Hi alberio

For my DSLR shots I would note the temperate at the time I took the light frames and take a series of Dark Frames at after the light frames. I also keep a library of previous dark frames and note the temperature that they were taken at and if the library contains a set that is within 5 degrees of the light frames usually just reuse those rather than take new ones. After a year or so I've heard it maybe prudent to retake dark frames as the sensor can change as it ages, (so far I haven't found that I need to do that). I similarly keep a library for flats based on the camera and optics, including filters used, and bias frames base on the camera used. (Note: I have had to occasionally take a separate set of flats if dust bunnies get in there and use that as an indicator that it is time to clean the filters, optics and or sensor.

Note: I organize the images by Deep sky vs Planetary and then have subdirectories for the image (e.g. M101).
I then typically have a subdirectory for the optical system used (e.g. DSLR_500mm, ZWO_meade16, etc).
This is then followed by the raw DSLR images (or an other subset of directories for different exposures lengths and or individual filter names used which contain either DSLR RAW frames or fits image taken with an astro camera). I also keep the stacked images and processed images at this level of the directory structure. Note:
Under there are directories for the good fames, calibrated frame, Debayered frames for the DSLR) and registered frames.

Below my cheat sheet I use for processing images using pixinsight so not all of it may be relevant to your process.
Below is my cheat sheet

Integrate Bias frames (Use process ImageIntegration)
Image integration
Combination: Average
Normalization: No normalization
Weights: Don’t Care (all weights=1)
Scale evaluation: Median absolute deviation from the median (MAD) THIS IS GONE IN NEW PIXINSIGHT.
Uncheck evaluation noise default others

Pixel Rejection 1
Rejection algorithm: Sigma Clipping
Normalization: No normalization

Pixel Rejection 2
Sigma low : 3.0
Sigma high : 3.0

Notes:
(** Warning: Inconsistent Instrument:Telescope:FocalLength (FOCALLEN keyword) value(s) - metadata not generated.
** Warning: Inconsistent Instrument:Telescope:Aperture (APTDIA keyword) value(s) - metadata not generated)

*** Error: Parsing OBJCTRA FITS keyword: Parsing sexagesimal expression: empty string
*** Error: Parsing OBJCTDEC FITS keyword: Parsing sexagesimal expression: empty string

These errors are not fatal, so you can still integrate the frames. However, metadata for geodetic observer coordinates will be lost in the integrated image (which is not really important for Bias frames).


Add RAW files - hit go button (circle on bottom of process box)
Stretch rejection_high and rejection_low to check for any big issuesStretch rejection_high and rejection_low to check for any big issues.

Save- integrated image as master_bias.xisf

Integrate Dark frames (same process and settings and as Bias frames)
Image integration
Combination: Average
Normalization: No normalization
Weights: Don’t Care (all weights=1)
Scale evaluation: Median absolute deviation from the median (MAD)THIS IS GONE IN NEW PIXINSIGHT.
Uncheck evaluation noise default others

Pixel Rejection 1
Rejection algorithm: Sigma Clipping
Normalization: No normalization

Pixel Rejection 2
Sigma low : 3.0
Sigma high : 3.0

Notes:
Add RAW files -hit go button (circle on bottom of process box)
Stretch rejection_high and rejection_low to check for any big issuesStretch rejection_high and rejection_low to check for any big issues.
Save- integrated image as master_dark.xisf


*** Error: Parsing OBJCTRA FITS keyword: Parsing sexagesimal expression: empty string
*** Error: Parsing OBJCTDEC FITS keyword: Parsing sexagesimal expression: empty string

These errors are not fatal, so you can still integrate the frames. However, metadata for geodetic observer coordinates will be lost in the integrated image (which is not really important for Dark frames).
Calibrate Flats (Use process ImageCalibration)
Output Files
Output Directory: example J:/deep sky/M31 2min 71F/Good/Calibrated/flats
Sample format: 32bit floating point
Master Bias (put check in box)
Set location of master bias
Don’t set calibrate as this is only used with overscan for special CCD’s.


Master Dark (do not check as there is no correlation to darks)
Master Flat (do not check as there is not a master flat to calibrate with)

Notes: Hit the go button (circle on bottom of process box). This fills the output directory with calibrated flats.

Integrate Calibrated flat frames (Use process Image Integration)

Image integration
Combination: Average
Normalization: Multiplicative
Weights: Don’t Care (all weights=1)
Scale evaluation: Median absolute deviation from the median (MAD)
Uncheck evaluation noise default others

Pixel Rejection 1
Rejection algorithm: Sigma Clipping
Normalization: Equalize fluxes

Pixel Rejection 2
Sigma low : 3.0
Sigma high : 3.0

Notes: We use Equalize fluxes in this case.
Add RAW files -hit go button (circle on bottom of process box)
Stretch rejection_high and rejection_low to check for any big issuesStretch rejection_high and rejection_low to check for any big issues.

Save- integrated image as master_flat.xisf
Find best Light frames (Use process SubframeSelector)
Add linear mode files DSLR RAW light frame files or mono .fits to Subframe Selector.
System Parameters
Subframe scale : (2.11 for 500mm lens, 1.106 with 2X teleconverter added, 0.396 for C11, 0.27 for lx200)
ZWO w 500mm -1.55arcsec/pixel
ZWO w 4096mm -.19arcsec/pixel
[Arcseconds Per Pixel] = (206.2648 x [Pixel Size in μm]) / [Focal Length in mm]
Note: FOV 247.65 x165.10 arcminutes for 500mm lens
123.83x82.55 arcminutes with teleconverter added
44.32x29.55 for C11
EOS 5d MarkIV pixel size 5.36 microns (num pixels 6720x4480)
EOS 5D Mark IV Camera resolution:14 bit
SBig 11002 Camera resolution:16 bit


Can use FWHM or weighting to decide on the best frames to use. (Also check on the number of stars to remove those that had clouds go by or high(bad) FWHM.
Typically default star detection parameters
Use the “measure subframes” routine to measure the frames. The click on those to remove in the graph.
Use the “output subframes” routine to copy the accepted frames to directory specified.
Rename best sub as the reference frame to be used later in image resitration.
Calibrate Light frames(Use process ImageCalibration)
Output Files
Output Directory: example J:/deep sky/M31 2min 71F/Good/Calibrated/lights
Sample format: 32bit floating point
Noise evaluation: Multiresolution Support

Uncheck CFA for monochromatic frames, leave set for color DSLR-RAW)
Master Bias (put check in box)
Set location of master bias
Don’t set calibrate as this is only used with overscan for special CCD’s.
Master Dark (put check in box)
Set location of master dark
Set Calibrate to calibrate lights with dark data
Optimization threshold: 0
Don’t set Optimize.
Master Flat (put check in box)
Set location of master flat (don’t check calibrate as the flat already has this in it).

Notes: This will subtract master bias from master dark then dark is subtracted from lights.
Hit the go button (circle on bottom of process box). This fills the output directory with calibrated light frames. Calibrate light frames from the accepted frames from subframe sector.


Debayer light frames(use process Debayer)
Don’t do for monochromatic Images
Bayer/mosaic pattern: RGGB
Demosaicing method : VNG
Evaluate noise is checked
Noise evaluation: Iterative K-Sigma Clipping
Output directory set location to put debayered frames
Added “calibrated files” from calibrated files. Debayer after calibration.
Hit the go button (circle on bottom of process box).


Register light frames (use process StarAlignment)
Reference image : Set reference image to best image found with subframe selector
Registration model: Projective Transformation
Working model : Register/Match Images
Check drizzle to generate drizzle data
Target image
Add all images that where accepted, calibrated and (and for color images debayered).
Output Directory (set to location to save registered images).
Default other settings

Hit the go button (circle on bottom of process box).


Integrate Registered light frames (Use process ImageIntegration)
Image integration
Combination: Average
Normalization: Additive with scaling
Weights: Noise evaluation (PSF signal)

Pixel Rejection 1
Rejection algorithm: Sigma Clipping (used Winsorized Sigma Clipping for >40 images)
Normalization: Scale +zero offset

Pixel Rejection 2
Sigma low : 3.0
Sigma high : 3.0 (lower this to remove satellites at the expense of added noise)

Add registered files and Drizzle files if drizzle was set in registration
-hit go button (circle on bottom of process box)
Stretch rejection high and rejection low to check for any big issues



For HDR use star alignment on the upstretched images. Then use the HDR composite process to combine the images taken with different exposure times.

Noise Reduction with Multiscale Linear Transform (Use Process MultiscaleLinearTransform before stretching

Use Dyadic with 4 layers
Scaling function Liner interpolation
Set layer 1 (3.000,0.33,3)
Set layer 2 (3.000,0.33,3)
Set layer 3 (3.000,0.26,3)
Set layer 4 (3.500,0.20,3)

Beautiful Marc!
I'm going to see if I can get in on that action. At least see how it frames up.

I keep looking up at Orion when I go out to do my flats @ 05:00-05;30ish. Stellarium has it (M42) good at around 23:30 ish to dawn for my spot on the globe.

I'm always up for some fresh ideas. Even if they are old targets, my equipment has changed. (for the better)

l
Excellent shot of the Pleiades. The color is and detail is outstanding. I could find at least 4 PGC galaxies in the image including, PGC 13992 at magnitude 16.95 (upper left in the image), PCG 13696 at magnitude 17.29 somewhat in the M45 nebula center right , PGC 13557 at magnitude 15.94 farther to the right, and PCG 13484 at magnitude 17.30 more to right and a bit from the previous galaxy. There appear to be others but they don't show up in my charts.