[Kstars-devel] questions re: gathering images

[Jason Harris]

Hi Glenn,

On Tuesday 05 December 2006 19:46, Glenn Becker wrote:
> > Alternatively, we can put this
> > information in a tooltip.  What do you think?
>
> Personally I like the tooltip. In my head anyway it is less intrusive.
>
We'll try it as a tooltip first, we can always switch if it doesn't work.

> > Glenn, how do you envision using the H400 images in KStars?  Just in the
> > Details window, or also as inline images in the sky display itself?  For
> > the latter, I think all we can do is add them to the README.images
> > document, where credit for all inline messier images is listed.
>
> Well, it's interesting ... of course I really started thinking about it
> once I started emailing people for permissions & they'd ask questions! :D
> Honestly, I think KStars handles inline images better than any other app I
> have experience ... on Windows for example I use Guide 8 which is a
> wonderful program, but the inline images show up as square overlaid photos
> where in KStars they look pretty integrated. Inline images in KStars LOOK
> like they take a lot of work to get right -- is that the case?
>
It's not a HUGE amount of work, but it does require manual GIMPing of each 
image.  I basically rotated the image so the major axis is horizontal, scaled 
it down to a small size, and made the background transparent so you don't get 
that "square block" effect in the map.  This actually takes the most time, 
you have to use the "select by color" tool to grab sky pixels, and then 
massage the selection to get rid of cruft.

> Because the inline images /look/ so good I'd say get as many of the H400s
> inline as possible, but ... if that's a crudload of work ... ?
>
> The thing that would seem 'easy' in comparison is to at least have 400
> nice NGCs (minus the ones that are Messier objects of course) show up in
> the details menu.
>
If you find an image of a Messier object that you think improves on the one in 
the current sample, feel free to send it along.

> Finally - not to raise a completely different issue, but maybe the
> Herschel 400 isn't the best list? I've been surprised a number of times by
> what isn't (and conversely what is) on it. Maybe a Caldwell Object List +
> a RASC "Best NGC" list ... not sure.
>
That's up to you...it's your party!  :)
How about the Glenn Becker 250 ?

-- 
Jason Harris
jharris at 30doradus.org