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How To Create And Add A Custom Photorealistic Horizon In SkySafari 5 Pro? (Answer: Read On)

Tim Corso

June 01, 2016 20:25

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Originally from ticket #27914.

Dear Sir,

I have been trying my hand at creating a horizons of my local area for loading into SkySafari.

I have stitched the panorama together and saved as a ping. Unfortunately the system says that my image does not contain a valid panorama. Admittedly my panorama is a bit rough, but at this time I just want to establish the steps needed to create a successful horizon. I have some questions regarding your help pages in SkySafari.

Near the top of the notes it says the image should be 4096x2048, but a bit further down it says the image should be 2048x1024. Which is the correct dimensions?
The help notes say the image should be a 32 bit RGBA png file. If I set the colour depth to 32bit in Photoshop, then there is no way to save a .png file. Please can you give me some explanation here. At the moment I can only create a 16 bit image using Photoshop CC 2015
I created a layer mask to delete the unwanted sky in my panorama in Photoshop. Does this create the alpha layer that is needed in SkySafari? If not would you mind describing the steps for me?

Many thanks

Tim Corso

 

Keiron Smith replies:

Hi Tim,

Would you mind sharing your panorama with me. Attach it to your reply. I will review it.

Thanks!

Keiron Smith
Starry Night & Sky Safari Software Support Team

 

User replies:

Hi Keiron,

Thanks for getting back to me so quickly.

I have worked out what I need to do to get my panorama to work correctly.

The image needs to be an 8 bit PNG and not a 32 bit PNG as stated in the notes.
The image needs to be 4096x2048
In Photoshop just delete the sky to reveal the chequered background to create the transparency required for the night sky in SkySafari. You can delete the unwanted pixels using any method you like.

Might be useful if the help file was updated, especially the 8 bit vs 32 bit?

Kind regards

Tim

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9 comments

• 1
  
  Mark Bailey July 26, 2016 21:38

  Hey, I'd like to do a custom horizon too! Can't find how anywhere. Help, please?
• 0
  
  Bart Hamilton March 14, 2017 22:32

  Is there a site where other users' panoramas can be shared? If I create one from my location (Oregon coast), I'd like to offer it to others for their use.

• 0
  
  Bill Tschumy March 14, 2017 22:46

  No, there really isn't a place to share panoramas.  I suppose I could implement a "Panorama" repository similar to the ones for settings files and observing lists. But I'm hesitant to go through the effort given you are the first to ask for it.  I will think about this.

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  Bill Tschumy March 14, 2017 22:52

  Just saw Tim's comment above.  I believe our description is correct.  A 32 bit png is 32 bits per pixel with 8 bits each for RGB and 8 bits for the alpha channel.  What you created is *not* an 8 bit png.

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  Bill Tschumy March 14, 2017 23:04

  As far as size, either 2048x1024 or 4096x2048 will theoretically work.  Some older iOS hardware can't handle texture files bigger than 2048 and that's why we recommend that on iOS.  On the smaller screen you probably won't notice the difference anyway.

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  Nick Bergstrom August 28, 2017 07:16

  Quote: "Just saw Tim's comment above. I believe our description is correct. A 32 bit png is 32 bits per pixel with 8 bits each for RGB and 8 bits for the alpha channel. What you created is *not* an 8 bit png."

  Hi Bill, I wanted to clarify something about the above issue. You are technically both correct! Your textbook explanation of what a 32 bit img is and of what it is comprised is absolutely correct (8 bits per colour channel + 8 for alpha transparency). However, assuming the target audience of the help section for the panorama is not professional photographers or people who are highly experienced in photo stitching, the text is actually quite confusing and contradictory. At least for Photoshop users. I can't speak for other software. This has to do with the way that the Photoshop interface presents these terms to users. A professional who already knows all the background theory doesn't rely on the interface wording or description. Quite simply, when you tell people in the text to create a 32 bit image, in Photoshop, they will see an option in the dropdown for 32 bit and think they got it right. Unfortunately, that 32 bit mode actually means 32 bits PER channel ie: 32 x 4= 128 bit image! No wonder it's failing. Although it seems contradictory, the mode they need to select in Photoshop to get the desired 32 bit rgba is 8 bit mode. It's actually listing the bit per channel for the mode selection, rather than the final output bit depth. Since not every file has an alpha channel as standard, it makes more sense to list the per channel rate. Because a png file that makes no use of transparency can't be a 32bit png, it's known as png 24. Figured I'd try to explain how your correct answer could actually cause confusion. I know your concern and business is your software, not in depth tutorials for a 3rd party. However, as someone who deals with end users of all technical abilities and experience levels in my work, I can tell you that the passage about the panorama should be reviewed. For example, although you describe the spacial relation of the cardinal points to the image, it is not really explaining in simple terms what the output goal is. My suggestion would be to have some form of a walkthrough or content that gives a bit more guidance on the subject and how to do it. Perhaps not an in depth step-by-step guide, due to time and all the proprietary software. But even an entry on your site with more information or a video would be a big help. In fact, I'd be happy to put something together for you on the subject, since I am creating my custom horizon anyways. Consider it doing my part to expand interest in astronomy. Contact me at nickberg99@gmail.com.

• 0
  
  Bill Tschumy August 28, 2017 14:20

  Nick,

  Thanks for your suggestions.  We will review the text and try to clarify it.

• 0
  
  Tim Corso April 04, 2019 18:59

  This is a bit ironic. I just got a new MacBook Pro and want to get Sky Safari licked into shape. I did not use my old MacBook to seed the new one. So I installed Sky Safari 5 from scratch and then started to wonder how to put my custom horizons back in. Now. I did this first time around on my old MacBook, seemingly without any assistance other than the file format (see earlier in this thread). What I can't work out is where to put the .png files; which flipping folder... I searched for them on my old MacBook, but can't find where they go. 

  I think it might have something to do with getting older. Please can someone put me out of my misery?

  On a completely different matter, I am being offered the chance to upgrade from SS 5 to SS 6 for a 35% discount. I'm not sure what I would be getting if I go for it; is there a list of enhancements.

  Many thanks

  Tim

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  Bill Tschumy April 08, 2019 14:24

  Tim,

  You don't need to know where the image goes.  On Mac there are +/- buttons in the UI for adding or deleting a custom horizon.

  Bill