Question about stacking software for deep sky images

I had to pick between DeepSkyStacker and Siril for my M31 shots last month. Everyone in my local club swears by DSS, saying it's the 'standard' and easier. I went with Siril instead because it's free and open source, and the control over pre-processing seemed better. After about 15 hours of trial and error with 200 light frames, my final image had way less noise than my friend's DSS stack. I get why people stick with what they know, but I think the automatic settings in DSS can actually limit your final result. Has anyone else made a similar switch and noticed a difference in detail?

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3 Comments

holly_sanchez756mo ago

Ever think DSS just works for most people?

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patricia6856mo ago

Wait, you think DSS works for most people, @holly_sanchez75? I've seen so many people get soft, noisy results and not even know why. It just papers over the real issues with your data. Learning the steps yourself is the only way to get good at this.

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black.pat6mo ago

Totally agree about DSS limiting you. The auto settings are a trap for new people, makes them think stacking is a one click thing. Siril forces you to learn what's actually happening to your data.

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