Blogger isn't always the most intuitive platform to navigate - but it is free and simple to use and manage.
To help you find information quickly on this blog, you can
- use the search bar using key words e.g. Asiair mini
- use the blog menu list by date
- use this page which will be regularly updated https://undersouthwestskies.blogspot.com/2025/12/want-to-find-something-quickly-on-my.html
....and anyone who has regularly followed my posts since the start
of this blog will know that I have been trying to map out progression
ladders in skills, knowledge and understanding relating to
·
using astrophotography equipment,
·
acquiring high quality astrophotography data,
·
and in post-editing skills using a variety of
free download astrophotography programs.
I have already done some ‘initial’ thinking about some of
the above and you can read these posts here:
https://undersouthwestskies.blogspot.com/2026/02/what-does-progress-look-like-in-your.html
https://undersouthwestskies.blogspot.com/2026/01/can-we-turn-our-astrophotography.html - progress ladders for capturing astrophotography data and using astrophotography equipment
https://undersouthwestskies.blogspot.com/2026/01/discussion-is-astrophotography-hard.html
I’m focusing on this work because I find such ‘progression
ladders’ really useful in mapping out what progress I have made in
astrophotography, and what further steps I can take to improve further.
In today’s post I start to explore:
·
What might a structured four‑level
progression ladder for learning post‑processing astrophotography skills,
using SIRIL v1.4, look like?
The resources below are designed to guide ‘beginner’ and
‘advanced beginner’ astrophotographers through a structured progression
of post‑processing skills using Siril v1.4, Siril scripts, Python
automation, and enhancement tools such as the Integrated Cosmic Clarity Suite
and the Veralux Suite.
I have based it on data captured with lenses such as the
Samyang 135mm and/or small refractors like the Zenithstar 61II, both paired
with either a DSLR or a dedicated astro‑camera, and using
something like a skywatcher star tracker or a mount such as the EQM-35-PRO
or equivalent.
Progression Ladder Overview
I have gone for Four Levels of Mastery – briefly
described in level descriptors
Beginner — Foundations & first stacks - We learn the basics of calibration, stacking, and simple enhancement. Most of our work
uses automated Siril scripts and preset tools.
Intermediate — Controlled processing &
selective enhancements - We begin to take manual control: manual stacking,
gradient removal, star masks, and parameter tuning in Cosmic Clarity and
Veralux.
Advanced — Custom pipelines & data‑driven
processing - We build our own Siril scripts, integrate external tools,
and use Python to automate parts of our workflow.
Expert — Full automation, multi‑night integration
& HDR workflows - We create multi‑night automated pipelines, use
advanced colour and PSF modelling, and produce reproducible, observatory‑grade
workflows.
Each level proposed hopefully builds on the last, thus ensuring
a smooth, confidence‑building journey from first stacks to fully automated
pipelines.
Diagrammatically it looks like this:
NOTES:
Learning NEVER progresses in a straight linear fashion.
Thus, it is perfectly acceptable to find yourself getting to grips with
different skills in different levels at the same time. It’s a guide, that’s
all; not a rigid template. And, I think this is reflected in the photos I used at the top of this post - I drew from both level one and two to post edit the last three photos in the sequence.
As astrophotography beginners - we are mainly interested in levels 1 and 2 for the moment, and this is what you will find below.
I am only a modest beginner myself, so my interpretation of what levels three and four might look like, are
based on very little understanding or experience of some of the knowledge and
skills I have outlined in them.
Consequently, I will add levels three and four at a later date
when I have mastered most of the level two intermediate stuff. To try and work
out what level three and four would look like based on my existing knowledge –
well it would be merely ‘guess work’ on my part – and ethically, for me, just
won’t do!
When I eventually master level two intermediate stuff, I
will come back and have a better stab at defining levels three and four. On my current time/progress continuum, that
could be towards the end of next year, 2027.
So, with the above caveats in place, let’s jump in then and
explore each of the first two proposed levels in a little more detail.
As you go, why not tick off the skills you have mastered so
far on your personal learning journey and/or put them against my photographs above and see if you can work out which criteria I may have achieved during their editing.
🌌 Progression Ladder for
Astrophotography Post‑Editing
Using Siril v1.4, Siril Scripts, Python Automation,
Cosmic Clarity Suite & Veralux Tools
1. Beginner — “Foundations & First Stacks”
Core Goal: Produce our first clean, calibrated image
using mostly automated tools. Become comfortable with the Siril interface,
file organisation, basic preprocessing, and simple scripts.
Knowledge
- Understand
what calibration and light frames are and why they matter:
- Lights,
Darks, Flats, Bias/offsets
- How
they relate to DSLR vs astro‑cam workflows
- Basic
understanding of:
- Linear
and non-linear data
- Light
pollution gradients
- Sensor
noise
- Bayer
patterns (for DSLR RAWs)
- File
and folder management basics before entering SIRIL:
- FITS
vs RAW
- Organising
sessions by target/date
- Copying
data from camera/stacking device
- Creating
correct folder structures
- /lights/
- /darks/
- /flats/
- /bias/
Siril v1.4 Skills
A.
Siril Interface Basics
- Opening
Siril
- Understanding
the workspace
- Navigating
tabs:
- Image
Processing
- Tools
- Scripts
- Python
Scripts
- Setting
working directory
- Viewing
images (zoom, stretch, histogram auto‑stretch)
- Run
the One‑Shot Color Preprocessing Script (OSC_Preprocessing.ssf)
- Load and inspect individual subs using the Sequence tab
B.
Image Processing Tab — Beginner Tools
These are the simplest, safest tools for new users:
Image Processing Tab
- Histogram
stretch - using the Asinh, Histogram and Curves Transformation
tools; and also, the Generalised Hyperbolic Stretch Transformation
- Auto-stretch
preview
- Basic
cropping
- Background
extraction OR Scripts – python scripts – processing – AutoBGE.py
- Colour
calibration - basic - Photometric, SPCC, colour calibration
- Star detection preview
C.
Scripts Tab — Beginner Scripts
- OSC_Preprocessing.ssf
- OSC_Preprocessing_NoFlat.ssf
- OSC_Preprocessing_NoBias.ssf
- Mono_Preprocessing.ssf
- Mono_Preprocessing_NoFlat.ssf
These teach the user how Siril automates calibration,
registration, and stacking.
- Running
some basic pre‑installed Python scripts e.g. Cosmic Clarity Denoise and Sharpen
…. And Veralux Nox, Hypermetric Stretch, Alchemy and Silentium
- Apply
beginner‑friendly presets on the above without parameter tuning
- Understanding
script output
- Viewing
logs
A.
Saving & Exporting
- Saving
FITS
- Exporting
JPEG/PNG/TIFF
- Understanding
linear vs non-linear data
Below is a practical, observable checklist.
If you can confidently tick 80–90% of a level, you’re ready to move up
to the next level
Beginner → Intermediate Readiness Checklist
You’re ready to move up if you can:
- [ ]
Capture and organise lights, darks, flats, and bias/offset frames
- [ ]
Run Siril’s OSC preprocessing script without errors
- [ ]
Understand linear vs non‑linear data
- [ ]
Perform basic background extraction
- [ ]
Apply photometric or auto colour calibration
- [ ]
Stretch an image using histogram + Asinh tools
- [ ]
Use Cosmic Clarity or Veralux presets without needing guidance
- [ ]
Export a clean, basic final image (TIFF/PNG)
If most of these are solid, you’re ready for controlled
manual processing.
2. Intermediate — “Controlled Processing & Selective
Enhancements”
Core Goal: Move from automated scripts to controlled,
intentional processing. Gain control over preprocessing, stacking, gradient
removal, colour work, and basic noise reduction.
Knowledge
- Understand:
- Signal‑to‑noise
ratio (SNR) and how stacking improves it
- Star colour vs nebula colour
- Gradient
sources (LP, moonlight, optics)
- Learn
the difference between:
- Linear
vs non‑linear data
- Photometric
vs manual colour calibration
- Star
masks vs object masks
Siril v1.4 Skills
A. Use
manual preprocessing:
- Cosmetic correction
- Manual registration
- Manual stacking with
rejection algorithms (Winsorized Sigma, Linear Fit Clipping)
A. On
Image Processing Tab, complete:
- Manual
histogram manipulation
- Manual
background extraction (multi-point)
- Gradient
removal
- Photometric
colour calibration
- Star
colour calibration
- Green
noise removal (SCNR‑style)
- Deconvolution
(basic)
- Noise
reduction (basic)
- Cosmetic
correction
- Star
mask creation
- Star
removal using Starnet
- PSF
tool (basic use)
A. Scripts
Tab — Intermediate Scripts - Cosmic Clarity Suite / Veralux Tools
Learn to adjust parameters rather than relying on presets
- Cosmic
Clarity Basic Scripts
- CC_Preprocessing.ssf
- CC_GradientRemoval.ssf
- CC_ColourCalibration.ssf
- Veralux
Basic Scripts
- Veralux_Preprocessing.ssf
- Veralux_Colour.ssf
- Veralux
Chromatic Noise Suppression
- Veralux
Star Tightening
- Veralux
Revela
- Veralux
Curves
A. Python
Scripts Tab — Intermediate – begin using Siril’s scripting console
- Running
community scripts
- Editing
simple parameters
- Understanding
script structure
A. Obtaining
Scripts
- Downloading
scripts from:
- Siril
website
- GitHub
repositories
- Cosmic
Clarity suite
- Veralux
suite
- Installing
scripts into:
- ~/.config/siril/scripts/
- Siril
scripts folder (Windows/macOS/Linux)
- Verifying
script installation
- Updating
scripts
A. Saving
& Exporting
- Exporting
16‑bit TIFF for Photoshop/PixInsight
- Exporting
stretched vs unstretched versions
- Saving
project files
Intermediate →
Advanced Readiness Checklist
You’re ready to move up if you can:
- [ ]
Perform manual calibration, registration, and stacking
- [ ]
Choose appropriate rejection algorithms (e.g., Winsorized Sigma)
- [ ]
Use advanced background extraction with multiple sample points
- [ ]
Create and use star masks
- [ ]
Perform star reduction and colour calibration intentionally
- [ ]
Edit Siril scripts (e.g., change debayering, stacking parameters)
- [ ]
Use Veralux and Cosmic Clarity tools with manual parameter tuning
- [ ]
Run simple Python utilities (renaming, script generation, batch sorting)
If you’re comfortable building a repeatable workflow, you’re
ready for custom pipelines.
If you are a beginner to astrophotography, I hope you can
recognise yourself somewhere in these two levels; and more importantly, can find
some ‘progress steps’ to work on.
As promised, towards the end of this year I will attempt to define the last two levels as well.
I cannot guarantee in any way that I have got any of this
right, so, as always, I welcome any constructive discussion, tips, advice,
comments. Drop me a message in the comment box at the end of the post.
What do you think:
·
I’ve got right?
·
Got wrong?
·
Missed out?
·
Put in the wrong level?
·
Misinterpreted?
·
Been over or under ambitious on?
