwrite the previously saved images. If a name/number was previously saved as a file name, the program will choose the next available number. For example, if "Building 7" was previously saved, the next file will be named "Building 8" and will not overwrite the file "Building 7. " File Type (12): Click on the combo box controls in the File Type field (12) to select the type of file format in which to save your picture. Beginners are recommended to save their pictures in "Jpeg" format. However, if you wish to perform further image processing, select "BMP" or "Fits. " The last two formats, "Fits" and "Fits3P" are "raw" formats, are for use by advanced users. "Tif" files usually take up the most memory, but may be a useful format if you plan to use Adobe Photoshop. Save Every Image check box (13): Normally images are added together make up a composite image or if they have too low of a quality level, they may be discarded. However, you may choose to save every composite image the camera creates by checking the Save Every Image check box along with checking the Combine check box (see page 17 for more information). These images are not displayed as separate images; only the last saved composite image is displayed. These files are stored in the directory you have chosen using the Image Directory field or the default directory chosen by the program during installation. If you wish to view any of these files, Click on the Open button (28), and then choose the file from the directory. If you uncheck the Combine Box, but keep the Save Every image box checked, the program does not combine any images to create a composite image, but saves every picture. If you set the Min Quality % box to zero (0), every picture will be saved also. [. . . ] The Software contained herein is licensed to you under the terms of a License Agreement incorporated in the Software. If you do not accept the terms, return the Software unused to the place of purchase for a full refund. Information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on the part of Meade Instruments Corp. The software and/or databases described in this document are furnished under a license agreement. [. . . ]